“Mexicans Are Just Like Every Oriental People”: The Southwest in Sholem Asch’s Yiddish Writing by Gil Ribak, University of Arizona Editor’s note: Gil Ribak presented the keynote address about Sholem Asch at the 2017 NMJHS Fall Conference in Las Vegas, New Mexico. n late 1909, a promising received a traditional education, from a a long battle, the con- young Yiddish author by very young age he was drawn to secu- viction was overturned the name of Sholem Asch lar topics and taught himself German. on appeal; these events I visited the United States Since his parents disapproved of his are told in a recent for the first time. He secular studies, he moved to another play titled Indecent that stayed in the country for shtetl with relatives and made a living premiered on Broadway about six months until the summer of as a Torah instructor. Later he made a in early 2017. 1910. Apart from writing scenes about living writing letters for illiterate Polish Gil Ribak New York City’s Jewish immigrant life, peasants, and scholars believe that was Asch was also an avid tenement houses, and sweatshops, Asch an experience which offered him insight traveler who wrote impressions of some also embarked upon coast-to-coast travel into human needs and longings. of those journeys. In 1908, he visited across the United States, from Niagara the Land of Israel for the first time and Falls to the Grand Canyon, and his travel When Asch was about 19 years old, he wrote a series of sketches based on that impressions were serialized in the popu- moved to Warsaw, where he became a visit. His sketches from his travels across lar Yiddish socialist daily, the Jewish Daily protégé of the renowned Yiddish writer America appeared in the Forverts in serial- Forward (Forverts). Yitzhak Leibush Peretz. He published ized form, and in 1926, he published his first Yiddish story at the age of 20. in Yiddish My Travel through Spain. Asch As he was traveling from Chicago to Three years later, in 1903, he married was among the cofounders of the Joint California by train in the early months Mathilde Shapiro, the daughter of the Distribution Committee and became of 1910, Asch passed through the prosperous Hebrew teacher and poet involved in other venues in public life – Southwest and recorded his impres- Menahem Mendel Shapiro, something Zionism, the Jewish Agency, and mass sions of the region. When he woke up that brought Asch a measure of finan- protests against the pogroms in Eastern one day, the train was already chugging cial security and allowed him to devote Europe during and after World War I. through New Mexico, and Asch wrote himself to writing. After that war, Asch returned to Europe, that he found himself “in a completely primarily on a fact-finding tour of Lithu- different world.” The writer used a quote Asch soon made a name for himself ania for the Joint Distribution Commit- from the first chapter of Genesis to not only as a prolific writer of stories, tee, and was profoundly shocked and describe the landscape: “And the Earth novels, novellas, theater plays, and travel emotionally disturbed by what he found. was unformed and void, and the spirit diaries, but also as the enfant terrible of of God hovered over the face of the Yiddish literature. In 1907, Asch com- earth.” Asch added, “That’s the way the pleted his sensational play, Got fun nekome (continued on p. 4) earth looked when the first man saw it,” (The God of Vengeance). The play is set in and that he could see “No tree, nothing a brothel, and features Jewish prostitutes INSIDE THIS ISSUE green.” and a lesbian love scene. When it was Sholem Asch’s Yiddish Writing...... 1 staged in New York City in 1923, the President’s Column...... 2 Who is Sholem Asch, and what is his play was cut short after six weeks while NMJHS Annual Meeting...... 3 significance to Jewish history? the entire cast and the producer were in- Stan Hordes Honored...... 6 dicted and convicted of obscenity. After 2018 ABQ Jewish Film Fest ...... 7 Novelist and playwright Sholem Asch Challah Rising in the Desert...... 