Preserving Jewish Heritage in Texas Texas Jewish Est. 1980 Historical Society March 2015 News Magazine Finger Farm Celebrates 100 Years in Shepherd by Jacob McAdams First printed June 17, 2014, Cleveland [Texas] Advocate and reprinted with permission.

One of the more prevalent Finger’s cousin, Lawrence names in Shepherd, Texas, is Finger, purchasing an extra that of the Finger family. With 360 acres approximately five a large entrepreneurial history years ago. Currently, Finger that involves farm land, furni- Farm is approximately 620 ture stores and other businesses acres in size and borders Big in and out of town, the Fingers Creek and Mussel Shoals are considered well-established Creek. in the area. In 1927, Sam Finger, In May of 2014, Alan along with his wife, Annie Finger, current owner of Finger Finger, moved to Houston Farms and grandson of Sam to retire, leaving the store in Finger, asked for a proclama- the care of his son, Bernice tion from the city of Shepherd Finger, Alan Finger’s uncle. to recognize the farm’s 100th Bernice Finger was seventeen anniversary on April 13, 2015. at the time. According to The story of the Finger Alan Finger, his uncle primar- Farm begins with the emigra- ily used it to raise cattle. tion of Sam Finger from Latvia After retiring, Sam Finger to the United States. Accord- eventually went into business ing to Alan Finger, he arrived renting out appliances and in New York in the 1890s and furniture during the Depres- worked in a hat shop with his sion. “That was when it uncle. Sam Finger (right) with his wife Annie Finger (left) at started,” said Finger, referring When his uncle let him go in their 50th wedding anniversary. to Finger’s Furniture, one of order to bring his own son into the family’s more prominent the business, Sam Finger made his purchase of Sam Finger’s store are businesses. way to Texas. “No one knows how ambiguous, according to his grandson, The family endured a number of or why he came to Texas,” said Alan but in 1901 he bought the store, one hardships as well. With the impact Finger. of the famous historical memories for from the recession, Sam Finger kept A 1900 census placed Sam Finger Shepherd. the business from becoming bank- in Groveton, Texas, where he had Sam Finger eventually brought the rupt. Another challenge involved begun making preparations to start first one hundred acres for the farm the original store burning down in what would be a successful business on January 19, 1914, from a woman 1929—a tragic loss for the family. life for him. “He put out a word that named Florrie Cravey, the surviv- Socially, one of the Finger fam- he was looking for a little store,” said ing widow of C.H. Cravey. Since ily’s biggest challenges involved Finger. The events leading up to the then, the property has expanded, with continued on page 3 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 1 Message from the President by Debra Winegarten Almost fifty Coupled with have one of their staff members come members of TJHS phone calls in train us. I’m happy to report that Lois met in Waco for one week from Myers gave a terrific workshop and the quarterly board two octogenarian now, we have almost forty members meeting on Janu- TJHS members from all corners of Texas trained and ary 23 through 25, whose health no raring to go. If you have not yet told 2015. One of the longer enables your family’s history, or if you know advantages of being them to attend our someone whose Texas Jewish history your president is that meetings, and re- should be in our archives, go to your I have a lot of input alizing we had not computer right now and email the into these meetings. yet captured their Committee Chair, Nelson Chafetz at As I planned the oral histories, I [email protected], and he will winter meeting, I asked myself how help make the arrangements. felt a bit like Tevye I could leverage Temple Rodef Sholom opened in Fiddler on the our membership, their doors to us for Friday night ser- Roof, as I imagined the ghost of my be- many of whom are themselves retired, vices and sponsored a delicious oneg loved mother, Ruthe Winegarten, may and unleash a contingent of well-trained afterwards. Saturday afternoon, Harry she rest in peace, visiting me in my oral historians to capture their stories. Harelik met us at Jacob De Cordova’s dreams, and asking point-blank, “…and I remembered years ago Mom and I historical marker, which TJHS helped what exactly are you doing to fulfill the attended a day-long oral history work- put in place in 1986, and told us the mission of the Texas Jewish Historical shop given by Baylor University, so I significance of De Cordova’s role Society?” contacted those folks and arranged to in helping plat Waco land tracts and donating land to the city, and how the The Texas Jewish Historical Society marker came to be placed in its pres- ent location. We were impressed by March 2015 the beautiful statues of the cattle and Quarterly News Magazine cowboys recognizing that Waco was a part of the Chisolm Trail. The Texas Jewish Historical Society News Magazine is published We then visited the Texas Collec- four times annually. Stories about Texas Jewish history, oral histories, tion at Baylor, where a small exhibit of and requests for assistance with research are welcome, as are photographs materials depicting the Jewish history and historical documents. Please provide color photocopies or scans at of Waco was displayed. Many of these 300 dpi or greater in .gif, .tif, or .jpg format, and send electronically to As- items were from the over one-hun- sistant Editor Davie Lou Solka at [email protected] or by mail to 3808 dred boxes of materials that Ima Joy Woodbrook Circle, Austin, TX 78759, 512-527-3799. Be sure to include continued on page 3 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 - March 2015 Finger Farm, continued from page 1 their Jewish background, which charities and individuals. that holds to the value of respect. placed them in conflict with the Ku Sam Finger passed away in 1958 “They taught us to respect people, Klux Klan. Alan Finger mentioned at the age of eighty-eight, and his (and) to respect each other,” said that his grandfather had even stood wife, Annie Finger, died fourteen Finger. As for the farm, Finger sees up to a member of the KKK. years later at the age of eighty-four. it as another piece to their family’s The Fingers were also a chari- When Bernice Finger passed away, strong bond. “It truly was a family table family, as they helped in the Alan Finger took over Finger Farm farm,” he said. creation of Seven Acres Jewish and has started using it to produce Editor’s note: Sam and Annie Senior Care Services Center, and gourmet hay for horses. Gordon Finger had six children: were known for giving to various With a rich history behind the Hyman Edward, who married Bessie Finger Farm, as well Kaplan; Aaron Leon, who married as the family itself, Dora Testa; Bernice, who married Alan Finger carries Sarah Lillian Goldberg; Rosella, on a proud name who married Jacob Morris Glick; In large photos that Samuel “Sammy” Paul, who mar- are placed at Mc- ried Florence Ruth Shapiro; and Clain’s Supermarket Alline Frieda, who married Joseph in Shepherd, Alan Phillip Kost. Larry Finger, Bernice’s Finger points out his son, said that Bernice is the correct grandparents among spelling of his father’s name. Annie the townfolk outside named him that, but he always pre- of one of the stores, ferred to be called “Mr. B.” Thank Peter’s Shoes. Alan you to Marvin Rich and Lynna Kay Finger currently runs Shuffield, who cleared up some con- the Finger Farm in Shepherd. fusion with this article.)

