Preserving Jewish Heritage in Texas Jewish Est. 1980 Historical Society May 2019 News Magazine Annual Gathering in April 5-7, 2019

Above: Officers and Board of Trustees. Left: Officers—Ben Rosenberg, Treasurer; Davie Lou Solka, Immediate Past President/Parliamentarian; Joyce Wormser, Recording Secretary; Susan Zack Lewis, President; Jack Solka, 2nd Vice-President; Sally Drayer, Historian/ Archivist; Amy Milstein, Corresponding Secretary; Not shown—Sonny Gerber, 1st Vice-President; Jane Manaster, 3rd Vice- President. Below: Group who attended the Awards Dinner on Saturday night.

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 © 1980-2019 Texas Jewish Historical Society, Inc. All rights reserved. Page 1 Message from the Outgoing President by Davie Lou Solka Over the last couple of everyone had a great time. Award posthumously to Lynna Kay weeks, every time I said to We began the weekend Shuffield, which was accepted by Juli- someone that my two-year with a beautiful Shabbat anna Dearman on behalf of the family. term as President of the Texas service at Congregation Beth We were very glad to have City of Jewish Historical Society Israel. A delicious catered Houston Mayor Pro-Tem Ellen Cohen was coming to an end, they dinner followed in the Mar- join us for dinner, where she presented would say “My, that was fast. golis Gallery, with Cantor a letter to TJHS on behalf of Houston Are you sure?” I assured Star A. Trampeter, accompa- Mayor Sylvester Turner. them that I was and I do nied by Congregation Beth At the Board Meeting, Julianna agree with them. It has been Israel Music Director, Mark announced that Lynna Kay had left a quick, amazing two years. I have Vogel, entertaining us with songs by $25,000 to TJHS to continue her work been so proud to represent TJHS and Irving Berlin, Leonard Bernstein, and on obtaining special designation me- have made so many new friends—and George Gershwin. dallions preserving Jewish cemeteries. renewed old friendships. There have Saturday found us at the Houston In addition, she has given us $25,000 been many different emotions in this Holocaust Museum with docent led to set up a writing contest for graduate job for me—excitement, questions, tours, lunch, and a presentation by students writing on Jewish history. We happiness, and like life, some sadness, Susan Septimus, L’Dor VaDor: How to are grateful to Lynna Kay for these be- too. But it has been an experience I Bring your Family Stories and History quests and will implement her requests would not trade for anything else. to Your Seder Table. That evening in the near future. Thanks to Joan and Louis Katz we held our first Awards Dinner and My goal when I took office two and their committee for a wonderful presented the Outstanding Historic years ago was to complete as much week-end and Annual Gathering. It Preservation Award to Babette Sam- as we could on the five-year plan that was a fun and interesting meeting and uels and the Major Historic Project was presented to the board in January, 2014. There were a few items already The Texas Jewish Historical Society in place but I am pleased to say that all of the items listed in the Immediate May 2019 Section have been accomplished. Quarterly News Magazine One of the major items that we accomplished is to have the officers The Texas Jewish Historical Society News Magazine is published and committee chairs’ job descriptions four times annually. Stories about Texas Jewish history, oral histories, and explained, with each person receiving requests for assistance with research are welcome, as are photographs and a procedure book that will be passed historical documents. Please provide color photocopies or scans at 300 dpi on to their successors. Hopefully, this or greater in gif, tif, or jpg format, and send electronically to Editor Davie will ease transition between officers Lou Solka at [email protected] or by mail to 3808 Woodbrook Circle, Aus- continued on page 11 tin, TX 78759, 512-527-3799. Be sure to include your name and contact information. The News Magazine of the Texas Jewish Historical Society Editor Davie Lou Solka (USPS) is published four times a Layout/Design Editor Alexa Kirk year by the Texas Jewish Histor- ical Society, P. O. Box 10193, Note: The Texas Jewish Historical Society is unable Austin, Texas 78766-0193, Travis to guarantee the safe receipt and/or return of documents County. Periodical postage paid and photographs. It is strongly recommended that you at Houston, Texas. Postmaster, provide color photocopies of both color and black & send address changes to the Texas white documents. We welcome your comments and Jewish Historical Society, P. O. suggestions. Box 10193, Austin, Texas 78766- Visit us on the web at www.txjhs.org. 0193. www.txjhs.org

Page 2 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Message from the Incoming President by Susan Zack Lewis How can it be that a serve on the committee. could trace the family beyond a gen- person from a small town in Things I’d like to do eration or two. I’m a first-generation West Texas, without a formal include: supporting the Texan on both sides! My father, Jim Jewish education, could Jewish education of young Zack, was an immigrant from Russia possibly lead such a distin- people to discover and and my mother, Clara Brenner Zack guished group as The Texas preserve their Jewish iden- was born in Oklahoma to Nicholas Jewish Historical Society? tities, discovering different Brenner and Lena Rosenthal; both The answer is simple. It’s areas of Texas where Jews were Latvian immigrants. My husband impossible. have made important contributions can trace his family through almost I feel that my true role in this and making sure those contributions two hundred years of position is to assist the membership in are preserved for history, and most citizenry. That made me curious and achieving the basic goals of this society important, allowing each member a I’m trying to piece together the history and to preserve and sustain the history voice and a place where contributions of my relatives before they arrived in of the Jewish presence in Texas. are welcomed and nurtured. After the United States. I’m here to help keep the boat all, we’re volunteers aching to offer A need to connect with other Jew- afloat, to continue such innovations as service. ish people is what attracted us to this the procedure books, the preservation While my husband Bob and I have organization. While we hold a mem- of cemeteries as historical sites and the been members for well over ten years, bership at Beth-El Congregation in continued support of the archives at the we really do not know a lot about other Fort Worth and have done so for more Briscoe Center in Austin. members. I think we might make an than 40 years, we were not able to be We will be able to continue the effort to preserve our individual family actively involved because we live 240 Historical Cemetery Designation histories and share them with our miles from the temple. We went to our project begun by Lynna Kay Shuffield. members during our meetings. first TJHS meeting in Odessa where Douglas Braudaway of Del Rio, In my small efforts to discover the the book Lone Stars of Texas was pre- Hollace Weiner of Fort Worth and history of my family, I’ve discovered sented to the membership. It’s the only Gayle Cannon of Austin have agreed to that neither my parents nor my cousins thing I remember from that meeting. Hollace Weiner’s dynamic presentation and those cowboy boots made quite an impression! TJHS Awards As we continued to At the Annual Gathering look into the organization, in Houston of the Texas Jewish we began to meet friendly, Historical Society, two awards accepting people who wel- were presented at the Awards comed us without question. Dinner on April 6, 2019. Ba- We soon began to make bette Samuels of Corsicana, TX sure dates for the meetings received the Outstanding Histor- were inked into our calen- ic Preservation Award, and the dars. The friendships we Major Historic Project Award have made are precious life was presented posthumously to treasures. Lynna Kay Thanks to all of you for Shuffield of this amazing opportunity. Houston, TX. Contact me with ANY con- Julianna Dear- cerns. I’m here to help. man accepted See you at the summer the award on behalf of the Shuffield board meeting in Palestine! family. Both recipients are members Charles Hart has wonderful of TJHS. surprises in store with fasci- nating Jewish history!