8 was born in 1880 in a town called Kutno NMJHS ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, June 3, 2018 in central Poland (then part of Tsarist Interfaith Leadership Alliance...... 9 JCC Albuquerque, 3-5 PM 2017 NMJHS Annual Meeting Photos.....11 Russia). He was the youngest of ten chil- See p. 3 dren born to Hasidic parents. Though he Calendar of Upcoming Events...... 12 Legacy, Volume 32, Number 1, Spring 2018 President’s Column NMJHS Officers and Board of Directors Officers Linda A. Goff, Ph.D., President Richard Melzer, Ph.D., Vice-President Alan Chodorow, Treasurer Cate Dixon, Recording Secretary Sandra Dietz, Corresponding Secretary

nsuring the future legacy New Mexico recently Directors of NMJHS is a prior- has been added to a Paula Amar Schwartz, Ph.D., ity for all of us who group of states and Immediate Past President E have a love of history, cities that includes At- Evvie Becker, Ph.D. especially New Mexico lanta, greater Denver, Diane Chodorow Jewish history. Our opportunity to tell Nevada, Pittsburgh, Betty Harvie these stories has expanded since we and Rochester, New Dianne R. Layden, Ph.D. Susan Michelson became one of ten New Mexico Jewish York Leba Freed Pierce organizations selected to participate in NMJHS President Leona Rubin Linda Goff the four-year LIFE & LEGACY pro- Working collab- Naomi Sandweiss gram under the umbrella of the Jewish oratively, the goal of Stuart Simon Community Foundation and Harold each organization is to identify individu- Rae Lee Siporin, Ph.D. Grinspoon Foundation, with additional als who would consider making a gift to Patricia Shapiro support from the Jewish Federation of grow an endowment. The first two years Sarah Winger New Mexico. Each of the ten organi- are devoted to identifying and speaking zations, which include synagogues in with prospective donors. The goal is to Albuquerque and Santa Fe, has its own acquire a minimum of 18 letters of in- legacy team to work toward its endow- tent each year, or a total of 36 or more Mission Statement ment goals. in two years, to contribute $5,000 to the The New Mexico Jewish Historical organization each year. Society is a secular organization that Grinspoon, a major philanthropist, has promotes greater knowledge and un- provided challenge grant opportuni- Currently, NMJHS doesn’t have an en- derstanding of New Mexico’s diverse ties to Jewish communities across the dowment fund. The LIFE & LEGACY Jewish experiences within a broad United States, either to establish or program provides an exciting opportu- cultural context. enhance an endowment to preserve nity to make such a fund a reality. Our these communities and their missions. legacy team members are Lance Bell, Diane Chodorow, Naomi Sandweiss, IN MEMORIAM and Linda Goff. For more information, Legacy is the quarterly newsletter of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society Maurice Turestsky contact a team member. The NMJHS office, [email protected], 505-348- 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE 1935-2018 Albuquerque, NM 87109 4471, has contact information. Michael Schaefer Telephone: (505) 348-4471 Fax: (505) 821-3351 1949-2018 Your legacy gift today promises that the website: www.nmjhs.org Santa Fe, New Mexico stories and contributions of the Jews email: [email protected] in New Mexico will be kept alive and Gerald “Jerry” Levine Administrator: Anne McCormick passed on to the next generation. Please Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday/Thursday 1929-2018 join us! A 9:30-1:30 PM Austin, Texas Editor: Dianne Layden NMJHS is on Facebook and Twitter. Copy Editor: Barbara Ruzinsky HISTORICAL SOCIETY Please “like” us at Layout: DT Publishing, Santa Fe OF NEW MEXICO https://www.facebook.com/ Printing: Minuteman Press, Albuquerque NewMexicoJewishHistoricalSociety Mailing: Adelante, Albuquerque 2019 New Mexico History Conference Albuquerque, New Mexico and follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NMJewishHS. NMJHS is a beneficiary agency of the Jewish Dates and Deadlines Pending Federation of New Mexico.

