From his Otis Place residence,

Brandeis, in his prime advocacy years, his fifties and sixties, was both a local and national voice for democracy, morality, and moderate/healthy living. His advocacy was not by words alone, but also by his legal counsel to defendants and plaintiffs, his advise to incoming US President Woodrow Wilson, and his daily, long, urban walks.

His advocacy included such concepts as:

• workers should have a strong voice in the businesses in which they worked (industrial democracy);
• the public should own public transportation in which they rode;
• insurance should benefit the insured;
• smaller businesses and governments better serve individual citizens;
• there should be ongoing societal experimentation and collection of sociological data; and
• Jewish culture and Jewish nationalism were vital for Jewish identity.

Brandeis' many visitors on Mt. Vernon Street and Otis Place included proper and not-so-proper Bostonians, non-Jews, and Jews. Since the Brandeis' homes were conveniently located, visitors could easily walk to them from the Southend, Westend and Northend as well as from the Back Bay, and Beacon Hill. Some of these visitors names are recognizable even today:

• Lina and Jacob Hecht (of Hecht House fame): The Hechts were two Boston Jewish leaders, whose evolving commitment to assisting Jews, literally, catalyzed Brandeis' meteoric rise. At the request of Brandeis' uncle, Lewis Dembitz, the Hecht's assured Harvard University that Brandeis' law school tuition would be paid. But the Hecht's did a lot more than that to advance Brandeis. Lina introduced him at her Sunday afternoon teas to other up-an-coming Jewish Bostonians. Jacob introduced him to Jewish small businessmen. Many of Brandeis' legal clientele stemmed from the Hecht introductions.
• Samuel Warren and Elizabeth Glendower Evans: Two members of established Brahmin families whose proper upbringings and connections served to stabilize Brandeis in Boston. Warren's formation with Brandeis of a law firm which continues today provided the opportunities for financial success. Evan's formation with Brandeis of a friendship which permeated both their lives provided opportunities for interaction with some of the best thinkers of the day.
• The Irish labor leader, Mary Kenny O'Sullivan, a variety of Jewish labor union leaders, and the Progressive US Senator from Wisconsin Robert M. LaFollette. Each of these persons inspired Brandeis to stretch his interests, talents, and advocacy in behalf of working people.
• E.A. Filene: He was a longtime friend, a client, and Jewish (albeit, a self-declared, agnostic Jew). Filene's similar thinking, writing and action on social issues of the day, most likely, spurred Brandeis' ideas and advocacy on such issues as public transportation and industrial democracy. Filene would move to nearby 12 Otis Place a few years after Brandeis moved to Washington, DC.
• Frederika Brandeis - Louis' mother, and Lewis Dembitz - Louis' very religious, lawyer, uncle - whose teachings made Brandeis open to change and growth. His mother's commitment to the ethics of Judaism, and his uncle's commitment to Shabbos and politics - each served as part of Brandeis' strong emotional and intellectual foundation.
• Felix Frankfurter: He was Brandeis' pupil and, later, equal artisan of law and politics. It was through Felix Frankfurter that Brandeis envisioned and proposed, federal legislation reflecting his Progressive thinking.
• Jacob de Haas: The first Editor of the Jewish Advocate - he was one of Brandeis' mentors into the Jewish world of Zionism. De Haas contributed to encouraging and promoting Brandeis' involvement in Zionist politics.

To learn more about Louis D. Brandeis and his Boston residences, see "Brandeis of Boston" by Allon Gal, Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA, 1980.

We've walked what little remains of the once thriving West, North, and South Ends' Jewish communities of Boston. Even today, with little of them standing, the few surviving sites make for a fascinating walking or bicycling group tour (minimum 25 participants) which we lead by arrangement. Click here on BostonWalks for further information or contact us, BostonWalks, via email or by telephone: 617-489-5020.