President’s Message, continued from page 2 TJHS on facebook Gandler, long time TJHS archivist, Like us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Texas- had collected. We finished the day Jewish-Historical-Society/187629054741368. with a dinner and heard tales of growing up in Waco from long-time natives and residents, Arnold Miller, Mazel Tov Leonard Englander, and Harry Harelik. to the following Please make your plans now to Texas Jewish Historical Society Members meet with us at the Annual Gather- Marvin Rich, who received the ADL Advocacy Award for his service to ADL ing in Dallas, April 24-26, 2015. and legislative advocacy at a luncheon on Legislative Day in Austin February 2, This will be a Joint Meeting with 2015. the Dallas Jewish Historical Society Jack Solka, who received the Community Service Award from the JCC in Austin and our chairs, David Beer and Jane for his work on the relocation of B’nai Abraham Synagogue from Brenham to Manaster, are hard at work on prep- Austin. arations. Watch your mailbox for Debra Winegarten, for receiving the 2015 Biography Award from the Texas a registration form in the next few Association of Authors for her book, Oveta Culp Hobby: Colonel, Cabinet weeks. (There is NOT a registra- Member, Philanthropist. Debra’s company, Sociosights Press, published the win- tion form in this issue). If you have ning Meeting God at Midnight, by Ahuva Batya Scharf, who received the 2015 not been to one of our meetings, the Women’s Poetry Award from the Texas Association of Authors. Annual Gathering is the perfect time Please send information for this column to to come connect with us. I look Davie Lou Solka at [email protected]. forward to seeing you there.

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 3 TJHS Winter Meeting in Waco

White Hat Guys: Leonard Englander, Charles Hart, David Picow, and Louis Katz.

Havdalah with Rabbi Laura Harari and Tyler, Austin, and Chase Couch.

Part of the “Cattle Drive on Chisolm Trail” sculpture located in Indian Spring Park in downtown Waco. Debra Winegarten, TJHS President.

The Saturday-night speakers were Arnold Miller, Leonard Eng- David Vogel, Rusty Milstein, and Nelson Chafetz viewed lander, and Harry Harelik. the Texas Collection at Baylor University.

Page 4 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 January 23-25, 2015

The Jacob De Cordova histori- cal marker. The bottom of the marker reads “Sponsored by the Texas Jewish Historical Soci- ety.”

Samylu Rubin and Vickie Vogel.

TJHS meeting participants posed with the Jacob De Cordova historical marker. Save Postage Please notify TJHS when your when the News Magazine is to be de- printing date) per Magazine. These address has changed or if you may livered. These issues are returned to amounts add up—it’s your money be temporarily away from home us at a postage due return of $1.52 (at we are trying to save!

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 5 Texas Jewish Historical Society Grant Application The mission of the Texas Jewish Historical Society is to expand and enhance the knowl- edge and understanding of the Jewish presence in Texas and the history of Jews from their first arrival in the State to the present. We solicit applications for projects that are in that spirit. On the form below, please show how your project meets our mission. Application Form

The Texas Jewish Historical Society will consider applications from individuals and non-profit organizations in any written or visual medium. Attach additional sheets as necessary.

Contact Name:______Organization Name:______Address: ______City: ______State: ______Zip:______Phone: (______)______Fax: (______)______Cell: (______)______Email: ______

Briefly outline personal and professional background information that support this application. ______Title and Description of project. ______What is the anticipated budget for the project? Are you seeking additional support from elsewhere? ______Please detail the timeline of your project. ______

We would expect to receive a copy of the completed project with acknowledgement of TJHS support. Also, a copy or account of the completed project should be submitted to the Society’s archive at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin.

Send applications to: TJHS Grant Committee, P.O. Box 10193, Austin TX 78766-0193 or email to [email protected].

Page 6 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, was president of Congregation Agudas My Uncle Max (Neuman) mar- I want to thank you for the article Achim for two terms, and Celia was ried Lillian Lille, and they had two about my grandfather, Sam Neuman. I president of the Sisterhood and Hadas- children: Gail Neuman Silver, who learned some of my family history. My sah. married Larry Silver, and they live in husband, Irving Winter, and I often wish I married Michael Deutsch from Houston and Hymie Sam Neuman, that we had asked our parents more Seguin, and we had three children. Our who lives in Fort Worth. about our families’ histories. It was oldest is Barry Deutsch, who is married The youngest child of Sam and very good of you and Gloria (Novak) to to Lynn Prager Deutsch, and they live Eva was born after Sam died and was have done this research. However, I do in Atlanta, Georgia. They have three also named Sam. He married Harriet have a few corrections and some addi- children: Ben, who is at Texas A&M; Levin, and they live in San Antonio tions for the archives. Michael, who is at Auburn Univer- and have four children: Brian Neu- My Aunt Annie (Neuman) was mar- sity; and Rebecca. Our middle child is man, who has two children; Dr. Alan ried to Leo Feigenbaum, not Will. Cheryl Deutsch Colen, who is married Neuman, who lives in Atlanta and has My father, Ben Neuman, never had to Randy Colen, and they live in Dal- two children; Lori Neuman Schwartz, a ranch outside of Temple, Texas. He las. They have two children: Danielle who is married to David Schwartz, continued in the retail clothing business at North Texas State and Clay at St. who lives in Tampa, Florida and has having stores in several central Texas Edwards University. Our youngest is two children; and Paige Neuman cities and Austin. He also invested in Diana Deutsch Hecht, who is married to Weiner, who is married to Danny land and rental properties. In 1930, he Ronny Hecht, and they live in Houston. Weiner, and lives in San Antonio. married Celia Diskin, and they had three They have two children: Andrew, who As you can tell, our little clan children, Joseph, Sam, and me, Gay. In lives in Austin, and Michelle, who is at- has grown a bit. Thank you again for 1946, they moved from Georgetown to tending UT. My brother, Sam Neuman, your attention to my family. Austin where my parents became very married Paula Rubin, and they have one Gay Neuman Deutsch Winter active in the Jewish Community. Ben son, Will, who lives in New York Scholarship Fund Established Editor’s Note: The family of Aaron Wechter, of talented UTEP students, it is felt The following information was TJHS member, longtime El Paso that the Aaron Wechter Memorial received by Ed Katten of Waco as cor- resident and UTEP graduate, has Scholarship will honor and perpetuate rections to the Encyclopedia of Texas established a scholarship in Aaron’s his life’s work. Students interested in Jewish Communities article on Waco memory to support students com- applying may request an application in our last issue—December 2014. This information has been sent to the mitted to strengthen the Jewish via email from the UTEP Scholarship Institute of Southern Jewish Life so community in El Paso. Aaron was a Office at [email protected] or by log- that they may make these corrections. well-respected real estate developer, ging on to www.utep.edu/scholarships Thank you, Ed, for this information. community leader, and philanthro- and clicking on “Additional Scholar- Aaron Goldstein was not the pist. Through the accomplishments ship Opportunities.” son of Isaac Goldstein. He was the husband of Lenore Hirschfeld Gold- stein. Lenore’s father was president of Contributions Goldstein Migel after it was reorganized as a The following donations have been received by the Texas Jewish corporation. Aaron later served as president of Historical Society: Goldstein Migel until the corporation was again In Honor of From reorganized at which time Monte Lawrence, a nephew of Louis Migel became president. Esther Shelby, on her 90th birthday Beverly & Ellis Rudy Isaac Goldstein did have two sons, I.A. and TJHS Peachy Rudberg, per her husband, Moses. I.A. never married, but was a willing Morton “Morty” Rudberg’s will donor to many things in Waco. His brother, Moses II, left Waco. Aaron Goldstein was not In Memory of From related at all to the original Goldstein family. I Zelma Koenigsberg Berk Amy Milstein have no idea how the information was obtained Sidney Schwartz Bette Jean Cohen by the History Department of the ISJL, but it Jacob Trachtenberg Shirley & Marvin Rich should be corrected there (information sent).