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 3 Annual Gathering in Houston

Ellen Cohen, Mayor Pro-Tem, City of Houston receives a copy of the TJHS News Magazine from Davie Lou Solka.

Top: Davie Lou Solka receives Past President’s Pin from Susan Zack Lewis. Left: Susan Septimus spoke at the Saturday lunch. Below: Cantor Star A. Trampater and Music Director from Congregation Beth Israel entertained Friday night in the Margolis Gallery.

Page 4 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 April 5-7, 2019

Sheldon Lippman, David Beer, Janice Gerber, Ruth Wall of photos at Houston Holocaust Museum. Nathan, and David Gerber view Congregation Beth Jacob banner of names who served in World War II.

Janice & Robert Jucker, Joan & Louis Katz with Challah from Dr. Joshua Furman, Houston Jewish Three Brothers Bakery. Archives at Rice University.

Robert Jucker, Charles Hart, Jan Hart, Nelson Chafetz in Margolis Gallery Friday night before dinner.

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 5 Zaydie, Hangin’ with the Malvim in Hempstead, Texas by Van Wallach

TJHS member Van Wallach, in Germany, Romania, from Katonal, New York (former- and Russia, leading ly of Mission, Texas) wrote the Torah scholar and one following article for his blog on of the preeminent Bible March 21, 2019. commentators of modern For years the pieces hid in times. Demonstrated plain sight in front of me, but I how the Oral tradition is never assembled them, until a implicit in the Biblical text. few weeks ago. The Malbim listed in the In several blog posts I’ve Chumash bibliography, along mentioned my great-great-grand- with Rashi, the Maharal of father, Rabbi Chayim (Heinrich) Prague, the Vilna Gaon and Schwarz, a rabbi in Germany others—THAT Malbim gave moved to Hempstead, Texas in s’mikha to R’ Chayim, my 1873, where his brothers already zaydie of generations past? lived. R’ Chayim appears in all Once that piece of the puzzle the books on Texas Jews, most clicked into place, I raced to extensively in Jewish Stars in my copy of Weiner’s book Texas: Rabbis and Their Work, and confirmed that, yes, the published in 1999 by Hollace Malbim and my rabbinical Ava Weiner. In fact, R’ Chayim ancestor had a direct teach- graces the cover, with a tall round er-student connection. Wein- kippah and a penetrating gaze. er’s endnotes gave sources for Weiner pulled together a lot of Van Wallach at the Schwarz grave. the details. research on him in the book’s first er,” after the years he spent in I felt an immediate personal con- chapter, “Prussian Provinces to Texas Heinrich Schwarz’s home- nection to the Malbim. Who was he, Prairie.” town. what did he think and write? Online For all the decades I’ve had the I focused more on my family’s biographies gave similar details of a book and read about R’ Chayim, the first rabbi on the move, a traditionalist who ordained rabbi in Texas, I never made background in Kempen, in the duchy of Posen in Prussia, than on the rab- clashed with liberal-leaning congre- too much of this paragraph about his gations, to the extent that the one in origins: binical training. That began to change one re- Bucharest had him jailed. He had an Rabbi Heinrich Schwarz cent Shabbat at my shul, Chabad of offer to become the chief Orthodox had s’mikhah, a Hebrew term Bedford, when I flipped through the rabbi in New York City, but he de- for ordination. A rabbinical sage bibliography of sources in the back clined. The regular moves and stress had lain his hands on Heinrich’s of the Chumash. The names of the of congregational conflicts must have head and confirmed his stu- learned rabbis and their works always taken a toll on his health. The Malbim dent’s knowledge of Judaic fascinated me, as I wondered about died on Rosh Hashanah in 1879 while precepts and rabbinical law. what they wrote and experienced over traveling to his new congregation in Heinrich’s teacher was Rabbi the centuries. My eyes settled on the Kremenchuk. Meir Loeb ben Jehiel Michael, Malbim. Something clicked as I read That’s a shame, since I could imag- a man so revered among Jewish the paragraph: ine “der Kempener Magid” traveling scholars that he was called the on from New York to hang out with Malbim, an acronym taken Malbim—Acronym of his esteemed student, R’ Chayim, “der from his Hebrew initials. He Meir Leibush ben Yechiel Hempsteader.” They’d set up a prairie Michel (1809-1879), Rabbi was also called “der Kempen- continued on page 7