Page 2 New Mexico Jewish Historical Society

Page 3 Legacy, Volume 32, Number 1, Spring 2018 The Southwest in Sholem Asch’s Yiddish Writing (continued from p. 1) When he took his train ride across desert disappears. Asch wrote how he America in 1910, Asch was 30 years old. could detect a very familiar smell, that of He was already quite famous, yet hardly orange orchards, and felt as if he was in at the peak of his career. He was famous a Jewish village in the Land of Israel. enough to receive an invitation from Forverts, the most popular Yiddish daily Asch explained to his readers what Los in America, to write serialized columns Angeles means in Yiddish, noting that about America. Asch was amazed by the even if the residents of that city are not desert – “no house, no water, no sign of angels, they surely fly like angels, since al- life” – and you can see “just earth and most everyone in Los Angeles has a car. sky and nothing more.” Here and there, He compared Los Angeles to New York though, Asch did spot a sign of life – City: If you leave the Forverts building on a distant smokestack where “people East Broadway and walk to Broadway discovered secrets of the land, tracked Avenue, a fifteen-minute walk, you have them down and found out that the land to cross three countries – a Jewish coun- hides in its belly springs of oil, or trea- try, an Italian country, and a Chinese sures of silver, concealed cities of cop- one. Nevertheless, in Los Angeles, on per.” So people gathered, “hungry like the other side of Chinatown, there is the wolves,” “ripped open the land’s belly,” Japanese quarter: “What New York is for and “robbed its hidden treasures, dried Jews, San Francisco is for the Chinese, its springs of oil, and stole its treasures and Los Angeles is for the Japanese.” of gold, silver, and copper.” Still, the quarter that most interested Asch continued from what he called the Asch was the Mexican one. In a very eth- “the wild surfaces of New Mexico to nographic manner, Asch portrayed the the valleys and mountains of Arizona.” local Mexican population as a mixture While Asch was mesmerized by the of the Spanish Cavaliers who came from colors, mountains, and special light of Mexico and the local Indian tribes. Asch Arizona, he mentioned that unlike New depicted how tall, brown-skinned men Mexico, where you can see a horse or a with “Indian eyes” walk down the street, smokestack, in Arizona you see “abso- their faces clearly showing features of lutely nothing.” Even the trees and cacti Indian faces. In detailing their hats and looked strange and crippled, looking like boots, Asch pointed to types that you “demons.” When he reached the Grand “would not want to meet . . . in a dark Canyon, Asch’s heart quivered as he de- alley at night.” Yet Asch criticized the scribed how all of New York’s skyscrap- American movie industry, which cast ers would look like cardboard children’s such people as “bandits, robbers, and houses if you build them at the bottom anything bad.” of the canyon. As the light played on the Grand Canyon’s walls, Asch recalled To be sure, Asch reflected the sensibili- his travels in the Land of Israel, from ties and tastes of the early 20th century. Jerusalem to Jericho and the Dead Sea, He stressed how industrious Mexicans where you can see that “heavenly light.” are, but also mentioned, “Just like every oriental people, Mexicans have affection That reference to Zion was hardly ex- to colors and ornaments, and especially ceptional. As the train entered Southern silver-made ornaments.” Asch noted that California and continued the journey on a Sunday you could see in the Mexi- westward, Asch described how the can quarter men walking with torn pants populated areas, green fields, villages, or jacket, but with a brand new felt hat and orchards were conducting a battle and a pair of boots for which they paid (continued on p. 5) against the desert, sometimes winning their monthly paycheck. In that context, and sometimes losing. Suddenly, the (continued on p. 5)

Page 4 New Mexico Jewish Historical Society The Southwest in Sholem Asch’s Yiddish Writing (continued from p. 4) Asch referred to Jewish storekeepers in Asch dedicated a whole chapter that he spiritual, and religious writings, as in the the Mexican quarter, who “to our shame, titled “God’s Wild Earth” (with a sub- quotation above, were also characteristic it must be said” did not treat their cus- title “The Song of the Prairie”) to his of his literary output, and would mar his tomers with the utmost honesty. inner feelings and intimate impressions career down the road. Asch is considered during his train ride across the American a prolific and classic Yiddish writer who Asch looked at the short Mexican wom- Southwest, including New Mexico. The would have received a place of honor en with their “burning black eyes,” “silky sight of an Indian wrapped in a quilt, next to the big three classic