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 7 Encyclopedia of Texas Jewish Communities

The Texas Jewish Historical Society awarded a grant to the Institute of Southern Jewish Life to research 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 permission to do so. To see other towns, go to the TJHS website at www.txjhs.org, or the Institute’s website, www.isjl.org, click on the “History Department” and look for “Encyclopedia” in the drop-down menu. Dallas Chartered Alex Sanger in 1856, Dallas coming to got its start as a manage it. frontier trading The store was town. With the a huge success rise of planta- and a year lat- tion agriculture er Alex moved in northeast to a new Texas, Dallas 10,000 square emerged as a foot location, regional center reportedly the for the cotton largest store trade. But it in the state was not until at the time. 1872, when Brother Philip town leaders Sanger soon convinced the came to help Houston & Alex with the Texas Cen- business and tral Railroad they opened a to build their wholesale op- tracks one eration, which mile east of The Katy approaches Dallas. This spot would be near Mockingbird Lane and Greenville today. supplied small the courthouse It was taken about 1908. (Photo and caption from “Dallas, The Deciding Years,” by A. C. town stores that the town Greene (Austin: Encino Press, 1973).) and peddlers started down the path to becoming in town, but moved to Brenham in throughout the area. In 1879, travel- “Big D”—one of the largest cities in 1863. Once the railroad came to ing journalist Charles Wessolowsky the South. The Texas & Pacific Rail- town, Dallas became a much more called the Sanger Brothers store “an road came in 1873, giving the town attractive place to open a business and establishment of grandeur, taste, and both a north-south and east-west line, the town’s Jewish population began to elegance equal to any in the South,” and helped transform Dallas from a grow quickly. By 1873, Jews owned and likened it to the leading stores in small frontier outpost to a major cot- twelve of the city’s twenty-nine dry New York City. By 1890, the busi- ton shipping nexus and thriving city. good stores. ness employed 250 people and later Jews were among the earliest Starting in Millican, Texas, the moved into an eight-story building at settlers in Dallas. By the time of the German-born Sanger brothers fol- Main & Lamar Streets. Civil War, a small number of Jews lowed the progress of the Houston The Sangers were not alone in owned stores along Main Street. & Texas Central Railroad, opening a finding economic opportunity in Dal- Some, like Polish-born Alex Simon, new dry goods store in each town as las. E.M. Tillman and Moses Ullman did not stay in town very long. the tracks moved northward. In 1872, owned a grocery, liquor, and tobacco By 1858, Simon owned a store they opened a branch in Dallas, with continued on page 9

Page 8 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Dallas, continued from page 8 business. E.M. Kahn opened a men’s in the 1910s. When Alex Sanger died In 1874, forty members of the He- clothing store in 1872 that soon grew in 1925, the Dallas Morning News brew Benevolent Association founded into a Dallas institution, remaining eulogized him as a builder of Dallas, Congregation Emanu-El. They met in business over a century. These writing that “the city that mourns his in the B’nai B’rith hall above the early Jewish merchants were closely death is in truth a monument to him.” Sanger Brothers store. David Goslin involved in Dallas’s public life as After Alex’s death, the family sold the was the congregation’s first president, their commercial role opened the door store, although it retained the Sanger with Philip Sanger serving as vice- to positions of civic leadership. E.M. name. president. The congregation took over the management of the Hebrew Benevolent Association’s cemetery. The Jewish women in Dallas estab- lished the Ladies Benevolent Society in 1875, which was affiliated with Emanu-El and at their first meeting voted “to induce the Hebrew gentle- men to procure a place of worship.” The members of Emanu-El acted quickly and constructed a synagogue in 1876 on land owned by the B’nai B’rith lodge. Costing $15,000, the Moorish revival synagogue included classrooms and a meeting space for local Jewish lodges. Initially the classrooms housed a secular, non- sectarian elementary school during the week, while Alice Levy ran the Sunday School for the congregation. From the outset, Emanu-El was a Reform congregation and voted to adopt Isaac Mayer Wise’s Minhag America prayer book in 1874. In The Sanger-Harris department store, circa 1965. 1875, they hired Aron Suhler as their first full-time Rabbi. For their first Tillman was elected alderman in 1880 By 1872, an estimated sixty to decade, Emanu-El had several short- and later served on the city’s first seventy Jews lived in Dallas. That term rabbis. Rabbi Edward Chapman school board. E. M. Kahn was presi- summer, eleven men founded the led the congregation from 1885-1897. dent of the local Masonic Lodge and city’s first Jewish organization, the In 1882, a group of disgruntled mem- served on the board of the State Fair Hebrew Benevolent Association, with bers created Congregation Ahavas Association. Alex Sanger was elected Moses Ullman as president and Alex Shalom. By 1884, the breakaway alderman in 1873, only a year after Sanger as vice-president. Among group had returned to Emanu-El, and he arrived in Dallas. Two years later, their first actions were to plan High the congregation steadily grew. Soon, Sanger became president of the local Holiday services and buy land for they outgrew their building, leading volunteer fire department, and seven- a cemetery. For Rosh Hashanah Emanu-El’s one-hundred members teen Jews volunteered to serve in the in 1872, the group held services at to construct a new temple on South fire department in 1873. Sanger also the local Masonic temple. Using a Ervay Street in 1899. They stayed in helped organize the Dallas State Fair Torah borrowed from a New Orleans this building for eighteen years, and and Exposition Association, which congregation, Aaron Miller acted as since the congregation had doubled in created the State Fair of Texas. He lay leader for the service. In 1873, size by 1917, they built a new larger became one of Dallas’ most promi- the group purchased their own Torah. synagogue, which featured a gym, on nent citizens and served on the Board That same year, Dallas Jews estab- South Boulevard. of Regents of the University of Texas lished a chapter of B’nai B’rith. continued on page 10