Page 6 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Hangin’ with the Malvim, continued from page 6 shul that would adhere to the Malbim’s of them leading me to commentaries failure to totally destroy the Amale- rigorous standards. Maybe they’d that incorporated the Malbim’s think- kites, as he was instructed by God introduce the locals to kosher BBQ, ing. This one, for example, suggests he through the prophet Samuel. Muschel washed down with a l’chaim of kosher was highly attuned to the intellectual makes excellent use of the Malbim’s tequila. The cinematic possibilities of currents of his times, ready to look to linguistic approach to drawing lessons two elderly German rabbis rambling secular learning as part of his think- from the Tanakh. He writes: around Central Texas in the late 1870s ing. It comes from Jeffrey Pfeffer’s In explaining the precise are endless, like Lonesome Dove meets introduction to his 2003 translation of nature of Shaul’s sin, the Mal- Fiddler on the Roof, from Hempstead Malbim’s Job: The Book of Job: bim offers a powerful expla- nation, differen- tiating between similar words to create a funda- mental distinc- tion. In this con- text, the Malbim draws an im- portant distinc- tion The Schwarz graves. between to Gonzales to Lockhart to the canti- In the eclectic tradition of three forms of compassion. nas of and all points in Jewish theologians, Malbim On the one hand, the verb chos/chus—is the natural—ס-ח -between. seized upon Kant’s revolution From everything I’ve read, the ary ideas about the subjectivity compassion a person feels Malbim sounded like a brilliant but of space and time, viz., that for anything, including his ornery old coot (I say that with high they are the transcendental property (as the Sages of- affection, since I’m evolving into an framework of our conscious- ten say, HaTorah chassa al old coot myself) who didn’t much ness. . . Malbim was not the mamonam shel Yisrael), and cotton to getting bossed around by the only orthodox Jewish writer reflects a person’s need for high-society German modernizers. who found Kant an aid to his the item. In a similar fashion, rachmanus—refers—מ-ח-ר .The Malbim would have fit in well in a theology frontier Texas full of ornery coots who Apart of Sefaria, I found an in- to an innate feeling of mercy moved there from someplace else to a person feels toward liv- make a new life free from the con- sightful and timely essay by clinical psychologist Avi Muschel. “Shaul vs. ing things. Chemlah, on the straints of the smart set. other hand, reflects a deeper I learned more about the Malbim Esther: Learning to Live a Committed Life” looks at the commandment to de- compassion that permeates in the invaluable Sefaria site, which the intellectual level, when a noted, “A trademark of the Malbim’s stroy Amalek and its relation to Purim, celebrated this week. (Is it just a coin- person believes that an item commentary is his belief that there is inherently good and, from a are no synonyms or repetition in cidence that I would study this passage in shul and at the same time remember social justice perspective, does the Tanakh. Each word represents a not deserve to be destroyed. different idea or concept.” A search R’ Chayim? I don’t think so.) Muschel brought back almost 150 entries, many includes an analysis of King Shaul’s continued on page 17

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 7 Meet Your Board

Susan Zack Lewis, TJHS President, years, and had his own firm in Corpus Officer for from Big Christi for over forty years. He is one-thou- Spring, is married to TJHS Past President, Davie sand em- married to Lou Solka, and they have three sons ployees at Bob Lewis, and daughters-in-law and six grand- the Corpus aka Tumble- children – one to be married soon. He Christi State weed Smith, and Davie Lou relocated to Austin in School. In and they live 2007 to be closer to their family. In 2000, she in Big Spring. addition to his TJHS work, Jack vol- and Marc They have unteers in construction management moved to two sons, projects for non-profit organizations Pearland, Kevin (Jill) of in Austin. He has been a member of Texas, in 2010 to be closer to their Dallas, and BZ (Margaret) of Oakland, Rotary since 1968, and continues this sons and their families. CA, four grandchildren, two of whom active role in Austin. He was involved are married. Susan is involved in in the moving of the Brenham Historic Amy Milstein, from Frisco, is Cor- many Big Spring civic activities. She B’nai Abraham Synagogue to Austin responding and Bob have owned Multi Media Ad- from Brenham, Texas. As Regional Secretary vertising for over thirty years, and she Director for the Volunteers for Israel and grew serves as technical director when Tum- Program, Jack assists civilian volun- up in bleweed has a speaking engagement. teers from Texas and New Mexico to Longview, She has a degree in Interior Design. go to Israel to work in Israel Defense Texas. She Forces camps. graduated Sonny from the Gerber, 1st Jane Manaster, 3rd Vice President, University Vice Presi- Dallas, was of Texas in Austin, and shortly after dent, Hous- raised in graduation, became certified to teach. ton, has been- the North She has been teaching for twenty married for of England. years. She loves to travel and has thirty-eight She moved been to Cuba twice with TJHS. In years. He has to Texas in addition, she likes to scrapbook, read, six grand- 1969, and is and go to the movies. She has been daughters. married to involved with TJHS for many years, Guy. They and is the daughter of Past President Jack Solka, 2nd Vice President, lived in Rusty Milstein. Austin, was Austin until 2012 when they moved to born in Mex- Dallas. They have three children and Ben Rosenberg, Sugar Land, Trea- ico City and six grandchildren. Jane has degrees in surer, was immigrated Psychology and Geography and is the born and to Texas in author of three natural history books grew up in 1945. He and children’s books. She has also El Paso. He grew up written articles on travel and Texas attended the in Corpus history. Jane is a charter member of University of Christi. Jack TJHS. Texas/Austin received a and grad- Bachelor’s degree in Architecture Joyce Wormser, Recording Secre- uated with from Texas A&M University and a tary, Pearland, was born in Corpus a BBA in Masters in Architecture from Colum- Christi, and is married to Marc. They Accounting bia University in New York City. He have two sons and four grandchildren. in 1967. After graduation, he moved practiced architecture for over fifty She worked as Employee Relations to the Houston area and joined a CPA