Yiddish writ- black hair,” and “strong breasts,” as they or a “dark Mexican” who gathers wild ers – Mendele Moykher Sforim, Sholem cook different dishes horses into a corral, Aleichem, and I. L. Peretz – if it were on the street (in the or the sound of a mis- not for his controversial and irreverent Mexican quarter, the sion’s bell, made Asch writings. Apart from his works about “whole life, naturally, wonder where are the the Jewish underworld, prostitution, is in an oriental way, poets of such deso- women trafficking, and pimps, and his on the street”). He late landscape? The acceptance of an award from the Polish depicted the differ- Russian steppes have government in 1932, Asch provoked ent spicy dishes the affected so much of much controversy and anger over his tril- women cooked, and Russian literature, not ogy about the life of Jesus, part of which how you can smell to mention the Judean was published during the Holocaust. fried onions and desert, where shep- The mystical and spiritual sentiment that garlic, and the whole herds found God and Asch invoked in his portrayal of the scenery awakens “not the rest of history. American Southwest was the element just your appetite, that decades later would alienate many but also your lust for But the American Jews and ruin his reputation and career other things.…” prairie has yet to find among Yiddish readers. A Asch in London, 1906. (Photograph: its poet, Asch wrote, Polsky Brothers.) Asch continued to and it seems as if Suggested Reading the Japanese quar- this whole part of Asch, Sholem. Gezamelte Shriftn, Vol. 4. ter, where he mentioned that it was the the country was made just to serve the New York, NY: Sholem Asch Komite, “cleanest quarter” of all the immigrant American moving pictures industry. 1923. districts that he visited. The Japanese And in the still, lonely days and nights Siegel, Ben. The Controversial Sholem Asch: assimilated faster than other oriental that the author spent on the train going An Introduction to His Fiction. Bowling nations, he argued, but only in terms through the desert, through the valleys Green, OH: Bowling Green University of clothing, and even that is true only and the mountains, he heard the singing Popular Press, 1976. for the men. Asch was impressed by of older generations “who sang in me the Japanese barbershops that were run for generations before I came into be- Stahl, Nanette, ed. Sholem Asch Reconsid- by women and commented how much ing.” better it was to get a shave by a gen- ered. New Haven, CT: Yale University Library Gazette, 2004. teel, smooth, and perfumed hand of a Even though many of Asch’s works Japanese “geisha” who is touching your were written in a realistic style, mystic, cheeks, rather than a crude hand of an Italian who is rubbing your face with Many Thanks for Your Contributions his thick fingers, “with which you don’t know what he had done yesterday….” Pioneer Walter Halpern for Albert Brettner Montefiore Cemetery Welcome New Members Stephen and Renee Klein Eleanor Edelstein Sponsor New Members Paul Sklar Nadine Victor Tattersall Friend Nancy Minces Paxton Don and Debbie Kratish Robert and Irene Gale Alan and Diane Chodorow Richard Levine and Arlene Berenson Rita Siegel Dave Simon Dr. Jeffrey P. Brown Benefactor Lily Mueller Marg Elliston and Fred Harris Murray Tucker in Honor of Carolyn Butcher Fran Levine and Thomas Merlan Linda Goff ’s leadership

Page 5 Legacy, Volume 32, Number 1, Spring 2018 Stan Hordes Honored, NMJHS “Prime Mover” By Ron D. Hart, Santa Fe Jewish Book Council he Santa Fe Jewish Book of Arizona. He is a leading scholar in shaped my thinking Council honored Dr. the United States on Jewish identity about family, research, Stanley M. Hordes with and the Western Sephardic Diaspora. writing, and spirituali- T its Lifetime Achievement Graizbord is author of Souls in Dispute: ty.” Alongside this arti- Award 2017 in an event Converso Identities in Iberia and the Jewish cle is Sandoval’s poem, at Temple Beth Shalom Diaspora, among other books. He has “El Sabio,” which is in Santa Fe on December 3, 2017. The studied how religious, social, and politi- dedicated to Hordes. Santa Fe Jewish Book Council pro- cal identity shaped the lives of Spanish In Spanish, “el sabio” motes the work of Jewish authors and and Portuguese “New Christians” or means “a wise person, Ron D. Hart books about Jewish subjects conversos. a scholar.” A (www.sfjbc.org). Hordes is one of the founders and Hordes is a former “prime movers” of the New Mexico state New Mexico Jewish historian. He holds a Historical Society and the Ph.D. in history from Society for Crypto-Judaic Tulane University, and Studies. A past president El Sabio is an adjunct research of NMJHS, he was the For Stan Hordes professor at the Latin first recipient of the By Isabelle Medina American and Iberian Allan P. and Leona Hurst Sandoval Institute of the Uni- Award in 1998 for his versity of New