Preserving Jewish Heritage in Texas Texas Jewish Est. 1980 Historical Society December 2014 News Magazine Southern Jews in Global Contexts: Perry Kallison and the Birth of an Israeli Industry by Nick Kotz All photos courtesy of the author.
Fifty years broadcast in ago, when a the nation’s group of ide- history— alistic young Perry and his Israelis wanted wife, Frances to form a settle- Rosenthal ment and raise Kallison, Angora goats a founding in Galilee, the member of the Israeli Ministry Texas Jew- of Agriculture ish Historical sent them to Society, were Texas A&M long-time University. The Zionists and college’s exten- avid support- sion agents ers of many referred them to Jewish causes. Perry Kallison. Together Israel’s hope they had con- to start a mohair tributed to the Perry Kallison on horseback at Kallison Ranch in the 1930s. industry could not 1930s Ameri- have been in better hands. can effort to help Jews escape from Nazi Germany and im- A first generation American, Perry was the son of a migrate to Israel, the United States, and other countries. In Russian Jewish harness maker—Nathan Kallison—who in 1946, in the wake of World War II, Frances had written to 1890, at age seventeen, fled the Czar’s murderous Cos- President Truman requesting him to liberalize immigration sacks to seek a better life in America. With the help of his for displaced persons. Perry, president of Temple Beth-El beloved wife, Anna, and later their two sons, Nathan built in San Antonio in 1948, subsequently contributed funds his one-room San Antonio saddlery into the largest farm- and passionately rallied political support for the birth of and-ranch supply store in the Southwest. The progressive the state of Israel. In 1964, he embraced the opportunity to ranch he founded in 1910 and dedicated to the pursuit help build Israel’s agricultural strength. of scientific farming and ranching pioneered significant Almost all of the Angora goat and mohair wool advancements in agriculture. business in the United States is centered on the Edwards Perry Kallison followed in his father’s boot steps. Plateau near Uvalde in South Texas. From his friends A Renaissance man—merchant-farmer, environmental- in the area, Kallison recruited Texas ranchers who were ist, philanthropist, philosopher, and beloved host of the willing to donate goats to the Israeli project. Next, he sent Trading Post, the longest running farm and ranch radio continued on page 8
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 1 Message from the President by Debra Winegarten What a whirl- a speaker panel on the Dell Jewish Community Campus, wind weekend we recounting the followed by a Kabbalat Shabbat service had with the Joint role of LBJ in led by Rabbi Neil Blumofe. Because Texas Jewish Histor- Texas Jewish his- we didn’t want to go more than an hour ical Society/South- tory, as well as the without food, we walked to the Jewish ern Jewish Historical contributions of Community Center for a lovely Oneg Society meeting Bernard Rapoport. and a talk by Sam Gruber on synagogue in Austin, October Afterwards, the restoration around the world. 23-26, 2014! Over group split, some Saturday found us in various panels, 175 folks registered, viewing items including our very own Mondells talk- and we were burst- from the TJHS ing about filmmaking and other sub- ing at the seams. We collection at the jects. For a full listing of the schedule actually had to turn Briscoe Center for of events, go to our website, www. people away, which American History txjhs.org. Saturday evening found us broke our hearts not and others going on Lady Bird Lake on the Lone Star being able to share all of the joy and to the UT Harry Ransom Center to see Riverboat bat cruise, where we enjoyed wonderful activities. As a small com- the exhibit on the making of “Gone With a fajita dinner, perfect weather, a view pensation, this issue is full of pictures to the Wind” and a behind-the-scenes look of the bats, and the beautiful Austin help capture the excitement. at some of their Jewish artifacts. A brief skyline. A lovely Havdalah service Our meeting began on Friday dash back to the hotel to change clothes, capped off the evening. I lost count of morning at the LBJ Presidential Library, then we gathered for a kosher barbecue the number of times that participants with a tour of the exhibit, followed by dinner at Congregation Agudas Achim from both groups congratulated me and told me what a superb conference we put together. The Texas Jewish Historical Society And while I was tempted to take all December 2014 the credit, I am publicly thanking the TJHS board for agreeing to sponsor this Quarterly News Magazine meeting and to help fund it. Thanks go to Hollace Weiner and Bryan Stone who The Texas Jewish Historical Society News Magazine is published designed an incredible program, Davie four times annually. Stories about Texas Jewish history, oral histories, Lou Solka and her terrific on-the-ground and requests for assistance with research are welcome, as are photographs local organizing committee—Nelson and historical documents. Please provide color photocopies or scans at Chafetz, Gayle Cannon, Dolly Golden, 300 dpi or greater in .gif, .tif, or .jpg format, and send electronically to As- Nancy Hoffman, Pacey Laves, Abbi sistant Editor Davie Lou Solka at [email protected] or by mail to 3808 continued on page 14 Woodbrook Circle, Austin, TX 78759, 512-527-3799. Be sure to include your name and contact information. The News Magazine of the Publisher-Editor Alexa Kirk Texas Jewish Historical Society Assistant Editor Davie Lou Solka (USPS) is published four times Photographers Sally Drayer, Marvin Rich, Davie Lou Solka a year by the Texas Jewish His- Marc Wormser torical Society, P. O. Box 10193, Note: The Texas Jewish Historical Society is Austin, Texas 78766-0193, Travis unable to guarantee the safe receipt and/or return County. Periodical postage paid at of documents or photographs. It is strongly recom- Houston, Texas. Postmaster: send mended that you provide color photocopies of both address changes to the Texas Jew- color and black & white documents. We welcome ish Historical Society, P. O. Box your comments and suggestions. 10193, Austin, Texas 78766-0193. Visit us on the web at www.txjhs.org. www.txjhs.org.
Page 2 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 From Russia to Galveston by Dennis B. Halpin All four of my grandparents were ton, Texas, and my grandmother’s with her mother for her first born, so born in Russia in the late 19th century. family became part of what was known she returned to Galveston, where my They were part of the great wave of im- as the “Galveston Plan.” After settling father was born on the island (BOI) in migration of Jews from Eastern Europe in Galveston, my great-grandfather sent 1918. My father’s brother, Max, was to America that occurred between 1880 for his wife (my great-grandmother, born in Galveston in 1920, and his and 1924. That makes my background Sarah Smith) and their three children, sister, Ida Flora (“Sister”), was born similar to most American Jews. My my grandmother Bessie and her two in Galveston in 1922. My father’s mother’s family followed the “tradi- brothers, David and Morris. They ar- youngest brother, Harry, was born in tional route” of going to New York and rived in Galveston in 1913 with other Wisconsin in 1924, where my grand- settling there. My father’s family took extended members of my grandmother’s father moved with the family after his a different route. My paternal grand- family including her best friend and discharge from the U.S. Army. My father, Abraham Halpin, was born in cousin, Fanny Posnick. My grandmoth- father became a bar mitzvah in Chi- Sevastopol, Russia. At the age of 15, er once described the journey she took cago in 1931, but shortly thereafter, his family sent him to America. He to Galveston. She and her family took my family returned to Galveston where arrived alone in New York and stayed the train from Kiev to Bremen, Germa- my father attended Ball High School. with an aunt and uncle on his mother’s ny, where they boarded a ship that first While my father was in high school, side. An accomplished musician, in landed at Montreal, Canada, before pro- my family moved to Houston, where 1913, he enlisted in the U.S. Army to ceeding to Galveston. There they met my father completed high school at be in the Army Band and was stationed two Jewish soldiers at Fort Crockett, the San Jacinto High School, graduating in at Fort Crockett in Galveston, Texas. man who became my grandfather, Abra- 1936. However, all of this time, much Although he could play all instru- ham Halpin, and his best friend, Henry of my grandmother’s family remained ments, my grandfather’s instrument in Greenberg. Our families have stayed in in Galveston, and it wasn’t until Hur- the U.S. Army Band was the clarinet. touch to this day. It was also in Texas ricane Ike in 2008 that the last of my According to family lore, John Phillip where my grandfather was reunited with family left Galveston, ending almost Sousa considered my grandfather the his brother, Joe Melamed, who also 100 years of my family in Galveston. best clarinetist in the country. After my came to America on his own. The only family I have left in Galves- grandparents were married, John Phil- My grandparents were married in ton is in the Jewish cemetery on 61st lip Sousa tried to persuade my grand- Galveston in 1916 while my grandfather Street. father to switch to the U.S. Marine was still in the U.S. Army. In 1914, he My parents met during World War Corps to be in the Marine Corps Band, participated in the Veracruz campaign II. My father had enlisted in the U.S. but grandmother had had enough of when U.S. troops were sent to Veracruz, Army Air Corps in 1940 (his first post military life and said “No!” But I am Mexico. After my grandparents were was Brooks Field Army Air Base in getting ahead of myself. married, he was sent to Laredo, Texas, San Antonio, Texas) and was already In the meantime, my paternal where, according to dad, he was un- well established in the military when grandmother’s family was preparing to der General Pershing chasing Poncho the U.S. entered the war. My mother, leave their shtetl of Chobne in Russia to Villa. While in Laredo my grandmother Frieda Chazen, who grew up in New come to America. My grandmother’s became pregnant with her first child, my York, went to work for the War Depart- father, Isadore Smith, came first and father, Morris Halpin. She wanted to be ment in the Pentagon in Washington, arrived in Baltimore, Maryland. There continued on page 17 a man named Louis Halfant told my great-grandfather to go to Galveston, Texas, which he did. At that time, most Mazel Tov of the Jews coming to America arrived to the following in New York and stayed there. The Texas Jewish Historical Society Members Jewish leadership in America realized it Jack Solka, who received the Community Service Award from the JCC in was not good to have all Jews crowded Austin for his work on the relocation of B’nai Abraham synagogue from in one area. So they designated other ports of entry to make it easier for Jews Brenham to Austin. to spread throughout the United States. Please send information for this column to One of the ports selected was Galves- Davie Lou Solka at [email protected].
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 3 TJHS Fall Meeting/Joint Conference with
Rusty Milstein and Rosalie Weisfeld helped lead Havdalah on the Dinner Cruise
Bryan Stone, Hollace Weiner, Program Co-Chairs
Sylvia Margolis, Abbi Michelson, Phyllis Feldman on the Rabbi Jimmy Kessler talked about Austin on the way to the LBJ Havdalah Dinner Cruise. Library. Photo courtesy of Barbara Stone.
David Beer, Charles & Jan Hart, Nancy Hoffman on Havdalah dinner cruise.
A deer on the Dell campus greeted TJHS/SJHS.
Page 4 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 SJHS in Austin, October 23-26, 2014
The Austin Local Arrangements Committee. Back: Gayle Cannon, Nelson Chafetz, Nancy Hoffman, Jack Solka, Abbi Michelson, Pacey Laves, and Davie Lou Solka, Bob Lewis mixed the sound dur- Chair. Front: Lisa Quay, JCC liason; Dolly Golden. Not present: Sheila Rosenfield, ing the video-taping of the plenary Debra Winegarten. panel at the LBJ Library.
Nelson Chafetz, Lisa Quay, and Jack The TJHS Board at the board meeting. Solka.
