2017 News Magazine Schulenburg Temple Celebrates 65Th Birthday by Sheldon Lippman Temple Israel Has Temple Israel’S History
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Preserving Jewish Heritage in Texas Texas Jewish Est. 1980 Historical Society May 2017 News Magazine Schulenburg Temple Celebrates 65th Birthday by Sheldon Lippman Temple Israel has Temple Israel’s history. been part of Schulen- Roy Walter, rabbi burg’s religious commu- emeritus, Congregation nity for over 65 years. Emanu El in Hous- This Texas house of ton and a long-time worship was dedicated friend of Temple Israel in September, 1951. congregants, delivered To commemorate a brief history of the this milestone and its Temple; Moshe Ben Founding Members, Bassat, lead singer with many of their chil- the Kosher Klezmer dren, grandchildren, Band, performed a great-grandchildren, and spirited rendition of friends came together Israeli music; and there on March 19, 2017, to was belated TuB’Shvat, pay tribute to those who including a tree-plant- displayed a pioneering ing dedication in the spirit over six decades Temple’s front yard. ago that built a home for Progeny of Temple Israel founding members who grew up in Schulenberg: The Sefer Torah the small Jewish com- Paula (Schwartz) Stein; Phyllis (Schwartz) Hengst; Irvin, Marilyn, and used by Temple Isra- munity in Central Texas. Sheldon Lippman; Isyjean (Pinchin) Korenck; and Phil Lippman. el was purchased in Temple Israel has held 1903 by Leo and Susie six bar mitzvahs, the first in 1961. that couple, Fred and Diane Koenig, Edmonds Steiner of Columbus who as Three of these bar mitzvah celebrants also returned to Schulenburg from newlyweds traveled to Montgomery, returned for this special day. And there their home in Houston to receive a Alabama, and purchased the Torah has been only one wedding, in 1953; special blessing for their unique role in continued on page 17 IN THIS ISSUE: Message from the Incoming President ...................... 2 Israelis Visit Temple Beth-El in Corsicana ............. 10 by Michael Kormos Message from the Outgoing President ...................... 3 Adah Isaacs Menken ................................................. 12 Notes from the Board Meeting ................................... 3 by Vickie Vogel Meet Your Board ....................................................... 14 TJHS Members Visit Cuba ........................................ 6 by Vickie Vogel TJHS Grants $1,000 toward Documentary ............ 21 about Texans with Crypto-Jewish Roots Jewish Congregations of Austin ................................. 8 by Hollace Weiner Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2017 Page 1 Message from the Incoming President by Davie Lou Solka Thank you for the confi- have wonderful projects and Historical Society, and you can make dence you have placed in me to many committees could use it even more exciting by travelling serve as President of the Texas your help. Don’t hesitate with us on our journey. As Howard Jewish Historical Society. I am to contact me to discuss the Cohen, Chancellor Emeritus of Purdue looking forward to a year of opportunities available to University/Calumet, once said, “His- fun, learning and results for our you. We have undertaken tory is not history until it is written or projects—continuing and new and begun to implement a told.” It is up to us to write and tell. ones. Five-Year Plan. Much has See you in Austin! Our board members are a been accomplished, but there Davie Lou Solka wonderful group of individuals, is even more to do. We will and I know they take their responsibil- be working on that in the coming year. ity as a board member very seriously Our next Board Meeting will be in to do the best job they can. I have Austin June 10-11, and we have plans Save the Date challenged each of them to add two to visit interesting places for our future new members this year. Our organ- meetings. I hope you will join us. October 21-22, 2017 ization can only continue to grow if I have enjoyed editing the News Board Meeting in we all work toward increasing our Magazine, but with the responsibility Marshall, Texas membership and involving as many of president, I am stepping down for people as we can. You do not have the time being. Jack Solka will be the January 12-14, 2018 to be a member of the board to serve new editor. Please contact him if you Board Meeting in on a committee, and I encourage you have articles for the News Magazine. Gonzales, Texas to let me know if you are interested I think this upcoming year will be in any area of the organization. We an exciting year for the Texas Jewish April 20-22, 2018 Annual Gathering and Board Meeting in Fort Worth, Texas The Texas Jewish Historical Society May 2017 The deadline