Mexico. work on Jewish history Hordes’ book, To the in New Mexico. In the End of the Earth: A His- May 1998 issue of Legacy, In a desolate desert Iberian exiles tory of the Crypto-Jews of Sharon Niederman wrote: scattered far from the end of the earth New Mexico, has been a “Known nationally and The incessant massive murky midnight major factor in shap- Stanley Hordes photo internationally for his skies ing thought about the by Mercedes López Wooten work on the secret Jews, or eclipsed five hundred years of shushed descendants of Spanish conversos, of New Mexico, cries conversos and crypto-Jews in the Ameri- Dr. Hordes has served on the board of can Southwest. When he began as state In the heart of a new Santa Fe the NMJHS since its inception, giving a Jewish sage forged his path historian in 1981, he encountered Cath- generously of his time to administer the with facts customs and math olic and Protestant Hispanic New Mexi- group, nourish its growth, and oversee cans whose families observed customs many of its worthwhile programs and In the tinieblas of his conclusions suggestive of a Jewish background. He conferences.” Iberian conversos were not illusions documented the experiences of those Whiter than infinite noon light families in his seminal work. Hordes’s book has been called a “mag- refugees glowed in academic sight num opus.” History professor Thomas confirmed by scientific DNA might The survival of Jewish identity was M. Cohen, in the journal The Americas, among the most important issues in praised the book’s “contribution to our Faster than the fleeting forced flight Friday night candles reinstated light Jewish communities in the Diaspora. understanding of the religious and eth- How does Jewish identity endure the nic diversity of the Southwest and of Luz, luz, luz challenges of history? The work of the force that the beliefs and practices lucid, lucid, lucid Stan Hordes has led traditional Jews . . . continue to exert in the lives of the lights of knowledge exploded and crypto-Jews to question who is people of the region.” Jewish and what Judaism means in their Sentry of the displaced anusim schooled by keen Ashkenazim lives. Santa Fe poet and novelist Isabelle rooted in Rio Grande Sephardim Medina Sandoval said of Stan Hordes: The keynote speaker for the event “I have a deep appreciation for Stan’s He is like a tree planted in Ysrael was Prof. David Graizbord, a profes- academic work, search for truth, and Él es nuestro hermano sabio fiel sor of Judaic Studies at the University passion for the anusim. His work has Page 6 New Mexico Jewish Historical Society 2018 ABQ Jewish Film Fest: Celebrating the Jewish Experience through Cinema By Phyllis Wolf, Program Director, Jewish Community Center he Jewish Community Eli, and they set a date for their wedding. Monday, 7/16, 7 PM: Center of Greater Albu- But Israel’s harsh reality intervenes. Norman: The Moder- querque presents the fifth ate Rise & Tragic Fall T annual ABQ Jewish Film Saturday, 7/14, 7 PM: Humor Me. USA, of a New York Fixer. Fest from July 12 to July 2018 | Comedy, 93 minutes. Director USA, 2017 | Drama/ 18, 2018. This year’s line- Sam Hoffman. Actors: Elliot Gould, Thriller, 118 minutes. up will showcase six acclaimed recent Jemaine Clement, Annie Potts, and Bebe Director Joseph Ce- films from the United States and Israel. Neuwirth. Humor Me is a heartfelt father- dar. Actors: Richard Phyllis Wolf son comedy about a struggling play- Gere, Michael Sheen, In June, prior to the July Film Fest, the wright who is forced to move in with Lior Ashkenazi, Hank Azaria, Steve JCC is partnering with the Albuquerque Bob, his aging, joke-telling dad in a New Buscemi. Norman Oppenheimer (Gere), Film and Music Experience to show Jersey retirement community. a small-time operator at a low point in Challah Rising in the Desert: The Jews of his life, befriends a young Israeli politi- New Mexico, on Tuesday, June 5, at 7 PM, cian on the rise. Three years later, when at the JCC, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE. the politician becomes an influential This is a great opportunity for any who world leader, Norman’s life dramatically have missed seeing this film. A question- changes for better and worse. and-answer period with Isaac Artenstein, the film’s Los Angeles-based director, Tuesday, 7/17, 7 PM: Bombshell: The will follow the screening. Tickets are Hedy Lamarr Story. USA, 2017 | Docu- $10 and available at ABQFilmx.com or mentary, 90 minutes. Director: Alex- JCCAbq.org. andra Dean. Hedy Lamarr, the 1940s screen siren (Ziegfield Girl, Samson and The ABQ Jewish Film Fest films portray Delilah) and Austrian-Jewish émigré, a rich and varied tapestry of Jewish life starred alongside Hollywood giants past and present. In honor of Israel’s 70th anniversary, three films have a Sunday, 7/15, 2 PM: Heading Home: The strong connection to Israel. New Mexico Tale of Team Israel. Israel, USA, 2018 | Jewish Historical Society members will Documentary, 91 minutes. Directors: find many of the films have histori- Seth Kramer, Jeremy Neuberger, Daniel cal significance. The first five films of A. Miller. A stirring story of sports, this year’s Film Fest will be held at the patriotism, and personal growth, Heading UA High Ridge Movie Theater, 12921 Home charts the underdog journey of Indian School NE, west of Tramway. Israel’s national baseball team compet- ing for the first time Thursday, 7/12, 7 PM: in the World Baseball An Israeli Love Story. Classic. Their line-up Israel, 2017 | Drama, 93 includes Jewish Major minutes. Director: Dan League players – Ike Wolman. The film is set Davis, Josh Zeid and during the turbulent pe- Ryan Lavarnway. With riod of pre-state Israel. their Mensch on the Margalit meets Eli on a Bench mascot, the team bus and falls in love with laughs, cries, and does like Spencer Tracy, Jimmy Stewart, and him instantly. She tries much soul-searching, Clark Gable. Behind the glamour and to get close to him, but reconnecting to Juda- sex appeal, though, was a talented and he’s too busy with the ism and discovering the inquisitive inventor who created a radio Palmach (Israel’s first pride of representing system during WW II, with the hope of fighting force). Finally, Israel on the world stage. helping to defeat the Nazis. That system the barriers come down, Margalit moves in with (continued on p. 10)

Page 7 Legacy, Volume 32, Number 1, Spring 2018 The Rising of Challah Rising in the Desert by Sarah Winger reams do come true. Jewish diversity. Jotting down her idea as approaching descen- Just ask Challah Rising five bullet points on a single sheet, she dants of early Jewish in the Desert creator and knew the five-stranded braided challah New Mexican families D producer Paula Schwartz. would represent each of the five waves to hear their stories. “I The film that began as a of settlement of New Mexico’s Jewish loved researching these dream has risen beyond community, discussed below. families, conducting the local screenings to appear at nationally interviews, and learning scheduled film festivals. Paula shared the idea with then-Jewish from these descendants Sarah Winger Federation of New Mexico Director about their rich and The film, using the metaphor of chal- Sam Sokolove, who strongly encouraged diverse histories.” lah, braids together the historical stories her to contact the award-winning film- of the Jews of New Mexico. Challah, maker Isaac Artenstein, thus launching One of the hardest parts of Paula’s five stranded and braided, is a tradition- the production. filmmaking experience was cutting down al Jewish bread that is eaten ceremoni- the 50 hours of interviews, all of which ously on Jewish holidays and Shabbat. The Recipe provided a wealth of information, to 90 Like challah rising in the kitchen, this One of the first challenges was raising minutes. “I would have loved to include film has come together to rise out of money. The filmmakers began with a them all,” she adds. the New Mexican desert, and in doing grant from The Maurice Amado Foun- so has taken with it the stories of local dation and then were offered financial Paula recalls everything about the film Jewish heritage. coming together in a very special way. Books were available telling pieces of The Ingredients the story, pointing her in the directions Paula, who came they needed to go. Descendants of early to New Mexico as pioneers told their families’ stories, and a graduate student descendants of conversos, the anusim, came from Pittsburgh forward to tell their families’ stories, each in the early 1960s, one unique, each one adding another recalls that some of piece to the evolving story. the most intriguing parts of her many https://www.ChallahRising.com/Galleries/ In 2016, at the NMJHS showing of years in the Land of the 30-minute work in progress, three Enchantment are individuals informed Paula of the com- filled with the multiculturalism and the support by other individuals and organi- munes of the counterculture near Taos openness of the local people. Believing zations. Financial support was matched – New Buffalo and Lama Foundation. that the amazing yet little known stories with encouragement, as the filmmakers After researching the communes and of New Mexican Jews were not heard worked closely with the Jewish Federa- finding people who lived there, their beyond the borders of the state, she set tion of New Mexico, Jewish community, stories were included in the film. Also, out to the tell the stories of these Jews, and New Mexico Community Founda- historians on the film’s advisory com- the state’s rich cultural diversity, and its tion. Paula’s husband, Mel Schwartz, mittee reminded the filmmakers that the people’s special welcome to newcomers. took on the role of executive producer coming of the railroad changed New to assist with financing the film. Mexico’s