Jack Solka (back to us), Shirley Pollock (behind Jack), Mitzi & Rusty Milstein, Marilyn Glick, and Helen Wilk had lunch Cousins at the meeting: Jack & Davie Lou Solka, Pacey at the LBJ Library & Myra Laves, Shirley Pollock.
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 5 Groundbreaking Ceremony of B’nai Abraham in Austin, October 26, 2014
The pictures on this page are from the ground- breaking cer- emony for B’nai Abraham Syna- gogue, which is being moved from Brenham to Austin. The ceremony was held on the last day of the joint conference with the SJHS.
Helen Wilk presented an award from TJHS to Mimi Mimi & Leon Toubin and Leon Toubin.
Quite a crowd gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony. Jay Rubin, CEO of JCAA.
This is the first TJHS award for out- standing preservation of a historic Soil from Brenham and soil from Austin were combined with soil from Israel and used Jewish site, presented by Helen Wilk in groundbreaking. to Mimi & Leon Toubin. Page 6 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Rockdale Cemetery Receiving Needed Help by Jack Brooks of the Milam County Genealogy Society and the Rockdale Cemetery Committee
The Central Texas droughts since push the dead stand- 2009 have raised havoc with many of ing trees over. It was our cemeteries, and the Rockdale Jew- quickly learned that ish Cemetery is no exception. Twelve dropping a sixty-foot 30-to-60-foot cedar trees have died and tree in a congested are posing potential personal injury to cemetery does not visitors, as well as damage to the head- work. It was decided stones and fencing. that with a team effort The Rockdale Public Works De- comprised of com- partment lacks the funding to have the munity volunteers and trees professionally removed, and the the backhoe operator, limited budget and labor force won’t it could be done. The support the lease of an aerial lift for the plan was to fell the removal of the trees. trees in the direction of The Public Works people’s initial the smallest and fewest thought was to use a large backhoe and number of headstones. The location of those headstones would be triangu- lated and referenced in a notebook and a buried brick continued on page 22 Save the Date January 23-25, 2015 Board meeting— Waco, Texas March 17, 2015 Dedication of a Historical Marker for Rabbi Sidney Wolf, Corpus Christi, Texas March 20-22, 2015 Annual Gathering (joint meet- ing with Dallas Jewish Histori- cal Society)— Jack Solka and Debra Winegarten present Dallas, Texas $25,000 grant check to Jay Rubin, CEO of the Austin JCCA, to help with relocation of B’nai Abraham Synagogue from Brenham, Texas, to June 8-15, 2015 Austin. TJHS Mission to Cuba
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 7 Perry Kallison, continued from page 1 instructions to the head his flock homeward as the sun sets of the department of over the western sea. animal husbandry in “Modern Israel, however, envi- Israel. sions a new industry: mohair, the “Angora goats are lustrous fabric woven from the hair very delicate,” Perry of the Angora goat. The climate and wrote. “You need to terrain of Israel, in which goats have have someone come to been raised successfully since ancient Texas A&M for train- times, is like that of Texas. The farm- ing to care for them.” ers and cattle growers know well how The Yodfat Kibbutz— fortunate would be their endeavor the destination for the if only the herds, even a foundation Texas goats—was a herd, could be theirs. Such herds could settlement in an area of well be the lifeline of the hill coun- Galilee without elec- try of Israel, and the mohair industry tricity or roads. When could strengthen this young oasis of the Israeli represen- Kallison Ranch Front Gate in 1948. democracy. Rancher W. S. Orr has tatives, Yoram Avidor and Yehuda our expenses Agmor, arrived at the ranch, Perry Kal- while we lison sent them to various Texas goat were there,” ranches, including one owned by W. he said. “He S. Orr of Rock Springs. (Years earlier, had a large some Israelis traveling in the Texas Hill store in San Country had spotted Orr’s “little white Antonio, animals which resembled goats but did and he told not actually look like them.”) us to choose Yoram recalled Perry’s kindness: whatever we “He put us up in a hotel and paid all of wanted— clothes, tools, any- Angora Goats for Israel. thing we could use when we got donated a $500 registered sire and all back to Israel. For us, it was like that remains is the purchase of one being in ‘Wonderland.’” hundred goats at a cost of $50 each.” Determined to help Israel Although they fell short of the ini- and its people not only to sur- tial goal, the Israelis, with Perry’s help, vive but also to prosper in the did raise enough money to acquire Promised Land, Perry promoted seventy-five Angora kids from the Sch- the Israeli goat mission on the reiner Y. O. Ranch at Mountain Home. Trading Post. And in a widely- Both Jews and non-Jews who were disseminated letter dated “Au- sympathetic to the young country do- gust 1964 in the 16th year of the nated goats to Israel. An apple grower State of Israel,” he noted: “When in New York heard about the project the children of Israel dwelt in the and contributed the airfare to ship the wilderness of Sinai, before they herd from Texas to New York. El Al entered into the Promised Land, contributed one of its passenger planes they used goats for milk, food, to fly the herd home to Israel. When the clothing, and for covering the airplane touched down in Tel Aviv, this tabernacle (Exodus 26:7). Even first use of the sleek airline to transport Perry Kallison in an Israeli bunker during an today, in Galilee, one may still farm animals drew photographers to air raid drill, 1970. see the young shepherd leading continued on page 9
Page 8 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Perry Kallison, continued from page 8 the airport. host Israel’s Prime Minister Levi Esh- TJHS The goats, however, did not fare kol at the LBJ Ranch, some sixty miles as well as expected in their new home. away. At the same time, Perry sent Awarded Although the terrain around Yodfat his old friend the president a gift from appeared similar to that of Texas Hill Kallison’s store with a note: “With all Grant Country, the scrub was different. Due of the heavy burdens that come across to overgrazing and misuse of the land, your desk, I thought perhaps this little TJHS has received word the Yodfat vegetation had grown low branding iron would help hold them that by the end of this year, and dense. When the goats were put down.” 2014, we will be receiving out to pasture, stunted trees and bushes Several years after the goat-lifts, $5,000 from the Elizabeth snagged the Angoras’ fine wool coats. Perry traveled to Israel. It was 1970, Bettelheim Family Founda- With heavy hearts, the residents of when Israel was in a tense standoff Yodfat shipped the Angora goats to with Egypt and other surrounding Arab tion. Elizabeth Eldridge other kibbutzim scattered throughout states after Israel’s victory over Egypt, Bettelheims’ Eldridge family Israel. Happily, the delicate animals Jordan, and Syria—the main partici- lived in Jefferson, San Anto- thrived in their new homes—and Israeli pants in 1967’s Six Day War. Perry nio, Dallas and Corpus Christi. representatives returned to San Antonio was a member of a six-man delegation The Foundation was set up to a few years later with money from the of San Antonio Jewish leaders trying honor Mrs. Bettelheim by her Ministry of Agriculture to buy more. to raise money for Israel through the daughter, Ann E. Bettelheim, This time, two hundred and fifty United Jewish Appeal. They met with to further the work, interests Texas Angora goats were sent from the Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and educational activities she Uvalde rancher Dolph Briscoe, Perry’s traveled to the Suez Canal, and dived pursued during her lifetime. longtime friend (who later would serve into a bunker as part of an air raid as governor of Texas from 1973 to rehearsal. Then they went to the Negev 1979). Airlifted on Labor Day, they desert, “which reminded Perry of the Texas Hill Country, and which he also thought might be suitable for raising goats.” For Perry Kallison, his experi- ences with the Israelis sharpened his awareness of his own heritage. He related the experience of the Jews in Israel to the early lives of Nathan and Anna Kallison. Just as his parents had escaped oppression from the Russian czar in 1890 and had made a new life Angora Goats for Israel. for themselves in Texas, these Jews of Israel had escaped oppression in East- were grazing in Israel two days later. ern Europe and were trying to carve out Elizabeth Eldridge Bettelheim Even in his later years, Perry a life of freedom in another new and remained dedicated to Israel. After his still largely undeveloped land. and Briscoe’s lobbying efforts, sup- This story has been drawn from port for the Texas effort to help Israelis “The Harness Maker’s Dream: Nathan The deadline for develop a goat industry came also from Kallison and the Rise of South Texas” the US government, which backed Is- by Pulitzer Prize-winning journal- the March 2014 rael as the United States’ strongest ally ist, author, and historian Nick Kotz TJHS News Mag- in the Middle East. In December 1967, (TCU Press, 2013). Perry Kallison Perry briefed President Lyndon John- (1903-1999) was Kotz’s uncle. For azine is Friday, son on the status of the Texas Angora additional information, please go to January 16. goat project just before Johnson was to www.nickkotz.com.