Page 8 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Meet Your Board, continued from page 8 firm until his retirement in 2015. He brother and sister-in-law, a discontin- Sheriff’s Office and as a visiting Rabbi is married to Barbara, Past TJHS ued china and crystal business. After at UTMB. Jimmy and his wife, Shel- President, and they have one daughter this business was closed, she began ley, enjoy their children, Brandie & and two grandsons living in Boulder, and taught a Jewish holiday program Andy Kessler, and Jenny Kessler and Colorado. They enjoy travelling. called L’Dor VaDor in the JCC pre- Nick Buis; and grandchildren, Samara, school. She retired after fourteen Jakxon and Ruthe. In July, a street Sally Drayer, Dallas, Historian-Ar- years when she moved to Austin. She near the Temple was renamed Rabbi chivist, is involved in activities in Austin, but Jimmy Kessler Drive in honor of his has been especially enjoys spending time with Double-Chai Anniversary at Congre- a member her three sons, three daughters-in-law gation B’nai Israel. of TJHS and six grandchildren (one of whom for several is recently engaged!) and playing Mah Marvin Rich is a long time member years, and Jongg. She is a born and bred Texan of the Texas is a Past and graduated from the University of Jewish His- President. Texas/Austin with a BS in Elementary torical So- She is the Education. ciety Board. mother of He served three chil- Rabbi Jimmy Kessler is the found- in many dren and er and first positions, one granddaughter, and lives in Dallas. president of including She is a retired teacher, and substi- the Tex- President in tutes in the schools frequently. She as Jewish 2004-2006. volunteers with the Dallas Symphony Historical Marvin grew Orchestra, is a volunteer and docent Society. He up in Houston, and lives there now at the Dallas Museum of Art, and is a is the Rabbi with his wife, Shirley- also a long time CASA Advocate. Emeritus of TJHS Board Member. Until recent- Congrega- ly, when health problems prevented Davie Lou Solka, Immediate Past tion B’nai Marvin and Shirley from attending President, Parliamentarian and News Israel in Galveston. When he was meetings, Marvin was the official pho- Magazine Editor, a rabbinical student at HUC-JIR in tographer for the meetings. moved to Austin Cincinnati, Ohio, he discovered that from Corpus Chris- there were only two cards on Tex- Lionel “Lonnie” Schooler is one of ti eleven years ago as Jews in the card catalogue in the the founding with her husband, school’s library. Several years later, members of Jack, who is TJHS he wrote letters, held a meeting, and the Texas Jew- 2nd Vice President. the Texas Jewish Historical Society ish Historical In Corpus Christi, was born. (Read the full story on our Society. He Davie Lou served web site.) He was the Director of the served as Pres- as President of Hillel Foundation at the University of ident in 1984- several organizations in the Jewish Texas in Austin before assuming the 1986, and has and non-Jewish community, including pulpit in Galveston. He was the first remained as the first woman President of Temple rabbi in the history of Freemasonry in the “official” Beth El. She was involved in her Texas to be elected the presiding offi- legal coun- children’s activities, and after they left cer of a Masonic lodge. He serves as sel for the Society. He and his wife, home, she owned with her husband, the Chaplain of the Galveston County Marsha, live in Houston. Save Postage The deadline for the Please notify TJHS when your address has changed or if you may be August 2019 TJHS temporarily away from home when the News Magazine is to be delivered. News Magazine These issues are returned to us at a postage due rate of $1.52. We want to save you money! is Friday, July 5.

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 9 From Our Archives

This column is based on information in the TJHS Collection, housed at the 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 as possible. Immigrants! Come to Texas! by Vickie Vogel Our archives1 contain a copy of coreligionists and write them about an editorial by Oscar Leonard titled conditions in Texas, as well as other “Come to Texas.” The words “the Jew- Southwestern states and urge them to ish problem” always seem to leap out come. If we relieved the congregation at me when I’m browsing text, and this in the large cities, we shall surely have was no exception. Leonard begins by no ‘Jewish problem’ in America.” pointing out that 19th century critics of The editorial started to sound immigration often feared that a large familiar. I realized it’s quoted exten- influx of Jews would create a Jewish sively in former TJHS Board Member problem when immigration reached a Dr. Bryan Stone’s book The Chosen number that rendered them conspicu- Folks.2 He tells us Leonard wrote for ous. the Jewish Herald and was superin- Leonard criticizes many proposed tendent of the Jewish Educational and solutions to persecution and lack of Charitable Association in St. Louis. economic opportunity in other coun- Leonard thought Texas was a more tries as not being practical or immedi- suitable place for Jewish development ate. The Jewish people needed imme- than Palestine, and was an early pro- diate remedies, such as colonization in ponent of the Galveston Movement.3 another region. Why not colonize in Alongside the Leonard editorial Texas where “the soil goes a begging is a photocopy of an article on the for cultivators?” They could be here, in Galveston immigration movement a free country, a land of equal oppor- (The Galveston Plan) which also tunity, where they could work in peace encouraged distribution of the immi- and safety. One issue, as Leonard saw it, was Photo by Media Projects, Inc., Texas Jewish that not many Jews wanted to be farm- Historical Society Records, di_11652, The ers, but that was no reason to crowd Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, them into big cities in the East. “There The University of Texas at Austin. West of are many small towns and cities in Hester Street is a film by Allen and Cynthia Mondell about immigration through Galves- Texas…where Jews would be wel- ton (The Galveston Movement). comed.” Leonard pointed out that Jews provide an impetus to commerce and rance. He chided a Yiddish newspaper industry, and economic success, and which warned Jews against going to the many Texas towns could benefit from Southwest because there were no syna- these “willing hands and alert minds” gogues and they would become “es- Galveston Immigration Center to help them develop. tranged from the faith of their fathers.” interior. Verkin Photo Company Why would these immigrants re- It was an “absurd thing to say.” Collection, di_11654, The Dolph main where they were not safe and had “Jewish people in communities Briscoe Center for American History, no purpose in staying? Two reasons, where Jews would be welcomed The University of Texas at Austin. says Leonard: lack of funds and igno- ought to do their duty toward their continued on page 11