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 9 Dallas, continued from page 9 In the late 19th century, growing of the Conservative numbers of Jewish immigrants from Jewish Theologi- Eastern Europe moved to Dallas, cal Seminary, was with many opening small retail stores hired. and pawn shops on Elm Street in the Rabbi Epstein predominately African American area introduced such around the railroad depot known as innovations as a “Deep Ellum.” Many of these Jews modern Sunday initially lived above their stores. It School, Friday was on Elm Street that these newly night services, arrived immigrants created their own and confirma- Orthodox congregation, Shaareth Is- tion. Although rael (later changed to Shearith Israel) Rabbi Epstein only in 1884. Josiah Emin and L. Levy stayed for two met at Michael Wasserman’s store on years, the changes Elm Street to discuss the founding of he introduced fit a congregation. Previously the city’s the members of A look at the 1700 block of Elm Street in downtown Dallas small number of Orthodox Jews had Shaareth Israel, circa 1960. Nearby establishments included the Apollo Hotel, met together informally to worship whom the congre- Shaw’s Jewelers, Lee Optical, Johnny Miranda Shoes, Ma- on the High Holidays. Wasserman gation’s president, jestic Steaks, Ben Morris Jewelry Company, Majestic Hotel, acquired a Torah for the small group, Louis Kleinman, Askin’s Credit Clothing, Hall’s Credit Clothiers, and Titche- which numbered no more than twelve described in 1913 Goettinger department store (later just Titche’s). men. The young congregation held as “comparatively (Photo: Hank Tenny Illustrative Photography) weekly services on the second floor well-to-do Ameri- above Bradford’s Grocery Store. In canized Jews.” Other Eastern Euro- leader, David Bernstein. When he 1886, Shaareth Israel was officially pean Jewish immigrants settled in the died in 1919, Meyer Shwiff was hired chartered with twenty members, with area of north Dallas known as Goose and led the congregation as rabbi, most of these being recent arrivals in Valley. Bounded by railroad tracks, cantor, shochet, and mohel for the Dallas. Only one of the twenty, con- Goose Valley offered cheap housing next twelve years. gregation president Sam Iralson, lived and economic opportunity. Many of Retail stores flourished among in Dallas. Several of these founding these Polish and Russian Jews opened Dallas Jews—by 1900, Jews owned members, including Michael Wasser- small stores in the neighborhood, ten grocery stores, fourteen dry goods man and Josiah Emin, had left Russia which became Dallas’s version of a stores, twenty-five clothing stores, for the United States in 1881 or 1882. Jewish immigrant enclave. eight saloons, six tobacco stores, and Under the leadership of Charles In 1890, an Orthodox congrega- nine tailoring shops. Only a few Dal- Goldstein, Shaareth Israel built a red tion, Tiferet Israel, was established by las Jews worked in professions, with brick synagogue on Jackson Street in a group of eleven Goose Valley Jews. four Jewish lawyers in 1900. Oth- 1892. The following year, the congre- They met at the home of member, ers were involved in regional cotton gation hired a full-time rabbi, Nehe- Jake Donsky, and in 1893 bought a trade, with three Jews serving as pres- miah Mosesshon, who led Shaareth house which was converted to a syna- ident of the Dallas Cotton Exchange. Israel for the next five years. By gogue. By 1900, they had thirty-five Joseph Linz and his two brothers 1900, Shaareth Israel had fifty-five members and in 1902 the house was opened a jewelry store in 1891 and members, and the congregation grew razed and a new synagogue building became a quick success. Eight years tremendously in the early twentieth was built on the same lot. Holding later, the Linz brothers constructed century. With one-hundred-fifty daily worship services, Tiferet Israel the tallest building in Dallas for their members by 1919, the congregation, was strictly Orthodox, with their new growing business. which was nominally Orthodox, be- synagogue including a mikvah and The best known Dallas Jews were gan to adjust its practices to reflect the separate seating for men and women. the ones who built several of the city’s assimilation of its members. Mixed- From 1900 to 1906, Tiferet Israel large department stores. Prussian- gender seating was introduced and in shared a rabbi with Shearith Israel, born Adolph Harris who had opened a 1913, Rabbi Louis Epstein, a graduate but then hired their own spiritual continued on page 11

Page 10 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Dallas, continued from page 10 Dallas branch of a Galves- manufactured the famous ton store in 1887, bought ranch hat worn by Presi- out his partners in 1892, dent Lyndon Johnson. and renamed the store A. When Ed Byer died, he Harris & Co. It became left the bulk of this estate a successful department to the United Jewish Ap- store, and when Har- peal which at that time ris died in 1912, Arthur was the largest gift ever Kramer took over as presi- received by UJA. dent. A. Harris & Co. was The Jewish popu- sold to Federated Stores lation of Dallas grew in 1961 and then merged steadily in the early 20th with Sanger Bros. Across century with an estimat- the street from A. Harris ed 4,000 Jews in 1907. & Co., Ed Titche and Max In 1906 Anshe Sphard Goettinger opened a store Congregation was found- in 1902. Titche-Goettinger Madame Koneman’s fashion emporium, 1912. It was located in the ed in the Goose Valley & Co. grew quickly with Oriental Hotel building at 110 N. Ervay Street. Ad is from “The Stan- area. The group met in 600 employees in 1929. dard Blue Book of Dallas, 1912-1914” (Dallas: A. J. Peeler & Co.). private homes and in The partners did not have 1913 bought a house and children and decided to retire at this sold to General Cinemas. converted it into a synagogue. When time and sold the business. The new In the early 20th century, Dallas most of the members moved out of owners kept the name and the store developed its own garment manufac- the neighborhood, the congregation remained in business until 1979. turing industry, fueled by cheap labor moved to a house in South Dallas. The city’s most famous store and a non-unionized workforce. Soon Known informally as the Roumanishe was Neiman-Marcus, which came to the Dallas Market developed in which Shul, Anshe Sphard moved to a new symbolize Dallas-style luxury and store buyers from around the region building in 1936 but never had a rabbi opulence. Born in Louisville, Herbert would come to the Dallas conven- or religious school. Charles Kaplan Marcus moved to Dallas in 1897 and tion to order their merchandise for served as lay leader for many years worked as a clerk at the Sanger Broth- the upcoming season. By the 1950s, and in 1956 the congregation merged ers store. His sister, Carrie, followed Dallas was the third largest produc- with Shearith Israel. him two years later and went to work ers of clothing in the United States. Orthodox Jews in South Dal- for A. Harris & Co. Carrie later mar- Leo Fife and Esir Aronofsky opened las established Agudas Achim in ried Abraham Lincoln (Al) Neiman. a tailor shop in Deep Ellum and sold 1925 and bought a two-story house In 1907, the three of them opened their own suits. In 1901 August Lorch on Forest Avenue to serve as their Neiman-Marcus, a high fashion, established the Lorch Manufacturing synagogue. They hired Rabbi Jona- ready-to-wear women’s clothing store. Company, which initially sold ready- than Abramowitz, who served the Specializing in the latest New York made clothing from New York. Soon congregation for twenty-six years. As fashions, the store was a quick suc- the company began to make their own they grew, the house was torn down cess and soon moved to a much larger clothing and remained in business and was replaced with a larger build- space. Herbert’s sons later joined the until it was sold in 1989. ing in 1926. In 1939, a building was business, with Stanley Marcus becom- Other Dallas-based clothing com- constructed for their Talmud Torah. ing president of the company after panies included a maternity clothing By the 1950s many members began to his father, who served as president company, Page Boy, Inc., that was move out of the neighborhood so the for forty-three years, died in 1950. established by Elsie Frankfurt and her synagogue building was sold in 1957 Neiman-Marcus thrived along with sisters, Edna and Louise. Ed Byer with the congregation meeting in the the East Texas oil boom as Stanley and Harry Rolnick founded Byer-Rol- Talmud Torah building. It was then built the store into the institution that nick in 1928 and it eventually became decided to disband, with proceeds it is today. Stanley’s son, Richard, one of the country’s largest produc- from the sale of both buildings going later took over the business, though he ers of men’s hats. Known for their to the city’s first Jewish Day School, left in 1988, a year after the store was Resistol brand hats, Byer-Rolnick continued on page 12