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 9 Encyclopedia of Texas Jewish Communities
The Texas Jewish Historical Society awarded a grant to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life to re- search and publish the histories of Jews in Texas towns. These histories are available on the Institute’s website and are called “Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities.” We will adapt one of these histories in each issue of our News Magazine. Thanks to the History Department of the ISJL for per- mission to do so. To see other towns, go to the Institute’s website, www.isjl.org, click on the “History Department” and look for “Encyclopedia” in the drop-down menu. Waco Jews have was a mixture been an in- of south and tegral part of west. Waco’s devel- Waco’s opment since Jewish com- the found- munity devel- ing of the oped quickly city. Jacob along with the De Cordova, local econo- the son of my. Jews first Sephardic arrived in the Jewish par- years just after ents, settled the Civil War, in Texas soon and by 1879, after it won there was a its indepen- significant Farmers Improvement Society Bank (central building) on Bridge Street, Waco, Texas, c. 1915. dence from Jewish popu- Mexico. He acquired a large amount Like Texas itself, Waco straddles lation. Jews were drawn to Waco’s of land in the budding republic, and the South and West. Founded among burgeoning business opportunities and traveled around the United States prime cotton growing land, Waco had most opened retail stores catering to trying to attract new settlers to Texas. a significant slave population before the farmers and cowboys who came Beginning in 1848, De Cordova laid the Civil War. After the war, the arriv- to town. Brothers Bernhard and Alex out a new town along the Brazos River al of the railroad in 1871 turned Waco Alexander arrived from Prussia and that was the home of the Waco Indian into a major inland cotton market. opened a dry-goods store in 1879. tribe. Along with his business part- Cotton-related industries sprung up in Polish-born Moses Goldstein came to ners, he divided the land into plots and town in the late 19th century, includ- Waco in 1868 with his wife, Amanda, sold them to prospective settlers. De ing several cotton mills. In 1868, a and their six children. He opened Cordova guaranteed the success of this spur of the Chisolm Cattle Trail was a dry-goods store, and served as a venture when he offered to set aside built into Waco, as the town took on chazzan and shochet for the growing free land for schools, churches, and the feel of the Wild West. Within Jewish community. a courthouse, which led to the state’s three years, over 600,000 head of cat- When the railroad was built government naming Waco Village tle had tramped through Waco’s streets through Waco in 1873, Sam Sanger, a the seat of the newly incorporated on their way north. During the 1870s, brother of the retailing family, arrived McLennan County in 1850. Six years saloons and gambling houses prolifer- from Philadelphia to open a branch of later, the village was officially incor- ated in the frontier town, which gained the Sanger Brothers dry-goods store. porated as Waco. Although he never the nickname “Six Shooter Junction.” Sanger’s stores and his wholesale lived in the town which he helped to Prostitution was legal and regulated business were very successful and establish, De Cordova laid the ground- in Waco until the early 20th century. Sam became one of Waco’s leading work for Waco’s rise as a commercial With both cotton and cattle shaping businessmen. He served on the board center in the heart of Texas. the city’s economy, Waco’s culture continued on page 11
Page 10 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Waco, continued from page 10 of the Waco Cotton Palace, an annual Jewish-owned stores would be closed congregation. Initially Rodef Sha- fair and exposition celebrating the for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. lom did not affiliate with the Reform city’s primary cash crop. Sam’s son, In 1878, High Holiday services were movement, though they did move Charles, opened a cotton business, but held in the county courthouse using a away from strict Orthodoxy. In 1890, later joined the family business. Torah that had been purchased by the they advertised for a rabbi who could Benjamin Haber came to Waco in group. Traditional practices were ob- lead services from the more conserva- 1876, after living in several places in served with Rosh Hashanah services tive Minhag Jastrow prayer book and Texas since his arrival from Germany held for two days and the people kept could give sermons in English. Not in 1856. He opened a retail store and kosher. Yet, the group reached out to until 1907 did Rodef Shalom formally he and his wife Esther were very ac- the local non-Jewish community invit- affiliate with the Reform movement, tive in the Waco Jewish community. ing them to High Holiday services. joining the Union of American He- J.A. Solomon came to Waco in the In 1873, thirty-six Waco Jews brew Congregations (now Union for 1870s from Russia and also opened a formed a B’nai B’rith Lodge. It was Reform Judaism). very successful dry-goods store. from this lodge that the push came to Even though Rodef Shalom had Newspaper editor Charles Wes- establish a permanent congregation. not fully embraced Reform worship, solowsky visited Waco in 1879 and Finally in 1879, Congregation Rodef the growing number of newly arrived was impressed with the city’s econom- Shalom was formed with Sam Sanger immigrants from Eastern Europe ic prospects. He said that it was “des- as President. The Hebrew Benevo- decided not to join Waco’s first Jewish tined to become a large and extensive lent Association gave its Torah to the congregation. This group of Ortho- commercial city.” It was these same congregation, and they began rais- dox Jews began to meet in a room prospects that attracted Jews to Waco. ing money for a synagogue building. above a grocery store in 1886. Two Wessolowsky found about thirty Jew- Solomon Lyons led the fund raising years later, fifteen men, led by A. L. ish families on his visit and said that effort, soliciting donations from local Lipshitz, established Agudath Jacob, “some of them are indeed front in gentiles as well as Jews in northern the city’s first Orthodox congregation. rank in every branch of industry and cities. A Ladies Hebrew Aid Society They initially met in a rented house commerce.” He singled out Solomon was formed in 1879 “for the purpose which was converted to a synagogue. & Co. as having a large store that was of assisting in the erection of a House In 1893, they moved to a house on equal to any in the country in terms of Worship and establishing a Sunday Columbus Street which was used as of style and elegance. The Jewish School.” The society held several a synagogue and Talmud Torah. In community of Waco grew along with dances to raise money for the building 1904, the house was moved aside and the city and by 1900, there were over fund and was able to pay for all of the a brick synagogue was built in its 20,000 people living there. synagogue’s interior furnishings. In place. They kept the house, and used The Hebrew Benevolent Associa- 1881, Rodef Shalom dedicated its syn- it as a school building. tion was formed in 1869 by twenty agogue building on Washington Street After a storm destroyed the syna- Jews. In the 1870 census, thirteen of with Rabbi Jacob Voorsanger of Beth gogue building, a new one was built to these founders were listed as being Israel Congregation in Houston giving replace it in the same location in 1914. under forty. All were immigrants, the dedication address. According to a Soon after forming, Agudath Jacob coming from Prussia and Poland with local history published in 1909, “when hired Sam Levy to serve as chazzan, a majority owning dry-goods stores. A the synagogue was completed, it shochet, and mohel. Although he few worked as store clerks. Soon after was considered the prettiest religious was not a rabbi, Levy played a cen- forming, the Benevolent Association edifice in Waco.” Byzantine in style, tral role in the congregation for over bought land for a Jewish cemetery. with multiple spires and minarets, fifty years. He also butchered kosher They also had lavish Purim Balls each Rodef Shalom’s temple reflected the chickens for members of Rodef Sho- year that raised money for the society. growing prominence of Jews in Waco. lom, which showed the city’s oldest The Hebrew Benevolent Associa- Rabbi May was hired as the first Jewish congregation still had tradi- tion began holding religious services spiritual leader of Rodef Shalom, but tional members. In 1902, the women in a rented room, often led by Moses he left shortly after arriving due to of Agudath Jacob founded a Ladies Goldstein. Jews from small towns health problems. Rabbi Aaron Suhler Aid Society, which raised money to in the area would come to Waco for led the congregation for a few years support both local and national Jewish the High Holidays. By 1869, the lo- before he left the rabbinate, though he causes. Pauline Fred led the Society cal newspaper noted that the town’s remained in Waco as a member of the continued on page 12
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 11 Waco, continued from page 11 for thirty years as president. migrants fleeing Czarist oppression. Jewish causes and also helping Jewish According to the American Jewish Although this group was short-lived, refugees during World War I. In 1931, Year Book, by 1907, 600 Jews lived Waco Jews would continue to help a Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Circle was in Waco with Rodef Sholom having settle Jewish immigrants through the established which focused primarily fifty-six members and Agudath Jacob work of the Industrial Removal Of- on charity work. forty-five members. Both congre- fice and the Galveston immigration The Hebrew Benevolent Asso- gations had religious schools with movement in the early 20th century. ciation remained active into the 20th Agudath Jacob having thirty students In 1887, Jews in Waco founded the century, drawing significant support who met every weekday, and Rodef Young Men’s Hebrew Association from members of both congregations. Sholom had fifty students who met which offered both educational and In 1927, the Jewish Federated Chari- once a week. Both congregations social programs. The group soon ties was founded and consolidated grew over the next decade with Rodef evolved into a purely social organiza- the various Jewish charity efforts in Sholom having one-hundred mem- tion, changing its name to the Progress town. Later the organization changed bers and Agudath Jacob numbering Club in 1900 and acquiring a club- its name to the Jewish Welfare Coun- seventy-five. house that contained a ballroom, din- cil, and in 1984 it became the Jewish After several short-tenured rabbis, ing room, billiard room, and the only Federation of Waco and Central Texas, both congregations eventually hired roof garden in the city. The social raising money for local, national, and spiritual leaders who had a signifi- club had forty-two members in 1907, international Jewish causes. cant impact on their congregations. most of whom were affiliated with Waco Jews did not restrict their Rabbi Isadore Warsaw came to Rodef Rodef Sholom. Later, another YMHA charity to the Jewish community, Sholom in 1908 and soon began to was established in 1919. often giving money to church build- push for a new building. With his The Erzath Zion Society was ing funds. According to a report in influence, the congregation decided to founded in 1898 by members of the American Israelite newspaper build a new, larger temple on the same Agudath Jacob, which served as a free around the turn of the century, “there site as their old one, laying the corner- loan society and a Zionist organiza- is not a Christian church in the city stone for the new structure in 1908. tion. The group would lend money or county which Waco Jews did not Completed in 1910, Rodef Sholom’s at no interest to newly arrived Jewish help support financially.” In 1913, new home could seat four hundred immigrants to help them get started in Jewish women in Waco, led by Car- in the sanctuary. Rabbi Warsaw left a business. By 1913, the group had rie Sanger Godshaw, founded a local Waco in 1918, and Wolf Macht then split its functions, creating G‘miluth, chapter of Council of Jewish Women. led the congregation for the next a new free loan society, while Ezrath The Council opened a night school thirty-three years. Zion continued to work toward the for newly arrived immigrants to help In 1923, Agudath Jacob tore down creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. them learn English and began a penny the old house it had been using as an By 1919, Ezrath Zion had 102 mem- lunch program at a local school. They education building and replaced it bers, while the Daughters of Zion, a also had a program to give socks and with a new Hebrew Institute that had women’s group, had fifty members. shoes to needy children. Godshaw additional classrooms as well as a Both of these Zionist groups were was involved in a number of progres- banquet hall, kitchen, and gymnasium. closely affiliated with Agudath Jacob sive causes in Waco. An activist for They even had their own youth bas- with most of their members being first women’s suffrage, she founded the ketball team that used the new gym. generation immigrants. In 1927, Jew- local chapter of the League of Women The congregation added a mikveh, ish women in Waco founded a chapter Voters, established the city’s first which reflected the continued obser- of Hadassah. Montessori kindergarten in 1916 and vance of Orthodox practice. In 1924, A branch of the socialist Work- served as a director of Planned Parent- Agudath Jacob hired Rabbi Charles men’s Circle was formed by im- hood. Blumenthal, who led the congregation migrants from Eastern Europe in As in other Southern cities, Waco until 1945. 