Page 10 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Immigrants, continued from page 10 grants as being best for all concerned. grateful. There may be a time when 2 Bryan Edward Stone. The Chosen Deportation statistics (apparently for the American people will need us, and Folks: Jews on the Frontiers of 1907) list trachoma, tuberculosis, and then we will serve them with pure Texas. University of Texas Press, poor physique as prime reasons. It is blood!” When a bystander interpreted 2010. Pp 90-91, 107. ironic that in 2018, young and healthy the remarks to the other immigrants, 3 Oscar Leonard was also a member of migrants approaching the Texas border there was a resounding “Hurrah!” the Red Cross Emergency Committee gave rise to a gunman’s attack on a The article concludes that the of the Provident Association and was Pittsburgh synagogue for what he had United States need have no fear of asked to look after African-American been led to believe was Jews “promot- “this class of alien, and if all signs fail refugees from the East St. Louis Massacre of 1917. FMI see https:// ing an invasion.”4 In contrast, when not, the brawn and sinew, and for that en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_St._Louis_ the first group of Jews landed as part matter the brain of the United States Race_Riots https://books.google.com/ of the new movement in 1907, Galves- will be mightily strengthened by those books?id=Uko9AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA9 ton Mayor H. A. Landes was praised Jews that pass through its Galveston 1&lpg=PA91&dq=Jewish+Educational for his warm welcome to “the aliens.”5 portals!” +and+Charitable+Association+Oscar+ He shook hands with all present, sur- Endnotes Leonard&source=bl&ots=nhBaT1VxZk &sig=4fpyLtMeHOZjavMJ9uw3TSO prising the immigrants with his hospi- 1 Box 3A171, Texas Jewish Historical tality. An immigrant stepped forward byV4&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwit Society Collection, Dolph Briscoe 7t_ozMPfAhXBhOAKHQmcBrQQ6AE and in halting English said, “You have Center for American History, welcomed us, Mr. Mayor and we are wAHoECAcQAQ#v=onepage&q University of Texas at Austin. &f=false 4 https://www. theatlantic.com/ideas/ archive/2018/10/ caravan-lie-sparked- massacre-american- jews/574213/ 5 https://www.haaretz. com/jewish/1907- Harbor view of Galveston Immigration Center. Verkin Photo Company Collection, di_11653, european-jews-dock-in- The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin. texas-1.5289536. Message from the Outgoing President, continued from page 2 and chairs and we can stop reinventing with higher attendance than ever from them a membership form! Everyone the wheel! We now have a Book of both Board Members and members of received “Bragging Rights”! Motions arranged by categories that local communities. This Spring Semester the Dolph is brought to each meeting in case a Our Speakers Bureau and Travel- Briscoe Center for American History question comes up regarding issues. ling Exhibits have been busy and we at UT/Austin hired an intern on our be- In addition, an Organizational Chart want this to continue. We have many half. He has been cataloguing recent was put into place and has worked members who are wonderful speakers acquisitions for our collection, and very well. and will present programs on various cross-referencing new additions. Thanks to Ben Rosenberg for all topics. Please keep this in mind when As a result of realizing all that is his work in presenting, for the first you are planning a program for your going on in our world today, I consult- time ever, a formal budget to the board organizations, or where you live! ed with Lonnie Schooler, a Past Presi- in January, 2019. This budget was I had challenged each Board Mem- dent and Founding Member of TJHS, approved by the board. ber to find at least two new members of a possible need for trademarking We held meetings all over this a year and I’m happy to say that the our logo. He agreed and put me in great state—in Austin at the B’Nai Board took this challenge to heart with contact with the trademark attorney in Abraham Brenham Historic Syna- a gain of over eighty-five new mem- his office. I am pleased to report that gogue; in Marshall, Gonzales, Fort bers. We all discovered that it only we have been approved for a registra- Worth, Rockdale/Round Rock, takes a request – many people were tion. You will note that now there is Abilene, Brownsville, and Houston. delighted to join this prestigious group an R in a circle by the TJHS logo. Every meeting has been well attended and we were more than happy to give continued on page 16

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 11 In Memoriam Hannah Florence “Flo” Berkman, TJHS Harold B. Berman, TJHS member Shirley Glosserman member from Houston, from Dallas, Marks, TJHS member, died on March 3, died on March 2019. She is survived 25, 2019. He is by her husband, survived by his Maurice; children, wife, Lyn; children, Debbie (Steve) Roosth, Toni (Morey) and Stephen (Andi) Silverman, Allison Berkman; and three (Todd) Farquhar, grandchildren. and Stephanie (Stephen) Cohen; and four Cacile Hart Daily, TJHS member, died in grandchildren. died in Houston on April Houston on April 9, 10, 2019. She is survived 2019. Her daughter, Dr. Stanley Hersh, TJHS member from by her husband of 67 Elizabeth Cohen Waco, died on years, Jay; her children, died in 2014. She February 13, Lester (Penelope), Fran is survived by her 2018. He is (Jerry) Lowe; six grand- husband, Abe; her survived by his children; one great-grand- children, Ben (Eva) wife, Florence; son; and her brother, Daily, Bill (Pam) daughters, Judy, Norman Glosserman. Daily, and Nancy Debbie, and Daily; her son-in-law, Harvey Cohen; four Cheryl; five May their memories granddaughters; and her brother Charles grandchildren, be a blessing. (Jan) Hart and his family. and two great-granddaughters. TJHS Internship Report by Brady Kal Cox This semester, I they have been received Due to the nature of the TJHS records, worked as the Texas over the years; therefore, which are constantly growing as the Jewish Historical the TJHS materials are Briscoe Center receives accruals (i.e., Society intern at located in many boxes donations) multiple times a year, it the Dolph Briscoe on multiple floors of the has sometimes been difficult to pres- Center for American Briscoe Center and in ent similar materials together in the History located at the UT’s Library Storage finding aid. For example, materials University of Texas Facility located at the J. J. related to Jewish life in Waco have at Austin. During Pickle Research Campus. been spread out across the collection my time as the TJHS I reevaluated and as the materials have been donated. intern, I processed TJHS materials that reorganized the digital representation This was reflected in the finding aid as were donated between 2017 and 2019, of the TJHS materials in our online materials were added on to the end of and I worked on reorganizing and finding aid. The new structure that I the document rather than being placed restructuring the online finding aid for have created for the finding aid has with other like materials. However, the TJHS records. consolidated the records into nine after reorganizing the digital represen- The TJHS records have been lo- series instead of the previous sixteen tations of the materials in the finding cated at the Briscoe Center since 1980, series. Additionally, I have grouped aid, the researcher can now see every- and the collection has grown to over together materials related to the same thing related to Waco in one place. one hundred linear feet during this communities and families, and in This does not affect the physical order time. The materials have been pro- some cases I grouped the materials by of the materials, but it makes finding cessed and placed in archival boxes as genre (e.g., photographs, and audio). continued on page 13