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 11 Dallas, continued from page 11 the Akiba Academy, gations did not have which had been found- Hebrew schools, ed in 1962. using the community When Agudas school instead. The Achim fired Rabbi school, run by Jacob Milton Rosen as princi- Levin from 1929 to pal of the Talmud Torah 1946, owned a bus in 1942, a disgruntled which would pick up group broke away to students after school form Congregation four days a week. Ohave Shalom with However, the school Rabbi Rosen as their began to struggle spiritual leader. They in the 1940s and in met in a house on South 1946, merged with Boulevard, but when Agudas Achim’s Tal- they could no longer mud Torah. When afford to pay Rabbi Vintage postcard from the early 1900s showing Akard Street in Dallas, Shearith Israel estab- looking north. Rosen’s salary, he left lished its own He- in 1944. Ohave Shalom began to YMHA reorganized, and this time brew School in 1956 the community evolve into a Jewish Home for the they were the recipients of another school closed, and each congregation Aged. Old men began to live on the struggling organization, the Parkview became responsible for the religious second floor of the house, leading Club. The Parkview Club gave its education of its own children. services and helping make a minyan building to the YMHA if they agreed By the 1930s, all congregations every day. Ohave Shalom showed to take over the mortgage. The were located in South Dallas as well the need for a Jewish old age home in YMHA moved in, built a gym, and as Workmen’s Circle School and the Dallas, and in 1953 the Dallas Jew- in 1924 the Dallas Jewish Federation Hebrew School. However, in the ish Federation established the Dallas of Social Services, which had been 1940s, when the Jews began to leave Home for the Jewish Aged. Ohave founded in 1911, took the YMHA South Dallas for the northern part of Shalom donated its building to the under its wing and moved its offices the city, the Jewish institutions were Home. to the Y. In 1927, the YMHA deeded forced to follow their members. In Shearith Israel continued to its building to the Federation and 1955, Temple Emanu-El moved north, thrive, and in 1920 the congregation changed its name to the Jewish Com- with Shearith Israel and Tifereth Israel dedicated a new synagogue across munity Center. following. The Jewish Community from City Park. The Ladies Auxil- The National Council of Jewish Center bought land on Northaven iary, which had been formed in 1913, Women founded a chapter in 1898, Road in 1954 and dedicated a new helped raise money, holding a series but it became inactive a few years building there eight years later. Be- of fifty-cent chicken dinners on Sun- later. The group reformed in 1913 cause of the construction of freeways day nights and a downtown bazaar in and opened a free lunch clinic and through the South Dallas Jewish area, 1917. Rabbi H. Raphael Gold was instituted a penny lunch and free milk there is little evidence of the Jewish hired in 1928, and he stayed until program in a school in a poor immi- presence that was once there. 1942. Rabbi Hillel Silverman was grant neighborhood. In 1918, the Dal- Generally, Jews enjoyed tremen- hired in 1954, and two years later the las Board of Education took over the dous acceptance in Dallas. While congregation joined the Conservative school lunch program and expanded it they were excluded from certain elite movement. to other schools in the city. clubs, prominent Jews were wel- Other Jewish organizations were Jewish religious education comed into the city’s power structure, established, including a Young Men’s centered on the community Hebrew and they helped build the city into Hebrew Association in 1879. Unfor- School, established in 1924. Although an economic and cultural center. tunately, they disbanded in 1890 and not affiliated with any congregation, Jews became major patrons of the sold their building to a Jewish social the Hebrew School was largely sup- arts. Arthur Kramer of A. Harris & club, the Phoenix Club. ported by the members of Shearith Co. founded the Dallas Grand Op- It was not until 1919 that the Israel. Most of the Orthodox congre- continued on page 13