1912. Kalman Solovey, a Latvian Jews were heavily concentrated in Waco Jews established several immigrant who owned a grocery store, business, especially retail trade. Jews other organizations that pursued a and F. Israel were the founders of this owned a wide array of businesses in range of goals. In 1882, a Russian group. The Workmen’s Circle brought the early 20th century, including stores Refugee Society, headed by Sam Yiddish programs to Waco for many selling jewelry, clothing, dry goods, Sanger, helped settle Jewish im- years, while also raising money for continued on page 13 Page 12 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Waco, continued from page 12 and furniture. Perhaps the best known she became the manager of the Waco destroyed almost 600 business build- was the Goldstein & Migel Depart- Auditorium, often challenging lo- ings in the city and killed 114 people, ment Store. Isaac Goldstein moved to cal laws and social mores with her including two Jews. After the tornado Waco as a boy in 1868 with his father, programs. Never married, Oscar lived many businesses relocated to new sub- Moses. In 1888, he opened a dry- by herself in the honeymoon suite of a urban shopping centers as the down- goods store with his brother-in-law, local hotel. She challenged local blue town district went into decline. In Louey Migel, who was born in Russia. laws by showing movies on Sundays. 1966, in another economic blow to the Their business eventually grew into In 1917, she brought in a lecturer on city, Connally Air Force Base closed. the city’s largest and best department birth control, who spoke to single-sex Waco’s general population began to store. Both Goldstein and Migel audiences, the women during the day decline in the 1960s. At the same became leading figures in Waco civic and men during the evening. Oscar time, the Jewish community began to life. Goldstein was a strong supporter also brought big name stars like Will shrink steadily as well. By 1980, only of public libraries, and put a circulat- Rogers, Harry Houdini, and the Marx 750 Jews lived in Waco. In 1997, the ing library in his department store dur- Brothers to Waco. During the roaring number was down to an estimated 300 ing its early years. He led the effort to 1920s, Oscar began to bring in risqué people. build a public library in Waco, donat- plays containing sexual innuendo. Despite this decline, both of Wa- ing land and raising money to match a One of these plays, Irving Berlin’s co’s congregations have persevered. grant from the Carnegie Fund. Gold- “Music Box Review,” led to the arrest Agudath Jacob moved to a new syna- stein spent nineteen years as President of twenty actresses and Oscar herself gogue in 1951, where it remained for of the Waco Public Library. He also for indecency. This crackdown led to the next twenty-one years. In 1966, served many years on the board of the the closing of the theater as traveling the congregation reached its peak of First National Bank of Waco. Migel acts would no longer come to Waco. 183 member families, and that same spent twenty-five years as President Despite this setback, Oscar remained year, Agudath Jacob decided to move of Rodef Sholom and donated land in show business, booking events at away from Orthodoxy, affiliating with for the Waco Boys Club. Accord- other theaters in Waco and in other the Conservative movement. When ing to one local history published towns in the area until her death in Agudath Jacob dedicated its new syna- in 1902, Migel’s “name is almost a 1950. gogue on Hillcrest Drive in 1972, their household word” in Waco due to his Waco grew tremendously over the membership was 153. Rodef Sholom civic involvement. Isaac’s son, Aaron 20th century, greatly aided by the mili- also moved to a new building in the Goldstein, later took over the depart- tary buildup during the world wars. post-war years. With the arrival of the ment store and followed in his father’s During World War I, the army built baby boom generation, the congrega- footsteps as a civic leader. Aaron Camp McArthur just outside the city, tion soon outgrew its old building. served several terms as a city commis- and had over 35,000 soldiers stationed When the new synagogue was dedicat- sioner and was president of the Waco there during the war, matching Waco’s ed on North 41st Street in 1961, Rodef Chamber of Commerce. pre-war population. Business boomed Sholom had 170 members and over In a description of Waco’s Jew- in the city during the war and its af- 100 children in its religious school. ish community written in 1909, Isaac termath. During the depression, Waco After Rabbi Macht’s retirement in Goldstein explained that while Jews suffered as the local cotton industry 1952, the congregation hired Charles had not been very involved in local was decimated. As with the rest of the Lesser and later, Amiel Wohl as their politics, “in enterprise for the upbuild- country, World War II rescued the city spiritual leaders. In 1964, Rodef Sho- ing of our city and in public undertak- financially. Numerous war industry lom hired Rabbi Mordecai Podet, who ings, they are among the foremost.” factories were built in addition to sev- led the Reform congregation until his One of the most colorful and eral military installations in the area. retirement in 1988. Rabbi Podet was controversial figures in Waco was Connally Air Force Base remained very active in the larger community, Gussie Oscar, who moved to town open after the war, as Waco’s popu- serving as chairman of the Waco Hu- from Calvert in 1905 to play in the lation reached 84,000 by 1952. Its man Relations Council and President orchestra of the Majestic Theater. By Jewish community grew only slightly, of the Waco Ministerial Alliance. 1911, she conducted an all-female from 1,150 people in 1937 to 1,250 in Jews continued to play a leading orchestra and later toured the coun- 1960. role in Waco’s civic affairs. During try as a piano player for singer May Waco’s downtown was leveled by the Civil Rights era, city business Irwin. When Oscar returned to Texas, a catastrophic tornado in 1953, which continued on page 24
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 13 President’s Message, continued from page 2
Michelson (who hosted a fabulous helped with this move with our grant of Trip to hamesh Hospitality Room), Lisa Quay $25,000. (See photo on page 7.) (our JCC liaison), Sheila Rosenfield, We’re in the process of planning our Israel and Jack Solka. This weekend would next meeting in Waco, January 23-25, have been impossible without all the 2015. The theme will be “Capturing Congregation Agu- sleepless nights and heavy lifting this Texas Jewish History Before it Gets das Achim in Austin fabulous crew performed on our behalf. Away.” To this end, we’ve arranged for is sponsoring a trip to The weekend ended with many the Oral History Department at Baylor Israel called “Israel: of us at the future location of B’nai University to give us a three-hour oral Abraham Synagogue for a beautiful history training session. Why, you may End to End.” It will be groundbreaking ceremony. Jay Rubin, ask? I’ll tell you. Some of our mem- March 10-22, 2015, and CEO of the JCAA, began the ceremony bers are reaching the octogenarian stage everyone is invited to with the story of the congregation and of life and beyond, and I’m committed participate. For complete how Leon Toubin came to him with the to ensuring that we record their stories idea of moving the synagogue. Leon while we still have them on this side of details, go http://caa- and his wife, Mimi, have been taking heaven. Now, I’m a big woman, but austin.org/Israel2015 or care of the synagogue for over forty there’s not enough of me to go around contact Joe Steinberg at years since the doors were closed for our big state and take everyone’s histo- [email protected]. religious services. Helen Wilk, TJHS ries. So, we’re going to train a cadre of Past President and current Chair of us to go out into the field and make this the Awards Committee, presented the happen. We are also working on having Toubins with the first award for the a descendant of the founder of Waco to “outstanding preservation of a historic come share the Jewish history of Waco’s Jewish site” from TJHS. The group founding. This is a weekend you won’t then proceeded to the area where the want to miss! Watch your mailbox in mikvah would be and broke ground the next several weeks for your registra- using soil from Brenham, Austin, and tion information and form. It will also Israel. TJHS is very proud to have be posted on our website. TJHS Trip to Cuba Our second mission to the Jewish Communities of Cuba June 8-15, 2015 Join your fellow members, family, and friends on a uniquely insightful trip of cultural discovery and humanitarian effort. We will have experiences offered to few travelers to this tropical island nation. You will get to know Cuba while helping and meeting the Jewish Community. This will be a great mitzvah, a unique experience, and a fun trip. Be more than a tourist! Please look to the society’s website for more detailed information as it becomes available (www.txjhs.org) or contact TJHS Travel Chair Vickie Vogel at 979-247- 4504, 979-699-2493, or [email protected]. This mission is pursuant to a General License issued to the Texas Jewish Historical Society by the US Depart- ment of the Treasury. This photo is from our last mission trip to Cuba.
Page 14 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 History of the Texas Kallah by Rabbi Jack Segal Presented at the Annual Gathering of the Texas Jewish Historical Society in Houston, Texas, 2006
“Kallah” on “Palestinian was a term and Babylonian used almost Rituals.” two millen- Each nia ago to lecture was represent the critiqued by a months of Elul different rabbi. (September) It should be and Adar obvious that (March) when these lectures large groups of were extremely Jewish people intellectual would assem- ones and they ble in Baby- were geared lonia (Iraq) for people to study the who had good Torah. There backgrounds in Kallah of Texas Rabbis—Ft. Worth, Texas. are many theo- Photo courtesy of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives. Talmudic and ries as to the Biblical stud- etymology (origin and development of an additional address Monday morning ies. All of the rabbis submitted copies a word) of “Kallah” but for many years and afternoon. There were more ad- of their talks and a picture, and all were no one really knew the exact origin of dresses presented on Tuesday morning eventually published in a booklet. that word. and afternoon. The Kallah would meet each year Today, three theories have come Nine rabbis presented papers, and for friendship, Torah study, and to see forth as to the reason why that word some of them were “quite heavy” (there neighboring cities. There was a poten- was used for the assembly of people to was an additional welcoming address by tial of 75 to 90 rabbis in the state, even study the Torah. “Kallah” comes from Abraham Schechter). though only approximately one-third the world “bride.” We Jewish people The following papers were pre- attended the Kallah meetings. are considered the bride of God, and the sented: I arrived in Houston in 1965. At Torah was also considered the bride of Rabbi Henry Cohen of Galveston that time, the Kallah was thirty-eight God. “Kallah” comes from the Hebrew spoke on “The Jewish Settlements in years old, even though it did not meet word “kol” which means wholeness or Texas.” Rabbi David Lefkowitz of for several years during World War II. I totality. It represents a university where Dallas spoke on “The Relationship of remember that there was controversy for many subjects are studied. The word the Life and Philosophy of Spinoza to the 1966 Kallah that I attended. “Kallah” is an acronym. Three letters in the Jewish Community and to Juda- The Kallah had invited Rabbi the word are kaph, lamid, and hay. This ism.” Rabbi Henry Barnston of Hous- Dr. Immanuel Jacobovits of the Fifth stands for Knesset lomday ha’Torah (an ton spoke on “Higher Criticism and Avenue Synagogue of New York to be assembly of those who are studying the Biblical Archeology.” Rabbi Benjamin the guest lecturer. Prior to that assign- Torah). Mereyowitz of Houston spoke on ment, he had been the Chief Orthodox On Monday morning, March 2, “Marriage and Divorce.” Rabbi Wolfe Rabbi of Ireland. That year, we wanted 1927, the first Kallah of Texas Rabbis Macht of Waco spoke on “The Theology to honor Rabbi Israel Rosenberg of came into existence. It had a twofold of Avravanel’s Rosh Amana.” Rabbi Congregation Shearith Israel in Wharton purpose—to encourage Jewish schol- Charles Blumenthal of Waco spoke on on the tenth year in that city. We also arship among its member rabbis and “Elementary Schools in the Century wanted to honor Rabbi William Malev to support and enlarge the Abraham I. Before O.C.E.” Rabbi Nathan Blech- of Congregation Beth Yeshurun on his Schechter Collection of Judaica that man of Houston spoke on “The Soul of twentieth year as a Rabbi in Houston eventually was established in 1939 at the Midrash.” Rabbi Samuel Rosinger and his synagogue’s 75th anniversary. the University of Texas. It met at the of Beaumont spoke on “The Sabbatarian However, we hit a snag, a blockade, and Hebrew Institute in Houston, Texas. Prayer Books of Simon Pechi.” Rabbi a restraint. There was an opening address, then Abraham Schechter of Houston spoke continued on page 16