for Quarterly News Magazine The Texas Jewish Historical Society News Magazine is published four the July 2017 TJHS times annually. Stories about Texas Jewish history, oral histories, and re- quests for assistance with research are welcome, as are photographs and his- News Magazine is torical documents. Please provide color photocopies or scans at 300 dpi or greater in gif, tif, or jpg format, and send electronically to Editor Jack Solka Friday, June 9. at [email protected] or by mail to 3808 Woodbrook Circle, Austin, TX 78759, 512-527-3799. Be sure to include your name and contact information. The News Magazine of the Editor Jack Solka Texas Jewish Historical Society Layout/Design Editor Alexa Kirk (USPS) is published four times a year by the Texas Jewish Histor- Note: The Texas Jewish Historical Society is unable to ical Society, P. O. Box 10193, guarantee the safe receipt and/or return of documents Austin, Texas 78766-0193, Travis and photographs. It is strongly recommended that you County. Periodical postage paid provide color photocopies of both color and black & at Houston, Texas. Postmaster, white documents. We welcome your comments and send address changes to the Texas suggestions. Jewish Historical Society, P. O. Visit us on the web at www.txjhs.org. Box 10193, Austin, Texas 78766- 0193. www.txjhs.org Page 2 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2017 Message from the Outgoing President by David Beer When I was elected a feel for what graduation gifts. Please help preserve your president back in was needed to be Texas Jewish History. the spring of 2015, my done and how to In addition to the need to increase immediate goal was to do it in my capac- a younger membership base, we decid- go into a “not sink the ity as president. ed to look to the past in order to plan ship” mentality. I was As we trav- for the future of TJHS. With that in anything but well versed eled around the mind, a committee was formed to put in how the inner work- state, I have together a Five Year Plan that was pro- ings of our organization enjoyed the posed to chart our future. In the past operated. After my opportunity to eighteen months, the plan has begun panic attack subsided, in meet so many of a rare moment of clarity the members that to be put into action. We still have ad- in my brain, I came to I did not know. I ditional parts that need to be instituted realize where my defi- do regret, how- and will be in the near future. ciencies lay in order to ever, that there So, as my presidency draws to lead an organization of this magnitude. are so many more of the membership a close, I have happily accepted my The thoughts that prevailed in that mo- that I would have enjoyed meeting as past-president’s pin at the Annual ment of clarity were, “If I don’t know TJHS continues to go from town to Gathering in San Antonio, and will be what is required of me in my capacity town, and continue to hear about, col- proud to have my name added to the as president, where could I receive the lect, and disseminate our Texas Jewish illustrious list of past presidents. advice and counsel to help me along history. I want to thank the TJHS members the way?” When I took office at the Annual for honoring me with the opportunity I decided to ask our past presi- Gathering in Dallas in April, 2015, to serve as president these past two dents going back some ten to twelve one of my prime objectives was to years. As I turn over this fine organ- years for their assistance. They gra- recruit new members to add to our ization to my dear friend Davie Lou ciously agreed to provide me the help membership rolls. As our membership Solka, I want to say to her, “DL, I that I so desperately needed when I ages, the need for younger members hope that you don’t find too much of a came across presidential decisions that becomes more critical than ever to mess that I leave behind for you.” had to be made. Over the past twen- “replenish” the ranks. If we don’t ty-four months, I regularly reached look for new (and younger) members, Finally, I want to thank all of the out to my “Past President’s Advisory then the future of the Texas Jewish members of the board and the officers Council” who kept me from sinking Historical Society becomes very that I have had the honor of serving the ship. For their guidance, I am uncertain. Please, friends, give the with for the past twenty-four months. most grateful. I am glad, though, that gift of membership to your children, Thank you again. as my term progressed, I began to get age-appropriate grandchildren, and as Your (past) president, David Notes from the Board Meeting At the April Board Meeting in information about Ms. Glantz and • Lynna Kay Shuffield is research- San Antonio, the following occurred: her film.