Page 12 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Dallas, continued from page 12 era Association and served as president of the Dallas Texas Board of Regents. As for Dallas Jews. Since Symphony Orchestra. Ed Titche served on the board head of the Dallas Housing 1873 when Alex Sanger was of the State Fair Association and of several hospitals. Authority, Rabbi Olan was elected alderman, Jews have Titche helped found the local chapter of the Red Cross well aware of the problems been involved in local poli- and donated a large mansion to the chapter in 1943 for that blacks in public housing tics. Sigmund Loeb served use as headquarters. Herbert Marcus helped establish faced, especially the children as alderman from 1883 to Southern Methodist University. His wife, Minnie, was who entered school behind 1892, and in recent decades a founder of the Dallas Garden Center and worked other students academically. a growing number of Dallas to beautify the city. Louis Jules Hexter helped found Under his leadership, Temple Jews have been elected to the Dallas Little Theater and later founded the Dallas Emanu-El opened the Rhoads office. Joe Golman served Negro Players theater group. John Rosenfield served Terrace Housing Project Pre- in the Texas legislature from as the theater and culture critic for the Dallas Morning School in 1965 and pushed 1969 to 1973. Al Granoff and News from 1925 until his death in 1966. for free kindergarten, which Steve Wolens served in the Julius Schepps and Fred Florence were long- was begun in 1971. Texas House of Representa- time members of the Dallas Citizens Council, as was Civic roles are not new continued on page 22 Stanley Marcus. Schepps made his fortune in the wholesale liquor and insurance business. He was involved in many charities and in the Jewish com- munity, serving as head of the Jewish Federation and Can You Guess the Dallas Home for the Aged. When the JCC built a new facility in 1962, it was named after Schepps. He This Member? served eighteen years on the Dallas Park Board and We finally had a winner! Rusty and was named Dallas’ most outstanding citizen in 1954. Mitzi Milstein guessed that the person To honor his civic contributions, a section of Interstate who has been stumping everyone 45 in Dallas was named the Julius Schepps Freeway. for the past few months was JACK Fred Florence was the longtime President of Republic SOLKA! The Milsteins presented National Bank from 1929 to 1957. Both Schepps and their award of a free year’s member- Florence helped bring the Texas Centennial Celebra- ship to Joe & Barbara McClellan tion to the city in 1936. of Longview. Welcome to the When the federal courts enforced integration, Jew- McClellans and thank you to ish merchants were quick to change. Stanley Marcus the Milsteins. integrated Neiman-Marcus in 1961, and Sam Bloom, The next person for you the head of a large advertising agency, put together a to try your hand at is also an public relations campaign designed to convince white Aggie—guess there are Dallasites to accept integration. His film, “Dallas at a lot of them around. the Crossroads,” contrasted the violence of the Little Have fun and remem- Rock school integration crisis with tranquil images of ber, the winner will Dallas life. Julius Schepps was in charge of the Citi- receive a year’s free zens Council Committee to Work with Negro Leaders. membership to TJHS. Among the loudest voices for social and racial Email your guess to justice in Dallas was Rabbi Levi Olan, spiritual Davie Lou Solka at edi- leader of Temple Emanu-El. He came to Dallas in [email protected] any time 1949, replacing the temple’s longtime rabbi, David beginning Monday, Lefkowitz, who had fought against the Ku Klux Klan March 16. Entries re- in the 1920s. Like his predecessor, Rabbi Olan had ceived before that date a weekly radio show on Sunday mornings, in which will not be considered. he addressed controversial topics. After the Supreme Previous winners and Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education, family members are not Rabbi Olan helped found Dallas Citizens for Peace- eligible to participate. ful Integration. He regularly spoke at black churches, Good luck! and in 1962 he was appointed to the University of

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 13 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. Ima Joy’s Waco by Vickie Vogel Many Bahme (1912- of you will 2013),5 Asher remember Joseph “Jem” Ima Joy Englander Gandler (1913-1945),6 of Waco. and Sam She was “Steve” Chaza- a TJHS now. board A photo- member graph (c.1913) and the shows the inte- elected rior of Congre- archi- gation Agudath vist for a Jacob Syna- number of gogue in Waco, years. Ima located on the Joy was southeast corner diligent of Columbus at in record- N. 7th. On the ing Texas right side on the Jewish his- back row facing tory, and the camera is especially Leizer Levy the history (1873-1952).7 of Jew- In the next ish Waco. row forward There Walgreen Drug Store. facing the are many Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. camera is Is- Waco pho- rael. Standing tographs in our archives at the Briscoe who was born around 1903. Nate died facing the camera is Hymie Hoffman. Center for American History, largely in 1985 and Miriam in 1998.3 Sam Baume is on the right side but as a result of Ima Joy’s efforts.1 There is a photo of the Ramblers more left, next to the columns. No one There are a few notes and labels of Waco, with the notation that it is else is labeled. of the photographs, in Ima Joy’s hand- not the entire group picture of the The photo of the L&M Cafe in writing. The Walgreen Drug Store was organization, in the late 1930s or early Waco is from 1946. Named for Louis on the first floor of the Liberty Build- 1940s. There have been country bands (1876-1952)8 and Mary (1867-1951)9 ing (entrance on North 6th Street). out of Waco named the Ramblers, but Meinstein, the first owners, it was Ima Joy’s father, Nate Chodorow,2 there are no clues as to whether this started after the Great Depression by owned the Liberty Building at one group was a band or a social organiza- Mary and her daughter Sarah. Louis point. He was born around 1899 in tion. In any event, standing are Robert had the liquor store next door. Pic- Russia and arrived in Texas at an early Hoffman, Ben Reed, Sam Aronson tured on the top row, third from left 4 age. He married Miriam Borschow, (1913-1986), and seated are Barney continued on page 15

Page 14 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Ima Joy’s Waco, continued from page 14 is “Blackie,” the cook, then Abe and Minnie Schikman Meinstein. Abe was Sarah’s brother. On the bottom row in the middle is Leon Meinstein, son of Abe and Minnie. There are some handwritten notes with the photograph, stating Mary taught Blackie how to cook. After Sarah’s divorce, she moved to Hearne. The handwriting is small and cramped and difficult to read. It says during the war, soldiers and doctors from Marlin came to eat here. The notes say Leon and The Ramblers of Waco. Staning: Robert Hoffman, Ben Reed, Sam Aronson. Seated: Barney Bahme, Asher his wife had four Joseph “Jem” Englander, Sam “Steve” Chazanow. Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American boys, and list three: History, University of Texas at Austin. Eddie, Charles, and Marvin.10 According to Ancestry.com, Louis Meinstein was born in Warsaw on December 25, 1876, to Meyer Yechiel Meinstein and Hannah Finkelstein. He and Mary had four children, all born in Warsaw before 1907: Frances, Sarah, Saul, and Abe. Sarah was born in 1903. She married Charles Green- berg; they had one child. Charles died in Israel, date unknown. Saul married Fannie Shub, and they had one child. Ima Joy’s notes say Estella Maxey played the L&M on Saturday nights. Maxey grew up loving the music she heard at Second Baptist Church and was declared a prodigy by her mu- sic teacher. During the Depression, Maxey organized an orchestra, “Stella and Her Boys,” which performed at parties and clubs. As a local tour company puts it, “Stella bridged the gap between the races, and was well Congregation Agudath Jacob Synagogue. respected by the entire Waco commu- Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. continued on page 16