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 15 Texas Kallah, continued from page 15 We told Rabbi Jacobovits that we stated: Body from One Cemetery to Inter the wanted to honor Rabbi Malev and that “Dear Rabbi Schwartzman—I am Body Into Another Cemetery?” Rabbi we also wanted to honor his congrega- in receipt of a letter from the Secretary- Henry Tavel of Houston spoke on “Hos- tion; however, he said, “No!” He stated, Treasurer of the Kallah of Texas Rabbis, pital Procedures.” “It is a Conservative congregation, and and to my astonishment, I read the Rabbi Schwartzman spoke on a as an Orthodox rabbi, I cannot partici- second paragraph which states: ‘To number of religious questions that truly pate in such an observance.” He stated indicate whether or not you require captivated the interest of those in at- that he was still fulfilling the British kashrus.’ tendance: Orthodox refusal to participate in non- “You are having a most important May one buy bread from a Jewish Orthodox functions. Therefore, in order gathering named “Kallah” which should bakery that keeps open on the Sabbath? to placate him, we went to Wharton, be a gathering to improve the knowl- May one buy from a kosher butcher Rabbi Rosenberg’s synagogue. edge and observance of traditions, laws, who also keeps treyf packages of tur- In fact it is interesting to note, that and rituals. Here, rabbis are gathering keys and cakes? this non-participation of Orthodox to the affair and calling it ‘Kallah’ and If one is a widower and he passes rabbis with Conservative and Reform questioning kashrut is required?? This away, should he be buried next to his rabbis was from a decree of twelve of defeats the purpose of the Kallah from first wife, his second wife, or in the the most important Orthodox rabbis in the start! middle of both? the United States in 1955. At that time, “You recall when the U.J.A. wanted May a double ring ceremony be per- they stated that Orthodox rabbis could non-kosher—everyone stormed, includ- formed in an Orthodox wedding? participate with Conservative and Re- ing myself, even the Reform members May an Orthodox rabbi participate form rabbis only in matters to help the admitted and agreed to have it kosher. with a Conservative or Reform rabbi at community—UJA, Israel Bonds, Feed How a body of rabbis, especially the a wedding? the Hungry, and to raise funds for the Orthodox and Conservative, question On a number of occasions, Rabbi poor. However, they state most em- kashrut at their gathering is beyond my Schwartzman referred to Conservative phatically that they could not participate comprehension. It is disappointing and and Reform rabbis as “non-Orthodox with Conservative or Reform rabbis in grieves me greatly. I, of course, will not ministers.” Part of his response was matters that involved theology, religious attend.” that sometimes it is permissible to co- philosophy, or Jewish Law. The letter was signed by Rabbi officiate with these non-Orthodox rab- Honoring the 75th anniversary of a Robert Shapiro and was sent to Rabbi bis, because of darkay shalom, in order Conservative congregation would mean Louis Firestein, Rabbi William Malev, to perpetuate peace in the community. that Rabbi Jacobovits was recognizing Rabbi Jack Segal, and Rabbi Moshe However, Rabbi Schwartzman added the existence of Conservative Judaism Cahana. that the non-Orthodox rabbis should as an equal to Orthodox Judaism. That At this Kallah, the following ad- not be witnesses at the wedding. One he could not do. According to him, and dresses were presented: should have none of the rabbis acting according to Orthodox Judaism, there Rabbi Jacobovits spoke on “Jew- as witnesses. Two laypeople who are was only one form of Judaism—Or- ish Medical Ethics” and “Is the Ameri- Sabbath observers should be asked to be thodox Judaism, not Conservative or can Jew Vanishing?” Rabbi Abraham the witnesses. Reform Judaism. Brachman from Fort Worth spoke on The next year, 1967, the Kallah was Also, to complicate that Kal- “The Alleged Death of God.” Rabbi held in Fort Worth and Rabbi Isadore lah, a letter was sent by Rabbi Robert Moshe Cahana of Houston spoke on Garsek was honored for his twenty years Shapiro of Houston to Rabbi Raphael “Man Was Made in the Image of God.” at Congregation Ahavath Sholom in Schwartz— a man who was then vice Rabbi M. David Geffen spoke on “The Fort Worth. Rabbi Robert J. Shur was president of the Texas Kallah. Rabbi Seven Noachide Commandments.” also honored for his ten years at Beth-El Shapiro was not an active rabbi with a Rabbi Harold Gottesman spoke on Congregation in Fort Worth. The guest pulpit but rather a metals expert, who “Three Sidros and Three Gemaras as lecturer was Rabbi Eugene Mihaly who was a Talmudic scholar and had been a Guideline for Today.” Rabbi Robert was a professor at HUC-JIR. Rabbi ordained in Europe. That year, the of- Kahn of Houston spoke on “A Moroc- Mihaly spoke on “The Passover Hagga- ficers of the Kallah, in addition to Rabbi can Kamaea.” Rabbi Morris Katz spoke dah,” The Message of the Prayer Book Schwartzman, were President Rabbi on “The So-Called Holy Column in St. for Contemporary Man,” and “The Amram Prero, a Conservative rabbi, and Peter’s.” Rabbi Raphael Schwartzman Midrash as Literature, Method, and Secretary-Treasurer was Rabbi Raphael of Houston spoke on “A Rabbi’s Re- Philosophy.” Schwartzman, an Orthodox rabbi. sponsas.” Rabbi Jack Segal of Houston Five additional papers were The letter from Rabbi Shapiro spoke on “When May One Disinter a continued on page 17
Page 16 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Texas Kallah, continued from page 16 presented: Rabbi Israel Rosenberg Schwartzman of Houston spoke on “Or- Temple.” The Texas Kallah was truly spoke on “Names and Nouns.” Rabbi gan Transplants.” terrific as long as it lasted. But when Jack Segal of Houston spoke on “Arti- At the 1974 Kallah, I spoke on people could no longer give two days to ficial Insemination—a Legal, Psychiat- “Should We Rebuild the Third Temple it, when they lost interest in maximum ric and Theological Analysis.” Rabbi in Jerusalem?” and was appointed learning, and when they no longer were David Geffen spoke on “The Rabbi and Secretary-Treasurer. Our bank account interested in preparing papers, the Kal- Coca-Cola.” Rabbi Judah Fish of Aus- had a balance of $439.61. lah lost its four Vs: vim, vigor, vitality, tin spoke on “How Much Yiddish Do In 1977, we went to San Antonio and vivacity—and it died, and we put up Our Youngsters Know?” Rabbi Abra- and had eighty-nine rabbis registered a sign: R.I.P.—Rest in Peace. However, ham Brachman of Fort Worth spoke on on the books as rabbis in Texas or close I must admit that I miss it. “Some Notes on Messianism.” to Texas. I spoke on the subject of “A We all look at different subjects In 1969, the Kallah met in Galves- Rabbi’s Attitude Toward the Death Pen- in different ways. Yes, the Kallah was ton and Rabbi Norman Lamm, an alty.” In 1978, I spoke on “Judaism and important to the Jewish people almost Orthodox rabbi was the main lecturer. Homosexuality” and Rabbi Robert Kahn 2,000 years ago. It was important to He spoke on “Confrontation of Juda- was honored for his approximately forty the rabbis of Texas more than fifty years ism and Secularism,” “The Ethics of years as a rabbi in Houston. ago. And now, educating the laypeople Protest” (this was the time of Vietnam), However, the momentum began to of our community has become priority and “The Relative Roles of Prayer and wane. The attendance became smaller number one. Study in Judaism.” and smaller. No one wanted to be the (Editor’s note: On April 26, 2009, Four additional papers were chairperson for the next year. Therefore at the Annual Gathering of TJHS held presented that year: Rabbi Hyman early in the 1980s, the Kallah fell apart, in College Station, Texas, Rabbi Jimmy Schachtel of Houston spoke on “Why disappeared, evaporated, and dissolved. Kessler presented a check for $3,100 to Judaism will Endure.” Rabbi Jack Se- However, it lasted for more than fifty TJHS from the Kallah of Texas Rabbis. gal of Houston spoke on “The Halachic years, and I must personally state that He was the last treasurer of the Kallah, Approach to Heart Transplantation” (Dr. I loved presenting papers there on sub- and in consultation with several rab- Cooley and DeBakey were perform- jects of the day. bis, they agreed to donate the remain- ing heart transplantations in Houston). The Talmud says (R.H. 18b) She- ing funds to TJHS with the hope that a Rabbi Lothar Goldstein of Port Arthur ku-lah mee-ta-tan shel tza-dee-kim k’se- history of the organization be written. spoke on “Physics, Metaphysics, and ray-fot bet Elo-hay-nu—“The death of There were no conditions attached to Jewish Mysticism.” Rabbi Raphael the righteous is like the burning of the this money.) From Russia to Galveston, continued from page 3 D.C. On Yom Kippur 1942, my dad spent most of her life in Texas. My he oversaw the renovation of the old was in Washington, D.C., getting ready mother passed away in 1989, and my Jim West mansion for the Lunar and to be shipped out for the invasion of father passed away in 2007. Planetary Institute (now located at a North Africa (he did not know it at the Following the World War II, my fa- new facility at another location). time) and went to synagogue for Yom ther attended the University of Houston I, my sister, and all my immediate Kippur. My mother was also in syna- where he received his degree in Archi- cousins in my dad’s family were born gogue for Yom Kippur, and that was tectural Engineering in 1949. While in Houston. I was a member of Boy where they met. They stayed in touch my father was in college, my mother Scout Troop 247 at Beth Yeshurun, and, after dad returned to the states in worked for Beth Yeshurun where she from 1964 to 1968. While I was in the 1945, they became engaged. My par- was Rabbi Malev’s secretary. In the Boy Scouts, I received the Ner Tamid ents told me that at first, my mother’s 1950s, he went to work for Brown award. My certificate was signed by father doubted that my dad was Jewish. & Root, Inc., in Houston, where he Rabbi Malev (who helped create the After all, there were no Jews in Texas! eventually became Chief Specification award for the Boy Scouts) and Rabbi A call from my father’s mother to my Writer and, in that capacity in the early Schwartzman at Adath Emeth where mother’s father in Yiddish convinced 1960s, wrote the specifications for the we were members. Both my sister and him otherwise. My parents were mar- site development and most of the build- I attended Bellaire High School and ried in Houston by Rabbi Max Geller ings at the Manned Spacecraft Center, received degrees from the University of of Beth Jacob (now part of the United now known as the Johnson Space Cen- Houston and Texas A&M University. Orthodox Synagogues of Houston) in ter. Ironically, I am now an engineer at 2013 marked the 100th anniversary of 1946. Although born in Poland in 1920 NASA, working in the buildings that my grandmother, Bessie Halpin, arriv- and raised in New York, my mother my father designed! At that same time, ing in Galveston.