Page 12 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Congregation K’Nesseth Israel Celebrates 90-Year Anniversary by Davie Lou Solka Congregation K’Nesseth Israel in Baytown celebrated its 90th year Anniversary and restoration of the building after damage from Hurricane Harvey on Sunday, May 7, 2019. After a few days of rain, the weather cooperated and local residents and people from distant towns enjoyed the sunny day. A Parade of Torahs was led by violinist and former Baytown resident, David Cohen, who now lives in Austin. Rabbi Jimmy Kessler, founder of the Texas Jewish Histori- cal Society, who grew up in Baytown

Parade of Torahs led by violinist David Cohen of Austin. Credit: Christopher James, Baytown Sun. gave a welcome address. the Texas Jewish Historical Society. Mayor Brandon Capetillo present- The Torah scrolls were restored as part ed a proclamation to Denise Havenar, of the project. restoration project manager, desig- Congregation K’Nesseth Israel be- nating April 7, 2019, as Congregation gan at the start of the Goose Creek oil K’Nesseth Israel Day. boom in 1917, with two Jewish fam- Joan Linares, TJHS Board Mem- ilies who lived in the area. With the ber and President of the congregation, growth of the oil boom, the congrega- said, “It felt wonderful to be worship- tion was incorporated on November 3, ping in the synagogue again and really 1928 with twenty members. Property meant a lot to be back there again.” was purchased and a synagogue was A “Save Our Synagogue” fund- built in 1930, and designated a Texas Baytown Mayor Brandon Capetillo raising campaign was begun and State Historical Landmark in 1992. presents proclamation to Denise Havenar, monies were sent from former resi- The Texas Jewish Historical Society Restoration Project Manager. Credit dents of Baytown, along with many will hold its Fall Board Meeting in Christopher James, Baytown Sun. friends around the country, including Baytown October 25-27, 2019. TJHS Internship Report, continued from page 12 Contributions and accessing the materials easier for the researcher. The changes that I have made are reflected in the Texas Archival The following donations have been received by the Resources Online (TARO) finding aid for the TJHS re- Texas Jewish Historical Society: cords, and they will also be present once the Briscoe Center In Memory of From launches ArchivesSpace in the near future. Cacile Daily Susan & Bob Lewis If you are interested in donating materials to TJHS re- Davie Lou and Jack Solka cords at the Briscoe Center, I have a couple of tips that will help the archives staff process the materials and place them Gift Membership for From within the new structure for the finding aid. Please let the David B. & Joy Turkel Phyllis Turkel archives staff know why you think the materials are import- continued on page 18

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 13 The Texas Jewish Historical Society Grant Application The mission of the Texas Jewish Historical Society is to expand and enhance the knowledge 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 research projects that are in this spirit. Deadlines for submission are March 1, June 1, September 1, and December 1. Application Form

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

Organization: ______Address:______City: ______State: ______Zip: ______Phone: (______)______Cell: (______)______Email: ______Title and Description of project. ______Briefly outline personal and professional background information that support this application. ______What is the anticipated budget for the project? Are you seeking additional support from elsewhere? ______Please detail the timeline of your project. ______

Completed project must acknowledge TJHS support. A copy or account of the completed project should be submit- ted 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 14 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 The TJHS is Accepting Nominations for Two Outstanding Recognition Awards for the Preservation of Texas Jewish History Texas Jewish Historical Society (TJHS), founded in 1980, is seeking nominations for Outstanding Recognition Awards in two areas: (1) Significant Historic Site Preservation (awarded first to Leon and Mimi Toubin for the restoration of the Orthodox Synagogue originally in Brenham and moved to Austin, in order to continue as a sacred place for Jewish worship services) and (2) Extraordinary Historic Project (awarded first to Rabbi Jimmy Kessler for the 1980 founding of the Texas Jewish Historical Society, which continues to educate, to preserve stories, and to archive Texas Jewish History). TJHS now seeks your help to identify and honor those individuals who have made a significant and lasting impact on the preservation of Texas Jewish History. Only one award per year can be given in each category; but it is not mandated to be given yearly, only when an outstanding accomplishment merits the award. Recognitions as determined by TJHS Award Committee will be presented at TJHS Spring Annual Gathering. Applications must be received by July 15, 2019 and mailed to Cynthia Wolf, 4305 Sterling Lane, Beaumont, TX 77706. Application Form

Date of Submission: ______Name and Contact Information of Nominee(s): ______Name and Contact Information of Person(s) Recommending Nominee(s) for Consideration: ______Category of nomination:  Significant Historic Preservation  Major Historic Project

In the packet that you will return with this sheet as your cover page, please include the following: • Complete description of the accomplishment • Reasons that you are submitting this nomination and how you became aware of this accomplishment • Pictures and other documentation • Impact of this accomplishment and how it has and will continue to make a difference now and in the future on the ongoing story of the Jews of Texas • Short bio of nominee(s)

Thank you for helping us recognize deserving individuals!

