Draft:Samuel Kratzok

• Comment: Ancestry.com is not a reliable source. Theroadislong (talk) 17:19, 16 December 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Sites like Ancestry.com and Find a Grave are user generated and wholly inappropriate for referencing even a simple fact. Please remove these and replace them with references passing WP:42 🇺🇦 Fiddle^Timtrent Faddle^Talk to me 🇺🇦 13:14, 16 December 2024 (UTC)

• Comment: Please read WP:VERIFY Qcne (talk) 19:57, 14 October 2024 (UTC)

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Samuel E. Kratzok
Samuel Kratzok, circa 1921
Born	(1889-11-15)November 15, 1889 Borzna, Ukraine
Died	March 15, 1969(1969-03-15) (aged 79) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Attorney
Known for	Legal contributions, advocacy for Jewish communities

Samuel E. Kratzok (November 15, 1889 – March 15, 1969) was a distinguished American attorney, recognized for his contributions to legal cases involving bankruptcy, banking law, and his advocacy for Jewish communities during turbulent times in the 20th century. His career spanned several decades, during which he made significant legal, philanthropic, and community contributions, particularly in Philadelphia.

Early Life and Education

Born in Borzna, Ukraine, Samuel Kratzok immigrated to the United States in 1891 with his family, settling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His early experiences as an immigrant influenced his later involvement in supporting Jewish refugees and displaced people. He pursued a legal education and became an attorney in Philadelphia, where his professional work would eventually become well-regarded, especially in bankruptcy and financial law.

Legal Career

Admitted to the bar in 1911, Mr. Kratzok was a partner in the law firm of Willig and Kratzok, 121 S. Broad st. He was a member of the Philadelphia Fellowship Commission. Kratzok's legal career flourished as he worked on high-profile cases related to the financial instability of the Great Depression and the insolvency of national banks. One notable case he was involved in was Willing v. Delaplaine (1937), where Kratzok represented a receiver for the insolvent Sixth National Bank of Philadelphia. His work helped set legal precedents related to the responsibilities and liabilities of bank shareholders during periods of financial failure​.

Kratzok's expertise in bankruptcy law made him a key figure in several other financial cases throughout the 1930s and 1940s. He was often sought after for his ability to navigate complex financial litigation and his attention to the fine details of law​.

Community Involvement and Jewish Advocacy

In addition to his legal work, Samuel Kratzok was deeply involved in the Jewish community. He held leadership roles in numerous Jewish organizations. Kratzok was a former national vice president of the American Jewish Congress and former president of its Philadelphia Council. He once served as vice president of the national administrative committee of the Jewish National Fund and as president of its city chapter. He was a former president of the Philadelphia Zionist Organization and was a member of its national executive committee. Kratzok was a past national president of Brith Shalom. Up until his death he was the vice chairman and general counsel of the Brith Sholom Foundation. He was also a member of the board of governors and president of the Wise Willig Lodge of that organization. Other organizations he served included Philadelphia Jewish Community Relations Council, the Histadrut Council of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Labor Zionist Organization, the Jewish National Workers Alliance and the Allied Jewish Appeal. He belonged to the Brandeis Lawyers Society and was a former chairman of the 34th Ward Democratic Committee and attorney for the Democratic City Committee.

During World War II, Kratzok was active in advocating for the establishment of "free ports" in the United States to provide refuge for Jewish people fleeing Nazi persecution. He corresponded with President Franklin D. Roosevelt and worked closely with the War Refugee Board, pushing for measures to rescue and support Holocaust survivors​. His advocacy extended to local and national levels, where he helped Jewish refugees find safety and secure their futures in the United States. Kformer deputy attorney general of Pennsylvania, he was a government appeal agent during World War II and judge advocate of Wynnefield Post 148, Jewish War Veterans. He was active in affairs of the Metropolitan Hospital, the Philadelphia Technion Society, ORT, the Hebrew Culture Society and the Philadelphia Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith.

Personal Life and Legacy

Kratzok married Elizabeth Willig in 1916, and they had several children together. He was an active member of the Jewish philanthropic community and served in numerous civic roles. His contributions to the legal field and Jewish advocacy were widely recognized, and he received several honors, including being celebrated for 50 years of service at the Brith Sholom organization​.

Samuel Kratzok passed away on March 15, 1969, in Philadelphia, leaving behind a legacy of legal excellence and community leadership. His life's work remains a testament to his dedication to justice, both in the courtroom and in his humanitarian efforts to support Jewish refugees and the global Jewish community during some of the darkest times in history.