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 17 From Our Archives
This column is based on information in the TJHS Collection, housed at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas campus in Austin. It has been supplemented with online research. If you have corrections or additions, please submit them in writing to the TJHS editor at [email protected]. We want our archives to be as complete and accurate as possible. Travels and Travails of Henry Mayer by Vickie Vogel While washed and browsing bleached the the TJHS clothes by archives drying the index, clothes on the my atten- grass.” tion was In captured those days, by the recounts entry titled Henry, a good The Life hausfrau & Travels would have of Henry linens by the Mayer.1 dozens “nay I like to hundreds” travel, all properly too, so I marked. His decided to brothers had see where a hundred Henry shirts, too went. numerous to The file mention. contains a Gertrude photocopy was bril- of Henry’s liant in math, hand- Henry Mayer. Photos courtesy of Dr. Kay Goldman. and could written figure any memoir. He was born in 1817 in black hair and eyes, very popular sum in her head faster than her sons Ingelheim, Germany, to Marcus and and highly respected not alone in his could do it with pencil and paper. She Gertrude Oppenheimer Mayer who home town but all around the coun- maintained this ability throughout her had seven sons: Leopold, Moses, Ger- try.” He wished he had a portrait of long life. She would tell the children shon, Henry, Michael,2 Simon, and a him, but that was considered a luxury stories of how the Russians and also younger brother whose name Henry for the nobility. His mother, Gertrude, the French overran the country. She had forgotten. He remembered his was small of stature with black hair spun the flax grown in their fields, parents mourning the son who died and large black eyes. Henry noted she had it made into cloth, and had the before the length of time required for was a good housekeeper, neat and tidy tailor come to their home to cut the them to receive a pension or present and economical. Gertrude did all her cloth, for fear he would use too much from the king. Later, three sisters were own work except the washing which if not closely watched. She canned added: Regina, Amelia, and Zetshen.3 was done once a year “when women the fruit the boys picked, instructing Henry described his father, were hired and the clothes taken out them to clear out any spoiling fruit Marcus, as “a tall fine looking man, to what was called the Grosse Bleiche from where it was stored in the attic. stout and well built, redish [sic] beard, (large bleaching grounds) where they continued on page 19
Page 18 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Henry Mayer, continued from page 18 She called it “ausputzen” and the there. Joining a party of young people was greatly pained that he did not see boys found it great fun. For bread, the heading to Paris to emigrate, Henry his father again. baker would come to the house every took charge of hiring a wagon for the Henry looked for work in New two weeks and set the rye dough, baggage, collecting the fair share from Orleans as his funds dwindled. Walk- come back and work it, then take it each of the party, and traveled free ing past a restaurant, he was surprised to his own house to bake, and bring it for his efforts. Everyone walked the to see his childhood friend Samuel back. entire way. Kaufman standing in the doorway, Henry and his brothers were a After a few days in Paris, they dressed all in black, wearing white kid lively group of boys, large and strong were ready to embark. Because Henry gloves, with a napkin over his arm. He and good with their fists. They stuck spoke French, he made the necessary was a waiter. Sam quit his job, and he together, and to fight any one meant to purchases, receiving a commission and Henry became partners, buying a fight all six of them. They loved play- from each of the others. From Paris, very small bill of goods and peddling ing pranks on the teachers at their two the group walked to the port of Le through the county, each carrying a schools, one daily and one religious. Havre, a distance Henry spoke of as pack. Before they returned from their Their Hebrew teacher was a “born about 60 miles, but it is actually over first trip, they bought a horse which devil.” He had just had his boots “re- a hundred.4 They booked passage was blind in one eye. They tied their footed,” and they stood next to him. on the Richmond, and had a hard trip packs on the horse, and Sam, who was When he grabbed one to strike Henry, before arriving, sixty days later, in small, rode on top while Henry led the top came off, which caused great New Orleans. Even worse, Henry the horse. After a few trips, they were hilarity among the boys. “I could fill was robbed of all he possessed by a able to buy a wagon. Henry continued a book with the pranks we played,” pickpocket. He especially regretted peddling for a couple of years while remembered Henry. the loss of an old silver watch that had Sam managed the store they estab- At the age of 17, Henry went belonged to his father. He also regret- lished in Richmond, Virginia. to live with an aunt in Fürfelt for a ted that he had not convinced his fam- Here the handwritten copy ends. A year, but he had heard so much about ily to come with him. When Marcus 100 page typewritten article follows, America, he decided to try his luck died in 1840 at the age of 65, Henry with no author named. She follows Henry’s narrative, adding other mate- rial. The Mayer fam- ily, she states, were wine merchants who shipped all over Eu- rope, and later, even to America. Henry is described as intelli- gent with black eyes, white even teeth, a clear complexion and coal-black hair, with a cheerful disposition. This section is written like a novel. She em- bellishes the tale of meeting up with Sam in New Orleans, and their peddling days, and covers the next stage of Henry’s life. Henry’s friend Bernhard Cohen and his wife Regina (or Rachel) lived in Rachel Mayer. Photos courtesy Dr. Kay Goldman continued on page 20
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 19 Henry Mayer, continued from page 19 Philadelphia. Regina’s family history dict Lorch, a young lawyer from give you the clothes off his back. His was recorded by her daughter Re- Mainz. He was actually born in Nan- wife kept his clothes under lock and becca, and is located in a different box cy, where his mother was visiting at key to keep him from giving them in our archives.5 Regina’s grandfa- the time. At six feet tall, Benedict had away. Alexander owned a parrot that ther was Nathan Loeble Bomeisler, served in the French army and been could out-swear any sailor (he was purchased from one). Many times the parrot yelled, “Fire!” and caused the engines to come out. Alex- ander also raised white King Charles dogs which com- manded a high price. Leopold became a Methodist, persuaded by the shoemaker he was appren- ticed to. He married a Gen- tile from Philadelphia. On his deathbed, his wife took her three boys away and left him dying, “with the remark that had she known he was a Jew she never would have married him.”6 Fanny married Henry’s business partner, Sam Kaufman, while the family was living in Vicksburg.7 Eleanor and Benedict’s Rebecca Mayer’s 90th birthday. Photo courtesy of Dr. Kay Goldman. daughter Regina (Rachel) a manufacturer of cloth. His wife’s a bodyguard of Napoleon. He was married Bernhard H. Cohen, a na- maiden name was Heller, and she was wounded at Waterloo or Austerlitz, tive of Gericka, Westphalia, in 1835 considered the most beautiful woman an injury that plagued him through- in Philadelphia. His father was head in Bavaria. They had two daughters out life. His family moved to Mainz, rabbi over all Westphalia. At age (Theresa and Eleanor) and four sons Germany, where he met Eleanor after 100, Rabbi Cohen was officiating on (Siegfried, Michel, Joe and Louis). All marriage was proposed between the Yom Kippur when he began to feel the sons came to America. Theresa two, and they agreed to wed. Their ill, having fasted all day, and he left stayed in Munich, as did the parents. wedding was the largest ever in Mu- the bimah. A chair was placed outside Eleanor, Regina’s mother, was born in nich, according to Rebecca, and even the door for him, and there he died, 1785 in Munich, Bavaria. members of the nobility attended. surrounded by the whole congrega- Louis was shipwrecked and cap- They settled in Landau. Eleanor joked tion. Although human images were tured by Indians. He made the signs to Rebecca that she had played with not allowed, a Gentile had painted his of free masonry, which gained the her big doll until the first baby came. picture, prints of which became quite good will of the Chief and gave him She and Benedict had seven children: popular in many homes. safe passage to a town. A widow with Leopold, Alexander, Herman, Louis, Bernhard and Regina had a children took him in when he became Regina (or Rachel), Carolina and daughter, Rebecca, in 1838. Just ill. They fell in love and married, Fanny. before Rebecca was born, her parents although he confessed he had nothing. The sons were sent to the United had been given a pet monkey. The She took him to a large Philadelphia States, most likely to Eleanor’s broth- monkey was jealous of the baby. One store, walked into the private office, ers in the Philadelphia area. Ten years day a man rang the doorbell and told introduced her new husband and later, the Lorches decided to immi- them there was a monkey on the roof asked that everything be turned over grate, also settling in Philadelphia. with a baby in its arms. Mattresses to him! Louis managed her firm for All the Lorch sons married non- were piled around the house in case he years. Jews except Alexander. It was said dropped or threw the baby. Mr. Cohen Eleanor, aged 15, married Bene- Alexander was so generous he would continued on page 21
Page 20 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Henry Mayer, continued from page 20 grabbed a handful of nuts and climbed and resumed using the name Cohen. in Texas. As the draft of this article onto the roof and coaxed the monkey She married a third time to Sigmund began to stretch on and on, I realized to bring the baby to him. They found Feinberg, a Courlander10 or Russian, even an abbreviated account could not a new home for the monkey. “a fine man and loved by us all,”11 and do it justice, so I have omitted almost Bernhard and Regina left Phila- had other children.12 all of the diary. delphia before Rebecca’s second Rebecca was schooled at a con- At some point, Henry took Re- birthday and moved to Vicksburg, vent until she was disciplined one becca’s stepfather, Sigmund Feinberg, Mississippi. Although Bernhard may day. Thereafter, she went to the public into the H Mayer business in San have been trained as a watchmaker, it school without parental knowledge. Antonio. He was accidentally shot is likely he operated a general store in When this was discovered, her mother by a man they had befriended named Vicksburg. Henry Mayer, the family was horrified that she was mingling Schwartz. Schwartz in turn was killed friend, visited often and formed an with the hoi polloi, and she was re- years later by an Italian who claimed attachment to baby Rebecca. As she turned to the convent school. Schwartz was the cause of his being grew up, he became so fond of her, he Meanwhile, Henry Mayer was imprisoned. After Feinberg’s death, called her his “Little Wife.” trading among the Indians and had Regina (Rachel) and her children Bernhard was well educated, very added Spanish to his French, German lived with Henry and Rebecca for musical, always jolly and happy, his and English skills. He continued to a short time, then rented a cottage daughter Rebecca remembered. He visit the family and when Rebecca where Ella, the youngest, died of died at age 33 in 1844 “of conges- finished school, she and Henry be- convulsions. As an old woman, Re- tion of the brain brought on by going came engaged, marrying in 1852. The becca wrote, “My grandmother and to a funeral, and as everybody had to bride was 15 and the groom 35. sister Ella and Feinberg are buried in walk in those days, and the heat being Their wedding trip was to Chihua- the disputed graveyard there, in San terrible, it was July 21st in Vicksburg, hua, Mexico. Rebecca kept a diary of Antonio, where my mother put up a Miss.”8 Rebecca was ten years old. her adventurous trip, which included big stone fence so as to keep Schwartz He was buried in a metal coffin so a riverboat fire and dramatic rescue. from being buried next to Feinberg.”15 that he could be removed to Cincin- The carriage had to be hand stead- When Eleanor neared the end of her nati where Eleanor and Benedict now ied to keep it from skidding down life, she always carried with her a lived.9 The body would travel by the side of the hill. They waited in shroud and a hundred dollars. When boat, but the crew mutinied when they Independence, Missouri, for merchan- she learned the Jews of San Antonio saw a coffin being loaded so the plan dise from New York. 500 mules made had no burial ground, she donated that was delayed. up their wagon train. When Rebecca money. Others donated as well, and The second attempt also failed. met her first Indian, he offered Henry Eleanor was the second person to be The family traveled by dray to take twenty horses for her, but it was no buried there. Rachel (Regina) moved the remains to the landing. As they sale. There are tales of mosquitoes, back to Philadelphia. waited for the steamboat to land, they buffalo, prairie dogs, wolves. The di- The Mayer family’s adventures saw the lights coming, but then there ary continues for some 40 pages and continued, including an anecdote was a great commotion, people ran makes fascinating reading. about translating for Mary Todd about yelling, and where the boat and It also made familiar reading. Lincoln whom Rebecca encountered lights had been seen, all was darkness. Where had I heard this before? Aha! shopping in a German department The boat sank. Bernhard’s body had This diary is the basis for Kay Gold- store. The family lived in Liverpool to be buried again. They did not put man’s book, With a Doll in One Pock- for four years, where their ninth up a tombstone, since he was to be re- et and a Pistol in the Other: Rebecca daughter and twelfth child was born. moved, but then the Civil War came. Cohen Mayer, 1837-1930.13 Kay told Nina died at six months old. Vicksburg was shelled, the cemetery the Mayer story at a joint meeting of H Mayer & Co had been highly was destroyed, and they never found TJHS and the New Mexico Jewish prosperous, with agents all over the the grave again. Historical Society in El Paso in Octo- world, but Sam Kaufman, still in Regina moved the family to ber of 2008, and wrote a summary for charge of the New York end of the Cincinnati to be near her parents. She the TJHS News Magazine.14 business, had been speculating and married Jacob Lowenstein within Rebecca and Henry’s lives read losing vast sums of the firm’s money. a year, and had another daughter, like a well-plotted movie script, or a The business failed, and Henry had Fanny. Rebecca said he was “a worth- Saturday morning cliffhanger series, to start over again at age 58. They less person.” The marriage was not which lurches from adventure to returned to America in 1875 and went happy, and Regina soon divorced him adventure, many of which take place continued on page 22