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 15 Ima Joy’s Waco, continued from page 15 can be found, some from 1961-62 when Amiel Wohl was the abbi, and 1965 when Mordecai Podet was rabbi and Bernard Rapoport was presi- dent. The bulletins are quite impressive, with news items and articles of interest, including one titled “Baylor University and the Jews.” “Very often we hear very uncom- plimentary remarks from our people about Baylor... It may not be the world’s greatest uni- versity, but it is an impressive school... But we should remember particu- larly as Jews who supposedly have a Purim, Agudath Jacob, undated. Left to right: Roddy Sanger, ?, Leon Zlotowicz, Morrie Fred, last two great reverence and unlabeled. Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. respect for learning that rather than tear nity.”11 Abe and Minnie ran the cafe down this wonderful institution by after Mary and Sarah. our negative attitude, that we ought The last file in the box has to be encouraging Jewish students photos of Temple Rodef Sholom. from all over to come to Baylor. Now Rabbi Henrich Schwarz came from some people thing [sic] that it is ter- Hempstead to dedicate Rodef Sho- rible that Baylor has certain required lom. There is an undated photo from religious courses—but why shouldn’t a Purim celebration taken in the they? After all they are supported by temple basement. Left to right are the Baptist Church, and this is within Roddy Sanger, ?, Leon Zlotowicz, their rights... We hope that every one Morrie Fred, ? and ? of us will be Baylor Boosters, because Morris Aaron Fred, a jeweler, this great university does deserve was born in 1890 in Lithuania. He our support. It is an old adage: ‘One died in Waco in 1946. A photocopy should never knock any institution or of the picture has the names written anything in one’s own city that helps on it. one make his living, or that makes his Also in this file are letters from city something.’” Ima Joy trying to collect addresses There are also two bulletins from for an invitation list for the Rodef 2009, but they are shorter and have Shalom 125th anniversary celebra- much less news in them. tion in 2004. She chaired the cel- This file reminds us how impor- Rabbi Henrich Schwarz. Photo courtesy ebration committee. tant it is to label our photographs right of Dolph Briscoe Center for American His- In a separate box,12 the bulle- away. As time passes, the informa- tory, University of Texas at Austin. tins of Congregation Rodef Shalom continued on page 17

Page 16 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Ima Joy’s Waco, continued from page 16

LM Cafe, 1946. Top row, third from left is “Blackie,” the cook, then Abe and Minnie Meinstein. Bottom row middle is Leon Meinstein. Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. tion of who, what, where, when gets Sholom, Texas Jewish Historical So- bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=bahme&G lost. Use an archival pen, or to avoid ciety Records, Dolph Briscoe Center Sbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=46& writing on the photo or its back, you for American History, The University GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=105433 can make a photocopy of the picture of Texas at Austin. Thanks go to Dr. 336&df=all& Don Carleton, Hal Richardson, Cindy 6 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg and label it. You can also lay a piece Taylor and Amy Bowman for help .cgi?page=gr&GSln=englander&GSb of thin paper over the group photo and with the photographs. yrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=46&GS lightly circle the heads with a pencil, 2 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg cntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=95315009 then label your drawn heads. The .cgi?page=gr&GSln=gandler&GSfn= &df=all& most important thing is to label them ima&GSmn=joy&GSbyrel=all&GSd 7 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg in some way, because eventually, no yrel=all&GSst=46&GScnty=2674&G .cgi?page=gr&GSsr=241&GScid=19 one will be left who remembers who Scntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=47227387 79161&GRid=95315300& &df=all& 8 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg they are. As for Ima Joy Gandler, she 3 http://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/ .cgi?page=gr&GSln=Meinstein&GSf died in Waco in 2010, age 80, but will sse.dll?gl=allgs&gsfn=Nate&gsln=C n=Louis&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all long be remembered by the Texas hodorow&gss=seo&ghc=20 &GSst=46&GScntry=4&GSob=n&G Jewish Historical Society. 4 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg Rid=95635451&df=all& .cgi?page=gr&GSln=aronson&GSfn= 9 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/ Endnotes 1 sam&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GS fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Meinstein& Unless otherwise noted, all photo- st=46&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid= GSiman=1&GScid=1979161&GR graphs and notes are from Box 2F511, 95737048&df=all&. id=95635488& file Labeled Photographs 2012-181 or 5 http://www.findagrave.com/cgi- file Photographs from Temple Rodef continued on page 18

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 17 Ima Joy’s Waco, continued from page 17

Rodef Shalom. Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

Back of the Rodef Shalom group photo above. Many are identified. Photo courtesy of Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. continued on page 19

Page 18 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Ima Joy’s Waco, continued Proposed Slate of Officers, TJHS from page 18

10 This information cannot be 2015-2016 verified on ancestry.com as it is marked “private.” http://records. Officers ancestry.com/leon_s_meinstein_ records.ashx?pid=193514042 Only three Meinsteins are buried President David Beer (Dallas) in Agudath Jacob Cemetery: Louis, Mary, and Frances, and 1st Vice-President Susan Lewis (Big Spring) family relationships are not clari- 2nd Vice-President Davie Lou Solka (Austin) fied. http://www.findagrave.com/ cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gsr&GSiman 3rd Vice-President Jane Manaster (Dallas) =1&GScid=1979161&GSfn=&G Treasurer Ben Rosenberg Sln=meinstein (Sugar Land) 11 http://www.snobbytours.com/wa- cotours.html Recording Secretary Daniel Weinbaum 12 Box 2.325/c44, Texas Jewish His- (Beaumont) torical Society Records, Dolph Corresponding Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas Secretary Claire Brooks (Houston) at Austin. Historian Sally Drayer (Dallas) Archivist Samylu Rubin (Dallas) Parliamentarian Vickie Vogel (La Grange) Save the Board Members 2014-2016 Date to complete term Kay Krause (Dallas) March 17, 2015 Jerry Wells (Plano) Dedication of a His- toric Marker for Rabbi Sidney Wolf, Corpus Board Members 2015-2017 Christi, Texas Elaine Albin (Rockport) Amy Milstein (Frisco) Douglas Braudaway (Del Rio) Allen Mondell (Dallas) April 24-26, 2015 Dick Brooks (Houston) Ruth Nathan (Houston) Annual Gathering Suzanne Campbell (San Angelo) Shirley Rich (Houston) (joint meeting with Brad Greenblum (Austin) Lynna Kay Shuffield (Houston) Dallas Jewish Histori- Jan Hart (Temple) Larry Simpson (Wichita Falls) cal Society) Harold “Pacey” Laves (Austin) Rosalie Weisfeld (McAllen) Dallas, Texas Marilyn Lippman (Dallas) Bobbi Wells (Plano) Amy Manuel (Denton) Gary Whitfield (Fort Worth) June 8-15, 2015 Abbi Michelson (Lockhart) Joyce Wormser (Pearland) TJHS Mission to Cuba Nominating Committee Marc Wormser, Chair; Sally Drayer; Jan Hart; Rusty Milstein; Helen Wilk

