Jewish Historical Society Volume 19, No. 4
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
New Mexico Volume 19, No. 4 Jewish Historical Society December 2005 18th Annual Conference a Politically Charged Event by Stan Hordes his was the most interest- Producer Jim Terr’s lated a reconsideration of the relationship between ing conference we’ve ever fascinating video, Jews and Gentiles, locally and internationally. had,” commented one of In Their Own Later, Admiral Robert Wertheim, a native of the attendees of the Eight- Words: New Mexico Carlsbad, discussed his long and distinguished T eenth Annual Conference Veterans of World career in the U.S. Navy. of the NMJHS, which fo- War II, opened the He elaborated on his cused on the experiences of Jewish New Mexi- event Friday participation in the de- cans in War and Peace. evening, featuring velopment of the Navy’s The meeting was held interviews with nuclear missile program at the Embassy Suites Sabine Ulibarrí, and articulated his advo- Hotel in Albuquerque Tony Hillerman, Abe Chanin. Photo courtesy cacy for the expansion of over Veterans’ Day Walter Ganz and of Harold Melnick. nuclear power as a weekend, November Leah Kellogg, in source of energy for the 11-13. which they discussed their wartime experiences. United States. Following the screening, authors Mark Kurlansky Henry Tobias. Photo The high level of en- and Stanley Hordes signed their books and Noel After lunch, historian courtesy of Harold Melnick thusiasm among the Pugach was on hand to sign and comment upon David Snow related the participants could be Noel Pugach. Photo the family history work in progress undertaken by him and Ellen attributed to the po- courtesy of booklets produced Bradbury of their discovery of the establishment lemical nature of the Harold Melnick. by the NMJHS and development of a Soviet spy ring based out topics under consideration, as well as the abil- Video History of Capitol Pharmacy in Santa Fe, operated by ity of some of the presenters to provoke the Project. two Russian Jewish émigrés. A former director audience into animated discussion. After all, of the KGB had alleged that the 1940 assassina- it is difficult to conceive that a conference that On Saturday morn- tion of Leon Trotsky in Mexico City had been included such topics as Soviet espionage, nu- ing, Hordes drew planned from this New Mexico safe-house. clear proliferation, campus unrest, wars in Vi- upon his research etnam, Israel/Palestine and Iraq would pass for his recently-pub- Saturday afternoon and evening were dominated without frank exchanges of views. lished book to dis- Adm. Robert Wertheim. by two thought-provoking presentations by cuss the history of Photo courtesy of Harold former anti-Vietnam War activist and current the participation of Melnick. Albuquerque math professor Mark Rudd and Address: New Mexico Jewish New Mexico crypto-Jews in the military during by best-selling author Mark Kurlansky. Rudd Historical Society the Spanish colonial period. He emphasized that shared his colorful career in the Students for a 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE the demands of frontier life required that colo- Continued on p. 4 Albuquerque, NM 87109 nists serve in a vari- ety of capacities – as Telephone: (505) 348-4471 farmers, ranchers, INSIDE THIS ISSUE Fax: (505) 821-3351 merchants, govern- Annual Conference ....................................1 website: www.nmjewishhistory.org ment officials, and Message From the President.......................2 email: [email protected] soldiers – during their lifetimes and The Melding ...........................................2 that the descendants Administrator: Bobbi Jackson Genealogy Corner Records .........................3 Office Hours: Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday of conversos proved 9:00-2:00 pm no exception to this Alex Cosby Biography ...............................4 Managing Editor: Bobbi Jackson rule. Henry Tobias Leah Kellogg. Photo Deadwood Takes Manhattan ...................6 followed with a talk courtesy of Harold Melnick If you have any news or announcements on the positive effects Taichert Historical Collections ..................8 of interest to our membership, please that World War II had on religious toleration in Solomon’s Story .........................................9 New Mexico, pointing out how the sobering re- send it to the above address. Thank you. Calendar of Upcoming Events ..................12 ports about the horrors of the Holocaust stimu- New Mexico Jewish Historical Society Message From The President by Lance Bell s this issue of our newslet- component, our annual book sale, involvement I hope you enjoy this issue of our newsletter ter goes to press, I want to with the Montefiore Cemetery Clean Up and and as always, please remember, without new look back at a successful not to forget the continuation of the 13 