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 21 Henry Mayer, continued from page 21 to Chicago, living with Rebecca’s published in the American Jewish or Kay Goldman’s book, for all the sister before renting a house. Henry Historical Society Quarterly.17 exciting details. built a grain elevator; Rebecca started At the end of Rebecca’s article in Endnotes a ladies’ underwear factory. The banks our file, she notes on April 23, 1917, 1 Unless otherwise stated, all informa- holding their notes failed, and both “Today my 80th birthday a day full of tion is from Box 3A188, The Life businesses were forced into bank- happiness and thank God that I have and Travels of Henry Mayer, Texas ruptcy. Rebecca opened a fancy goods been permitted to live so long and Jewish Historical Society Records, store, but gave it up after a year. She to be able to have my children and Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin. took a job in a cloak factory, but had grandchildren also great grandchil- 2 to quit when their daughter Katie died dren and their fathers, my sister and Henry spells it “Michial” but Ances- try.com cites the traditional spelling. a year after her marriage, leaving a her family and my brother and a few http://records.ancestry.com/marcus_ two week old baby to be cared for. friends—we have feasted.” She wrote mayer_records.ashx?pid=148206277. They began a boarding house, but a similar statement a year later, noting 3 I couldn’t read Henry’s handwrit- lost money. Finally, Henry became an she had received many flowers and ing, but Ancestry.com says her name insurance broker and made good. In useful presents, but since it was war- was Zetshen. http://records.ances- 1902, Henry and Rebecca celebrated time, they only had a plain but good try.com/marcus_mayer_records. their golden wedding anniversary. meal. Her daughter Jennie noted that ashx?pid=148206277. 4 http://www.timeanddate.com/world- Henry died in 1906 at age 90. Re- the article was written out in pencil clock/distances.html?n=334 becca lived another 23 years, dying at by her mother, and that even after she 5 Box 3A 191, Texas Jewish Historical age 93.16 “got childish” she would read over the Society Records, Briscoe Center for Here, the typed article ends. As notes, making corrections. Daughter American History, The University of I was replacing it in the file box, I Bertha added that Rebecca was 90 Texas at Austin. 6 Ibid. saw a partly crushed piece of paper years old before she finished all the 7 in the bottom. I smoothed it out and writing and corrections, her mind only Email, Kay Goldman, September 28, 2014. saw it was a handwritten note to Don beginning to fail after that age. 8 Box 3A 191, op cit. Teter, a past president of TJHS, from This article only hits the high 9 Benedict died in Cincinnati in 1849 Mary Seidenfeld of Chicago, undated. points of the travels and travails of of cholera, aged 75. Eleanor died in It says the information I have been Henry Mayer. I encourage you to read San Antonio in 1855, aged 70, after reading is Frances Kallison’s article Rebecca’s account in our archives, continued on page 23 Rockdale Cemetery, continued from page 7 would be placed at each loca- cosmetic. tion. Then the headstones The Rockdale Crown would be temporarily dug Garden Club has taken a re- up and dollied or moved by cent interest in making land- tractor to an out-of-the-way scaping improvements to the fence line. The tree would cemetery. This has encour- then be pushed over, cut up aged the cemetery improve- and hauled away. The head- ment volunteers, and we’re stone replacement would then anxious to see what they follow. It isn’t a perfect plan, come up with in that regard. and it is laborious, but it is One of the many encourag- working for us. ing things that has come out Six trees have already of the cemetery improvement been removed and the holes project was the reawakening left by the root structure filled of a dormant Rockdale Cem- and leveled. We still have etery Committee which was the headstones of Mr. Isaac a member of one, and I’m Emsheiner, Mr. Joe Lowenstein Jr., Ms. Once the tree work and leveling is sorry to say, in name only. We now Rosa Rosenfield, Mr. George Gold- completed, the cemetery should be in have a wonderful, diverse group of sticker and two others “at the sidelines” respectable shape again. It does have eight enthusiastic, sincerely dedicated awaiting the removal of the last six a mismatched double front gate due individuals who have a true concern for dead standing cedar trees. to a previous tree fall, but that is only all of Rockdale’s cemeteries.
Page 22 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 TJHS Article Reunites Families the following letter was received by David and Dolly Seligman from Eric Brahinsky
May 4, 2014 ment that my aunt Hannah Brahinsky almost no one else) had applied for and Dear Mr. Seligman (I hope I have (Nathan and Dasha’s daughter) wrote received a certificate that allowed him reached the right person), in the 1970s. Here are some excerpts to send mail to and receive it from, the I was delighted to run across your of interest: Soviet Union. Evidently the govern- article “The Story of Morris Seligman” “My mother, Doris Shapiro, bet- ment suspected him of being some in the online edition of the January ter known as Dasha, was the fourth sort of Communist sympathizer or spy, 2007 issue of the Texas Jewish His- daughter and the fifth of seven chil- when in fact, he wanted only for mem- torical Society Magazine. The article, dren (five girls and two boys) of bers of the Russian-Jewish immigrant besides being informative and deeply Norman (Notie or Noté) and Debbie community in the U.S. to be able to engaging, has special significance to (Dobé) Shapiro, née Lubinski. Across communicate with and send money and me because some of the names and the road from them lived the Rifkin gifts to their families in the old coun- places mentioned in it have connec- family (now living in Florida).” try. (And evidently during much of the tions with my own family ancestry. …and later on: period Maurice held this certificate, it My paternal grandparents, Nathan “Maurice Rifkin, who had been was of no use anyway because Stalin and Dasha (Shapiro) Brahinsky, came my mom’s neighbor in Russia, had a was blocking communication and com- to the U.S. in 1908 (possibly 1907) travel agency in Philadelphia for many merce from the other end.) and 1911, respectively (they married years. We were so disappointed that I will let you go, but I just wanted in 1916). Both were born and raised because of his wife’s illness he was to thank you for your beautiful and in Altynovka (or Altinovka) in the unable to attend my parents’ 60th wed- fascinating article. Ukraine, then part of Russia. Your ding anniversary celebration in Dallas. Eric Brahinsky article says that your father, Morris, Mr. Rifkin was able to tell Mom (bad) P.S. I don’t know if you’d be was from “Altinovka….in the state news about her family, as he went interested, but my aunt, Hanna Brahin- of Minsk in the Bobruikovo district.” back to Russia many times.” sky in Dallas probably knew Maurice My research indicates that my grand- What a small world: two fami- Rifkin, and at the very least would parents’ village was in the Chernigov lies were neighbors and close friends know much more about him than I. (Chernihiv) district; nearby towns in- around 1900 in Eastern Europe, and She is 92, but is still pretty sharp! cluded Krolovets, Nezhin, and Kono- more than a century later, their relatives (Editor’s note: David Seligman top with Kiev about 150 miles away. live a short drive away from each other now lives in Austin and said he con- Still you mentioned something that in Texas! I live in San Antonio (but tacted Hannah Brahinsky and he is leads me to believe your Altinovka grew up with my family in Dallas). fairly certain that these are the same and mine are one and the same… I have looked up Maurice Rifkin people and are his relatives. Eric You said that Morris “made the on the internet and learned (perhaps Brahinsky gave his permission to journey from Russia to Germany with you already knew this) that he was at reprint his letter in a conversation with a cousin, Maurice Rifkin, who had a the center of some notable controversy David. You never know what will turn sponsor in Philadelphia.” I am pres- around 1950: he was under inves- up when you send us your family his- ently looking at a family-history docu- tigation by the FBI because he (and tory! Write us today!) Henry Mayer, continued from page 22 several years in poor health. ibid. Pocket and a Pistol in the Other: of Feinberg’s tombstone on page 17 10 Courland is a region of western Rebecca Cohen Mayer, 1837-1930 a of Deep in the Heart: The Lives & Latvia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Memoir, CreateSpace Independent Legends of Texas Jews (Ruthe Win- Courland Publishing Platform (October 2010). egarten and Cathy Schechter. Eakin 11 Box 3A 191, op cit. Dr. Goldman found an article at the Press:1990). 12 Joan Teller.http://www.rootsweb. Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the 16 http://www.rootsweb.ancestry. ancestry.com/~orjgs/ourfamily/joan/ American Jewish Archives while com/~orjgs/ourfamily/joan/joan.htm joan.htm Joan is George’s daughter. working on her dissertation. She 17 Only one article by Frances Kalli- George (1869-1938) was the youngest researched Rebecca’s family and con- son is listed in the Center for Jewish son of Henry and Rebecca. http://re- tacted Joan Teller (see endnote 12). History online catalog, her master’s cords.ancestry.com/henry_mayer_re- 14 TJHS News Magazine, November thesis for Trinity University. Frances cords.ashx?pid=133401248. 2008, p. 11. R. Kallison, “100 Years of Jewry in 13 Kay Goldman, With a Doll in One 15 Box 3A 191 op cit. There is a photo San Antonio,” 1977.
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 23 Waco, continued from page 13 leaders formed a committee to In Memoriam handle the integration of public fa- Ruben H. Edelstein, TJHS mem- Michael (Mike) Jacobs, TJHS cilities in Waco in 1961. City lead- ber, died on July 21, member, died on ers were worried that the Air Force 2014, in Browns- July 28, 2014, in would close its nearby base if black ville. He is sur- Dallas. He is sur- soldiers were forced to use segre- vived by his wife, vived by his wife, gated facilities in the city. With this Bernice; his son and Ginger (a past pres- economic threat, the leaders decided daughter-in-law, Ju- ident of TJHS); his that they needed to integrate. A.M. lie & Bill Edelstein, daughter, Deborah Goldstein of the Goldstein-Migel his daughter and son-in-law, Beth & Linksman; his sons Department Store led this committee Mike Sullivan; three grandchildren, Mark E. Jacobs, Andrew Jacobs, which worked quietly to integrate and his brother, Arthur. and Reuben Jacobs; four grandchil- the city’s stores and other public dren; and one great-grandchild. places without protests or unrest. Barry Green, TJHS member and Bernard Rapoport was raised in former TJHS board Helen Jacobson, TJHS member, a politically radical family in San member, formerly died on October 8, Antonio. Although he later became of Tyler, died on 2014, in San An- a successful businessman, creating October 3, 2014, tonio. Helen was the American Income Life Insur- in Fort Worth. He 104 years old at the ance Company, he never forgot his is survived by his time of her death. progressive roots. Rapoport was daughter and son-in-law, Mona & She is survived by actively involved in both state and Steve Karten, his son and daughter- her daughter and son-in-law, Dottie national politics as a major funder in-law, Rachel & Jonathan Green, & Sam Miller; her daughter, Liz of the Democratic Party. He and his his daughters, Sheryl Green and Helenchild; four grandchildren and wife, Audre, endowed several chairs Caryn Green; and seven grandchil- their spouses; and two great-grand- at the University of Texas in Austin dren. children. and at other universities. He died in 2012. Ralph Lewis Frapart, TJHS Sherman Kusin, TJHS member Today, Waco is a growing city, member, died on August 16, 2014, and former but its Jewish community continues in Brownsville. He is survived by board mem- to decline. Most of the Jewish chil- his sons and daughters-in-law, Jules ber, formerly dren raised in the city have moved & Phyllis Frapart and Ross & Myra of Texarkana, to larger cities seeking economic Frapart; his son, David Frapart; sev- Texas, died on and social opportunities. Rodef en grandchildren and their spouses; August 31, 2014 Sholom, which had 161 families in and his brother, Lewis. in Austin. He is survived by his 1995, had only 98 in 2011. Agu- wife, Ellen; his sons and daughters- Harry Swiff, TJHS member, died dath Jacob is even smaller, with in-law, Stuart & Jana Kusin and on August 25, 2014 in Dallas. He is about 80 member households in Robert & Angela Kusin; his daugh- survived by his son, Brian J. Swiff; 2011. Despite their small size, both ter and son-in-law, Joelle & Aaron his daughter and son-in-law, Shari congregations employ full-time rab- Miller; his brother, Mel Kusin; his & Stuart Schwartz; and two grand- bis. Rabbi Gordon Fuller has led sister, Gloria Bishkin Davis; and six children and their spouses. Congregation Agudath Jacob since grandchildren. 2005, and Rabbi Laura Schwartz Harai is the current rabbi of Rodef May their memories be a blessing. Sholom. Save Postage Please notify TJHS when home when the News Magazine is $1.52 (at printing date) per Maga- your address has changed or you to be delivered. These issues are re- zine. These amounts add up—it’s may be temporarily away from turned to us at a postage due return of your money we are trying to save!