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 19 Historical Marker Dedication for Rabbi Sidney Wolf, Corpus Christi, Texas A Historical Marker dedication pulpit of Temple Beth El in 1950. He ational facilities. Organizing the city’s will take place on Tuesday, March continued that tradition for a number of first symphony orchestra in 1945 is also 17, 2015, at the Temple Beth El sec- years in spite of the racial segregation credited to Rabbi Wolf, who served as tion of Seaside Memorial Cemetery that existed in Corpus Christi at that the founding president of the Corpus in Corpus Christi, Texas, at 1:30 pm. time. The Hispanic community also felt Christi Symphony Society. The marker honoring Rabbi Sidney his assistance when, as a member of the Helen Wilk, a past president of the Wolf will be placed at his grave. Parks and Recreation Board, he insisted Texas Jewish Historical Society, applied The Nueces County Historical on equal access for all citizens of the for the marker and will speak at the Commission will conduct the unveil- community to all community recre- dedication. ing and dedication of the marker for Rabbi Wolf, who served in the pulpit of Temple Beth El from 1932-1972. Rabbi Wolf, in conjunction with In Memoriam Reverend William Caper Munds, Betty Frances Harold Vex- initiated the joint Thanksgiving Aron, TJHS ler, TJHS service with the Church of Good member, died on member died Shepherd, Episcopal, in 1933. That December 17, on January event, which continues to this day, 2014, in Houston. 25, 2015 in was so unusual in its day, that it She is survived San Antonio. was noted in the 1936 issue of Time by her husband, He was 100 magazine under the heading “Love Sidney Aron; her years old, in Corpus Christi.” Again, reach- daughter, Sondra and is sur- ing across cultural divides, Rabbi Rosenthal, her daughters and sons- vived by his wife, Esther; his sons Wolf invited black minister Rever- in-law, Lisa & Elliot Finkelstein and daughters-in-law, Jack & Bette end Sidney Smith to speak from the and Diane & Lewis Reich; her son, Vexler and Dr. Stuart Vexler & Dr. Howard Aron; eight grandchildren Cari Kahn; his daughter, Dr. Jill and their spouses; and six great- Vexler; seven grandchildren; and 2 Cuba Trip grandchildren. great-grandchildren. The TJHS trip to Cuba on June 8-15, 2015 has closed at Dr. Donald M. Bernard L. Weingarten, TJHS near capacity. We are looking Cohen, TJHS member, forward to visiting the island member, died died on with the new guidelines from on December January the United States. A report and 2, 2014, in Fort 20, 2015 photos on the trip will be in our Worth. He is in Hous- next issues. Safe travels to all! survived by his ton. He is wife, Judith; his survived by sons and daugh- his daugh- ters-in-law, Dr. ters and The deadline for Daniel & Jane Cohen and Steven sons-in-law; his grandchildren and the May 2015 & Amy Cohen; his daughters and great-grandchildren; and his brother sons-in-law, Diana “Dede” and and sister-in-law, Jack & Elizabeth TJHS News Mag- Dr. Brian Kaplan and Dr. Jordana Weingarten. azine is Friday, “Dana” Cohen-Paine & Bill Paine; and nine grandchildren. May their memories be April 24. a blessing.

Page 20 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 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.

Welcome New Members!

David & Bayla Cotlar Joe & Barbara McClellan Helen Schlam 777 Southwest Fwy., #946 1706 Tulip St. 120 Erie Rd. Houston, TX 77074-1813 Longview, TX 75601 Columbus, OH 43214 713-776-3045 903-653-4650 614-267-9516 [email protected] 956-245-4023 Cell 614-395-5044 Cell [email protected] Alison Schottenstein Jeff Lefkowitz Bertha Miller 6260 Park Rd. 5018 Imogene 4100 North Hills Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45243 Houston, TX 77096 Austin, TX 78731 617-233-9659 713-661-1001 512-407-9030 [email protected] [email protected]

Joseph Macias Has Your Address Changed? 4055 S. Braeswood, Larry & Cindy (Miller) Nale If you have any changes in your informa- Apt. 203 709 Landon Ln. tion, please send them to: Marc Wormser Houston, TX 77025 Austin, TX 78705 281-579-8006 512-476-9296 1601 S. Riviera Ct., Pearland, TX 77581 [email protected] [email protected] 832-288-3494, or [email protected].

Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 Page 21 www.txjhs.org Dallas, continued from page 13 Visit us on the web at www.txjhs.org. tives in the 1980s and 1990s. lobbying the Texas legislature to Israel has over 1,000 members Florence Shapiro represented grant legal equality to married today, and Temple Emanu-El the northern suburb of Plano women. When both houses of grew to over 2,500 members in the state senate after serving the legislature passed the consti- by 2010. New congregations as mayor of the town. Martin tutional amendment in 1971, it were formed all over the city Frost served in the U. S. House was overwhelmingly approved in the last few decades. Rabbi of Representatives from 1979 by Texas voters the following Levi Olan of Temple Emanu- to 2004. Three Jewish women year. She was elected to the El helped establish a second have served as mayor of Dal- Texas Women’s Hall of Fame in Reform congregation in 1965. las—Adlene Harrison, a city 1986. Temple Shalom initially met at councilwoman, became interim The Dallas Jewish commu- the Southern Methodist Univer- mayor in 1976, when the sitting nity has changed significantly sity Chapel, and Shearith Israel lent them a Torah to use. Rabbi Saul Besser was hired in 1969, and in 1974 Tem- ple Shalom built a new synagogue on Alpha Road. Jews in Richard- son founded the Conser- vative con- Prominent Dallas Jews. Left to right: Annette Strauss, the first woman to be elected mayor of the city of Dallas; Florence Shapiro, Texas State Senator from the Dallas area from 1993 to gregation, 2013; and Martin Frost, who served the Dallas area in the U. S. House of Representatives from Beth Torah 1979 to 2004. in 1974, and Anshei mayor resigned. In 1987, An- in the last several decades. The Emet was founded in Plano in nette Strauss was elected to her great Jewish-owned department 1979. Ner Tamid began in 1984 first of two terms as mayor, and stores have either closed or been in Carrolton as Conservative, in 2002, Laura Miller was elect- sold to national chains. As in but joined the Union for Reform ed mayor serving until 2007. the rest of the Sunbelt South, Judaism in 1989. In recent Others never served in elected the Dallas Jewish community years, several Orthodox con- office but were influential in has moved out of the retail busi- gregations have been founded, many ways. Robert Strauss ness and into the professions including Young Israel, Ohev served as chairman of the Na- and corporate world. Shalom and Shaare Tefilla. tional Democratic Party from After World War II, the city Beth El-Bimah, founded in 1972 to 1977 and was appointed emerged as one of America’s 1985, caters to gay and lesbian ambassador to the Soviet Union largest cities. As the city grew, Jews. By the 21st century, Dal- by President George H. W. Bush so did the Jewish community. las’ Jewish community offered in 1991. Hermine Tobolowsky In 2000, an estimated 47,000 congregational options and was a lawyer who drafted and Jews lived in the city and its educational resources for every- led the fight to pass the Equal suburbs. This growth had a one, and continues to thrive as Legal Rights Amendment in huge impact on the city’s Jew- a leading Jewish center in the Texas. She spent thirteen years ish congregations. Shearith United States.

Page 22 Texas Jewish Historical Society - March 2015 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 - March 2015 Page 23 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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