book- ideas and without people just like you getting 2005. We achieved all our lets of pioneer New Mexico families that our involved, the New Mexico Jewish Historical A goals in increasing our hard working video history project team of vol- Society will not survive. Please continue to membership, revitalizing unteers recently published. We have begun ad- support the New Mexico Jewish Historical So- and growing our board, maintaining success- vertising in our newsletter; please support those ciety through your membership, donations and ful programs such as our recent annual con- who purchase ads in our newsletter, thus help- ideas. Membership makes a great gift! ference on New Mexican Jews discussing war ing our society. Our Society could not have ac- and peace, maintaining our archives and rela- complished any of these without the hard work I wish everyone a very happy holiday season tionship with the New Mexico State Records and countless hours of our board and our ad- and a prosperous 2006. Center and Archives, updating our web site, ministrator, Bobbi Jackson. I personally want Sincerely, improving our newsletter, starting a genealogy to extend my thanks to all of them. Lance Bell The Melding by Isabel Bearman Bucher "Where should we put the Our noses almost touched as we exchanged mole- ers, menorah lights, a creche, advent calendars, a Christmas tree?" I asked my eyed squints. hand blown glass mobile of Stars of David, husband, the December af- brought from the Holy Land by a Christian ter our marriage. The tree I purchased was huge: far too expensive neighbor and a huge tree groaning with orna- W for a teacher's salary. Its feathery branches filled ments, many of which had been made and given "The Tree?" he exclaimed in- up half our tiny apartment living room. When to us by Jewish friends. One of my absolute fa- credulously. "That is your Jewish friends commented on the mammoth vorites was a tiny bread dough nutcracker sol- responsibility. There are two things we better spruce, LeRoy was prepared. dier, lovingly made and given by Judith Sussman. agree on: I will not buy ham and I will not buy a Christmas tree!" "It's a moldy green matzo ball with colored lights." The girls pitched in to help us both as we cel- ebrated with traditional foods, songs and parties. "Now listen here, LeRoy," I replied, my Italian On Christmas morning, however, I found that the I became very good at reciting Hebrew prayers blood boiling. "If I can make latkes with grated pile of gifts beneath the branches had doubled and and explained Chanukah to both girls' classes ev- knuckles and potatoes and clean up drippy the tabs on the silver and blue packages were writ- ery year. LeRoy learned to warble off-key ver- ten in his hand. candles at Chanukah, the least you can do is suf- sions of the better-known carols. He bought me fer through a Christmas tree!" a beautiful handmade guitar one Christmas and By the time our daughter Erica was born, we'd the first thing I taught myself to play and sing "Oh, yeah!" he shot back. "Remember last faced and solved many of the problems of an in- was a Jewish Folk song. I made him a rich blue month? I met the Rabbi at the grocery and the ter-faith marriage and realized that we couldn't velvet shirt, with buttons from Israel and match- only thing in my basket was a ham! Forget the raise a family in a combat zone. We agreed to com- ing yarmulke (a skull cap worn by Jewish men at tree thing! The whole Synagogue will probably bine our heritages in an effort to provide the best religious functions), for the season's festivities. be going by on the bus when I'm loading it in of both for our children. By the time Shauna ar- the trunk!" rived three years later, we had settled into a way of life that was comfortable for us both ... almost. One year LeRoy came home with a little blue TRIBUTE Star of David made of wood. "This is for your "Isabel ... Is that holly around the menorah?" tree," he stated crisply, his eyes twinkling. "I want Dorothy Comer Amsden it to be the first ornament hung every year." In Memory of My Parents "Chicken soup, matzo balls with a touch of oregano Cecil and June Comer and latkes for Christmas dinner?" "I'll see to it personally, General," I quickly as- sured him, sharing that mole-eyed squint that had ”Merry Chanukah. Fa- become so much a part of our humorous call-to- Jewel Mark la-la-la-la.” battle-exchanges. Fine Jewelry - Cartier Baume & Mercier - Corum ”Happy Christmas. Our parents and others who visited our home during Shalom." the holidays found the situation disconcerting. "Don't you feel hypocritical placing a Star of David Peace meant the same on the top of your Christmas tree?" one Christian anywhere. friend asked me. 80 E. San Francisco St. At holiday time, our "No," I told her and meant it. "Jesus was Jewish. Santa Fe, NM 87501 Custom Designing home was decorated And there was a high star over a stable.