Page 24 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Honor or Memorialize a Friend or a Loved One With a Donation to the TJHS Endowment Fund
When you honor or memorialize a The Texas Jewish Historical Society gratefully acknowledges your friend or a loved one with a donation to the gift to its Endowment Fund in the amount of Texas Jewish Historical Society’s Endow- $______ment Fund, you help support important programs. Send the honoree’s full name, In honor/memory of: ______type of honor (memorial, congratulations, ______or occasion—birthday, anniversary, award, new child or grandchild, etc.) and your Acknowledge To: name, along with a check in the amount of Name: ______your choice, to Address: ______Texas Jewish Historical Society Phone: ______P. O. Box 10193 Donor Information: Austin, TX 78766-0193 Name: ______Address: ______Your support of the Texas Jewish His- ______torical Society’s programs is greatly appre- ciated and will be recognized in an issue of Phone: ______the quarterly news magazine. Thank you. Your gift will further the efforts to record, preserve, and disseminate historic information about Texas Jewish culture.
Can You Guess Has Your Address Changed? If you have any changes in your informa- This Member? tion, please send them to Marc Wormser at 1601 S. Riviera Ct., Pearland, TX 77581, Okay, everyone—no one came forth to Guess this 832-288-3494, or [email protected]. Member, so we will give you one last look and then we will have to tell you! In addition to the clues of Someone on whom you can depend, and he does look a TJHS on little older today, but is still pretty handsome/cute, here’s the final facebook one—Even though he’s surround- Did you know that TJHS has ed by Longhorns, he is still an a Facebook page? Like us at https://www. Aggie! Maybe the third time facebook.com/pages/Texas-Jewish-Historical- is a charm? The winner Society/187629054741368. will receive a year’s free membership to TJHS. Email your guess to Davie Please Note: Lou Solka at [email protected] any time beginning Mon- If you are sending a check to the Texas day, December 1. Entries received before that date will Jewish Historical Society, please indicate not be considered. Previous winners and family members the purpose of the check—dues, gift, are not eligible to participate. Good luck! contribution, etc.
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 25 www.txjhs.org Welcome New Members! Visit us on the web at www.txjhs.org. Raye M. Allen Larry Holtzman Steve & Lisa (Cohen) Quay 5880 Hartrick Bluff Rd. 24 Calle Cenizo 8903 Perch Cove Temple, TX 76502 Brownsville, TX 78520 Austin, TX 78717 254-773-6218 956-266-7125 [email protected] [email protected] Rachael Andres Ari Reis 407 N. McCadden Pl. Stan & Lana (Laves) Yiddish Book Center Los Angeles, CA 90004 Latman 1021 West St. 323-810-7600 3772 Vinecrest Dr. Amherst, MA 01002 [email protected] Dallas, TX 75229 [email protected] David & Judy Bell 214-357-2694 Hal Roseman 5122 Braesheather [email protected] 3607 Central Ave. Houston, TX 77096 Nashville, TN 37205 713-723-3540 Lee Laves 615-242-2212 [email protected] 4411 Spicewood Springs Rd., 615-305-6090 Cell Graeme Campbell #2311 1715 Guadalupe, #500 Austin, TX 78759 Sharon (Wechter) & Rabbi Austin, TX 78701 512-241-0824 Seymour Rossel 832-589-5751 10114 Cliffwood Dr. Charles “Chuck” Houston, TX 77035 graemecampbell@utexas. Mandelbaum edu 713-726-9520 4411 Spicewood Springs Rd., 713-299-3584 Cell Gayle Cannon #2201 [email protected] 10700 Gold Yarrow Dr. Austin, TX 78759 Austin, TX 78739 chuck.mandelbaum@gmail. Marshall & Sandy Sack 512-372-2469 com 6011 Marquesa Dr. 214-236-9436 Cell Austin, TX 78731 [email protected] Sylvia Margolis 512-371-1999 472 Oakland Hills Ln. Judy Cassorla [email protected] Frisco, TX 75034 7201 Winecup Hollow 214-469-1539 Karen Siegel Austin, TX 78750 [email protected] 5303 Shoal Creek Blvd. 512-794-1016 Austin, TX 78756 [email protected] W. B. & Noelle Marks 512-346-6610 Phyllis (Milstein) Feldman 3056 FM 3693 512-921-9641 Cell 7205 Oakmont Dr. Iowa Park, TX 76367 [email protected] Frisco, TX 75034 940-855-4572 Van Wallach 972-370-7343 940-855-4676 Fax 19 Lincoln St. [email protected] [email protected] Westport, CT 06880-4202 I. L. “Buddy” & Sandra David & Vivian (Cardozo) [email protected] (Miron) Freed Picow Herb & Joy Weinstein 4911 Bob Cat Run 1101 Ivean Pearson Rd. G203 13650 Peyton Dr. Austin, TX 78731 Lago Vista, TX 78645 Dallas, TX 75240 512-340-0455 512-751-3439 972-392-4372 512-922-5359 Cell [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Rosa (Zweig) Gordon David & Elka (Rich) Poor Maxine Foreman Zarrow 4106 Eastshore St. Moshav Ramon Naftali, Upper 2660 S. Birmingham Pl. Missouri City, TX 77459 Galilee Tulsa, OK 74114 281-403-2314 Israel 13830 918-747-1281 [email protected] 972-77220-7080 [email protected]
Page 26 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 TJHS Board of Directors 2014-2015 Officers Board of Trustees Board of Trustees President 2013-2015 2014-2016 Debra “Debbie” Winegarten (Austin) Elaine Albin (Rockport) Marvin Barenblat (San Antonio) 1st Vice-President Douglas Braudaway (Del Rio) Rabbi Murray Berger (Dallas) David Beer (Dallas) Suzanne Campbell (San Angelo) Nelson Chafetz (Austin) 2nd Vice-President Brad Greenblum (Austin) Gordon Cizon (Dallas) Jane Manaster (Dallas) Jan Hart (Temple) Bette Jean Cohen (Plano) 3rd Vice-President Harold “Pacey” Laves (Austin) Anita Feigenbaum (College Station) Davie Lou Solka (Austin) Marilyn Lippman (Dallas) Sonny Gerber (Houston) Treasurer Amy Manuel (Denton) Bob Gindler (Round Rock) Ruth Nathan (Houston) Abbi Michelson (Lockhart) Dr. Neil Gurwitz (Bastrop) Recording Secretary Amy Milstein (Frisco) Marilyn Jorrie (Boulder, CO) Susan Lewis (Big Spring) Allen Mondell (Dallas) Joan Katz (Houston) Corresponding Secretary Shirley Rich (Houston) Louis Katz (Houston) Samylu Rubin (Dallas) Dr. Stuart Rockoff (Jackson, MS) Scott Langston (Weatherford) Historian William “Bill” Rosenberg (Belton) Selma Mantel (Houston) Sally Drayer (Dallas) Dr. Bryan Stone (Corpus Christi) Mitzi Milstein (Longview) Archivist Rosalie Weisfeld (McAllen) Bernard Rabinowitz (San Antonio) Claire Brooks (Houston) Bobbi Wells (Plano) Jack Solka (Austin) Parliamentarian Gary Whitfield (Fort Worth) David Vogel (La Grange) Vickie Vogel (La Grange) Joyce Wormser (Pearland) Hollace Weiner (Fort Worth) Immediate Past President Rotating Member (Various) Sherry Zander (Dallas) Marc Wormser (Pearland) TJHS Traveling Exhibit The Texas Jewish Historical The only expense to the borrower Society has compiled two will be the shipping of the exhibit museum-quality photo exhibits, back via UPS ground. with explanations, depicting early The exhibits have been Jewish life and contributions. Both displayed in various locations exhibits highlight the lives of Jews in Texas and other parts of the in Texas since the early part of the United States, including Rhode century. Island and California. They Each exhibit is comprised are an excellent program for of approximately thirty-six schools, congregations, and other photographs that can be either organizations. To schedule the self-standing with an easel back or exhibits, please contact Sally hung on a wall. There is no charge Drayer at 214-458-7298 or email for the exhibits, and they will be her at [email protected] or shipped, prepaid freight via UPS in Marc Wormser at 832-288-3494 or waterproof boxes, to your location. [email protected].
Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2014 Page 27 NONPROFIT ORG. Texas Jewish U.S. POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TX Historical Society PERMIT NO. 1662 P.O. Box 10193 Austin, Texas 78766-0193
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Texas Jewish Historical Society New Membership and Information Update Form Join the Texas Jewish Historical Society today! Or use this form to update your contact information. Complete each section below. Clip out and mail this form with your check made payable to the Texas Jewish Historical Society, P.O. Box 10193, Austin, TX 78766-0193. Please PRINT.
YES! Count me in! My dues are enclosed. Please update my information Check the Appropriate Box(es) New Member Donor: ______ Renewing Member Address: ______ Updated Information Only Phone: (______)______Occasion: ______Membership Category $18 Student Member $35 Annual Member $100 Sponsor $500 Benefactor $50 Supporting Member $250 Sustaining Member $1,000 Patron Name(s): ______Maiden Name: ______Address: ______City: ______State: ______Zip: ______Home telephone: (_____)______Cell: (____)______Fax: (_____)______E-mail address(es): ______Website:______Page 28 Contributions to the Texas Jewish Historical Society are tax deductibleTexas within Jewish the Historical limits of Society the law. - December 2014