Send applications to: Cynthia Wolf, 4305 Sterling Lane, Beaumont, Texas 77706 For more information, contact Cynthia Wolf at 409-899-4499 or [email protected].

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 15 Visit Jewish Toronto! September 12-15, 2019 TJHS will visit Toronto, learn its Jewish history and see other fascinating sites. Save the date!

• Dairy Lunch at United Bakers, a Toronto tradition since 1912,

• Walking tour of Jewish Toronto,

• Historic Pape Cemetery, established 1849,

• Sunday brunch at Free Times Cafe, for over 35 years, a food and cultural institution. “Bella! Did ya eat?” • Visit Holy Blossom Temple, founded 1856. W. Gun- ther Plaut was the long-time rabbi.

• Royal Ontario Museum, largest museum in Canada opened 1914.

• Second City Toronto (optional). Improv & sketch comedy theatre & bar with nightly shows that have launched many famous comedians.

• Toronto Blue Jays v. Boston Red Sox (optional). Contact Vickie Vogel FMI [email protected] 979.966.2493 Free time to visit famous locations such as the Hockey Hall of Fame, the Art Gallery of Toronto, the Distillery District, galleries, historic sites and more! Registration fee ($150) covers admission to included events, one lunch and one brunch. Tour begins in Toronto. A centrally located hotel for you to book. This tour is organized like a TJHS weekend—you pay your transportation and hotel, and some activities are included with your registration. Message from the Outgoing President, continued from page 11 I want to thank my husband, Jack As you can see, TJHS is not a not for them, the history of Texas Jews Solka. He has been my sounding one-person organization and no job is a would still only be two cards in a card board, is always supportive, encour- one-person job. Working together with catalogue in a library. ages me in every way, and is name our friends makes this one of the best Thank you again for allowing me tag maker extraordinaire. He’s also a organizations in the state or anywhere - to represent you for these past two good travelling companion and schelp- Not only do we all work together, but I years. It has been a time that I will er. He has done a great job as News hope everyone will remember the ones never forget, and know that TJHS will Magazine Editor and is welcoming who came before us and began this continue to preserve Jewish Histo- his new title—Past Editor of the News organization forty years ago. We can ry for generations to come. L’Dor Magazine. never forget them and recognize that if VaDor!

Page 16 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Honor or Memorialize a Friend or a Loved One With a Donation to TJHS

When you honor or memorialize a The Texas Jewish Historical Society gratefully friend or a loved one with a donation to acknowledges your gift in the amount of the Texas Jewish Historical Society, you help support important programs. Send $______the honoree’s full name, type of honor In honor/memory of:______(memorial, congratulations, or occasion— ______birthday, anniversary, award, new child Acknowledge to: or grandchild, etc.) and your name, along Name:______with a check in the amount of 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 ______Historical Society’s programs is greatly Phone:______appreciated and will be recognized in an Your gift will further the efforts to record, preserve, and disseminate issue of the quarterly News Magazine. historic information about Texas Jewish culture. Thank you. Hangin’ with the Malvim, continued from page 7 This grammatical subtlety that resulted in a Jewish son? And that of the Malbim provides an I would circle back 210 years after Save the important clinical foundation the Malbim’s birth to write about his into a Torah approach toward career and influence on R’ Chayim? emotions and behaviors. I like to think that part of the Date Becoming more aware of the Malbim’s mission in life involved link between the Malbim and my teaching R’ Chayim, whose mission July 13-14, 2019 great-great-grandfather gave me a then involved carrying the spark of yiddishkeit to Texas, where it has Board Meeting in deeper appreciation of both of them, Palestine, Texas and the missions that guide Jewish remained generation after generation, lives. What are the odds that a stu- waxing and waning but always remain- dent of the Malbim would wind up an ing. Call me crazy, but I don’t think September 12-15, ocean away from the Jewish centers of any of this, either, is a coincidence. 2019 Europe, in the raw lands of small-town Whenever I’m in the area, I try to Texas? And that that student would visit R’ Chayim’s grave at the Hemp- Trip to Jewish Toronto. have many children and descendants, stead Jewish Cemetery, place a rock on Contact Vickie Vogel. with his daughter Valeria making a the Schwarz family gravestone and say Jewish marriage in Texas that produced kaddish for them. One of these days October Jared Lissner, who made a Jewish I’d like to take his twin great-great- marriage with Eva Michelson to have great-great-grandchildren of the latest 25-27, 2019 daughter Shirley, who made a Jewish generation to the cemetery, so he can Board Meeting in marriage in Texas that led to me and instill the light of his neshama in them. then my Jewish marriage (in Brooklyn, To this day, the timeless mission of Baytown, Texas I’m the family’s geographic outlier) the Malbim and R’ Chayim continues.

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 17 TJHS Internship Report, continued Welcome New Members! from page 13 ant. Is it because of the person or Bernadine Belkin Arielle Levy family that created the materials, 1575 Belvidere, #110 7744 Northcross St., #N139 the community the materials come El Paso, TX 79912 Austin, TX 78757 from, or the organization(s) the 547-715-2269 materials are associated with? With Jules D. & Phyllis (Goldstein) Frapart [email protected] this information, the archives staff 575 Calle Retama can place the materials in the most Brownsville, TX 78520 Michael Lewis relevant place in the finding aid, Jules: 956-345-5607 8910 Alburty Dr. or add new series to the finding Phyllis: 956-494-4414 Houston, TX 77074-7522 aid if necessary. For example, the [email protected] 713-774-5171 archives staff could add a new [email protected] Phyllis (Schwartz) Hengst community (e.g., Katy, Texas) or 5646 Wigton Dr. Ronald G. Steinhart a new family that is not already Houston, TX 77096 25 Robledo Dr. present in the finding aid. Addition- 713-591-2123 Dallas, TX 75230 ally, it is helpful if you organize [email protected] 214-360-4353 the materials with your understand- [email protected] ing of their importance in mind. Lisa (Lewis) Klein For example, are the newspaper 9302 Cliffwood David B. & Joy Turkel clippings one might donate import- Houston, TX 77096 4018 Tennyson ant because of an article about a 713-723-4055 Houston, TX 77005 specific synagogue or community, [email protected] [email protected] or are they important because they Eric & Allison (Lippman) Kuban Betty Weiner represent a Jewish publication? If 2023 Glasier Falls Dr. 2600 Bellefontaine St., #C11 the former, the archives staff can Tomball, TX 77375 Houston, TX 77025 place the clippings in the finding 779-224-3210 713-723-8691 aid with the most relevant com- 765-532-3733 betty [email protected] munity. If the latter, the clippings [email protected] can be organized in the finding aid by genre and placed with other If you have any changes in your information, please contact materials relevant to the specific Marc Wormser, 832-288-3494, [email protected] publication. These are just a few examples. Please feel free to con- tact the archives staff at the Briscoe Center if you have Guess This Member any questions. Well, still no guesses. Come on ev- Thank you for funding erybody! No guesses this time and we’ll the TJHS Internship position give up. Same clue as last time with a this semester. It has been a little addition. This guy, along with his positive learning experience wife, has been a member and very active for me, and I think you will in TJHS for so many years. He “figures” find the new finding aid how things should be done correctly and easier to navigate. I will be keeps figuring it out. So, take another working as a Digital Ar- look and see if you can guess who this is. chiving Intern for the Electric Email your guess to Davie Lou Solka Reliability Council of Texas at [email protected] any time beginning (ERCOT) this summer, and Friday, May 24, 2019. Entries received I will begin my last year of before that date will not be considered. graduate school in the School Previous winners and family members are of Information at UT in not eligible to participate. Good luck! August.

Page 18 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 TJHS Board of Directors

Officers Board of Trustees Board of Trustees President 2018-2020 2019-2020 Susan Zack Lewis (Big Spring) Elaine Albin (Rockport) 1st Vice President Morton “Marty” Berman (Katy) Douglas Braudaway (Del Rio) Sonny Gerber (Houston) Ruthe Berman (Katy) Willie Braudaway (Del Rio) 2nd Vice President John Campbell (Austin) Gayle Cannon (Austin) Jack Solka (Austin) Judy Cassorla (Austin) Nelson Chafetz (Austin) 3rd Vice President Gordon Cizon (Dallas) Deidra Cizon (Dallas) Jane Manaster (Dallas) Martin Frost (Alexandria, VA) Lynda Furgatch (Brownsville) Recording Secretary Joan Katz (Houston) Janice Gerber (Houston) Joyce Wormser (Pearland) Dolly Golden (Austin) Louis Katz (Houston) Corresponding Secretary Jan Hart (Temple) Kay Krause (Richardson) Amy Milstein (Frisco) Morton Herman (Fort Worth) Bob Lewis (Big Spring) Guy Manaster (Dallas) Treasurer Ben Rosenberg (Sugar Land) Sheldon Lippman (Austin) Abbi Michelson (Lockhart) Joe McClellan (Longview) Joan Linares (Baytown) Historian/Archivist Samylu Rubin (Dallas) Sally Drayer (Dallas) Mitzi Milstein (Longview) Phyllis Turkel (Houston) Ruth Nathan (Houston) Parliamentarian Gary Whitfield (Fort Worth) Davie Lou Solka (Austin) Michael Wolf (Beaumont) Cynthia Wolf (Beaumont)

Past Presidents (Living Past Presidents are TJHS Traveling Exhibit members of the Board of Trustees, The Texas Jew- to your location. per our By-Laws.) ish Historical Society There will be the has three museum expense of prepaid David Beer (Dallas) quality photo exhib- freight back to the Sally Drayer (Dallas) its, with explanations shipper via UPS Jack Gerrick (Fort Worth) depicting early Jew- ground. ish life and contribu- The exhibits Charles B. Hart (Temple) tions. The exhibits have been displayed Rabbi Jimmy Kessler (Galveston) highlight the lives of in various locations Howard “Rusty” Milstein (Longview) Jews in Texas since in Texas and other Marvin Rich (Houston) the early part of the century. parts of the United States, includ- Barbara Rosenberg (Sugar Land) Each exhibit is comprised of ing Rhode Island and California. approximately thirty-six photographs They are an excellent program for Lionel Schooler (Houston) that can either be self-standing with schools, congregations, and other Davie Lou Solka (Austin) an easel back or hung on a wall. organizations. To schedule the ex- Vickie Vogel (La Grange) There is no charge for the exhibits hibits, please contact Dolly Golden Helen Wilk (Houston) and they will be shipped prepaid at [email protected] or freight via UPS in waterproof boxes 512-453-8561. Marc Wormser (Pearland)

Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019 Page 19 NONPROFIT ORG. Texas Jewish U.S. POSTAGE PAID Historical Society HOUSTON, TX P. O. Box 10193 PERMIT NO. 1662 Austin, Texas 78766-0193

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The 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. Mail this form with your check made payable to the Texas Jewish Historical Society, P. O. Box 10193, Austin, TX 78766-0193. Please PRINT. m YES! Count me in! My dues are enclosed. m Please update my information. Check the Appropriate Box(es) m New Member Who suggested TJHS to you? m Renewing Member Name:______m Special interests, professional background, talents______Membership Category m $18 Student Member m $35 Annual Member m $100 Sponsor m $500 Benefactor m $50 Supporting Member m $250 Sustaining Member m $1,000 Patron Name(s):______Maiden Name:______Address:______City:______State:______Zip:______Phone: ______Fax:______Cell: ______Email:______Website:______Contributions to the Texas Jewish Historical Society are tax deductible within the limits of the law. Page 20 Texas Jewish Historical Society - May 2019