population, and the film was After a film was shown about the Jew- changed to tell these stories as well. ish pioneer merchants of Colorado at With filmmaker Isaac Artenstein excited These two alterations finalized the focus the 2014 New Mexico Jewish Histori- about the project, he recruited camera- of the remaining two challah strands, cal Society fall conference, a discus- man Sergio Ulloa, editor Keith Shapiro, thus completing the metaphor of the sion ensued about New Mexico’s own and musicians Allan Phillips and Jaime challah. Jewish history. Paula recalls waking Valle. Paula fondly recalls the experi- from a dream several nights following ence of working with “true filmmakers” In the final film, the five waves of Jewish the conference with the image of the as she learned the filmmaking process. settlement of New Mexico are portrayed challah as a metaphor for the state’s rich Equally satisfying was the experience of (continued on p. 10)

Page 8 New Mexico Jewish Historical Society Interfaith Leadership Alliance of Santa Fe: A History By Rabbi Neil Amswych, Temple Beth Sholom his history, which is not interfaith organization in Santa Fe to for the Women’s definitive but at least is which she could bring an issue. He, Summer Safe Haven based on contributions in turn, brought together Father Dick at the Interfaith T by key people, starts in Murphy, Pastor Ben Larzelere, Pas- Shelter. The follow- the mid-1970s, when the tor Larry Haslam, and Pastor Holly ing year, it raised Santa Fe Ministerial Alli- Beaumont, and with their help sent out over $20,000 for ance was in full swing. It would meet in a letter to every clergy member they Santa Fe Dream- the old St. Vincent’s Hospital downtown could find in Santa Fe, inviting them to ers and Somos Un (now the Drury Hotel) once a month, a lunch at the synagogue. By the end of Pueblo Unido, a Rabbi Neil Amswych with lunch served by the hospital. Con- the lunch, the Interfaith Leadership Al- human rights organi- versations were based around congrega- liance had essentially been formed, and zation. tional life in general, cooperative efforts Rabbi Schwab was its first president. for serving the community, sharing The ILA has also helped host a number concerns, and interfaith services. The first project that the ILA undertook of key events through the years. From was the Community Closet, initially 2008 to 2010, there were Interfaith Membership was limited to only a few intended to help young people put Block Parties on East Barcelona, and faith traditions at the time. The new together resumes and assemble cloth- in 2012 there was a Peace March from hospital was built and the meetings ing suitable for interviews, as well as the Unitarian Universalist Congrega- moved there, with lunch still provided improve interview skills. This was one tion down to the Cathedral Basilica by St. Vincent’s. When those free lunch- of a number of projects that the ILA near the Santa Fe Plaza. The ILA was es stopped, the Alliance moved to other has started over the years, only to spin also responsible for New Mexico Faith places – First Presbyterian and Holy off to become independent entities. For Communities Against Hate Crimes, Faith, among other locations, before example, the Winter Overflow Shelter which ultimately led to the passage of finally settling on St. John’s Methodist was created to house homeless women New Mexico’s anti-hate crimes bill in the Church. The meetings there continued and children who had nowhere they legislature. In 2017, the ILA organized a monthly, and members brought their considered safe to stay during the win- Rally Against Racism, which was own lunches, elected an annual presi- ter. At first, congregations from the ILA attended by 1,500 people. dent, shared history and stories of their rotated winter evening housing around own traditions, and listened to pleas for the congregations one week at a time, There has been, of course, much inter- money, despite the Alliance not having and ultimately this project became the faith work in Santa Fe over the years, much at the time! Interfaith Community Shelter (known such as the Jewish and Christian Dia- locally as “Pete’s Place”). logue circles, or sermon swaps between Then the floodgates opened and anyone clergy, which involved members of the with any religious or spiritual affiliation Envision Santa Fe provides volunteers ILA but were not directly organized by of any kind was invited in. Some mem- from many faith groups to serve as the ILA. Nonetheless, the ILA remains bers left as a result, and some stayed but mentors and advocates for families the overarching interfaith organization also formed an Alliance of Evangeli- transitioning from homelessness to in the city and a place where members cal Churches. The Alliance struggled permanency and self-sufficiency. It was of differing faiths learn from each other and started spending much of its time started as an ILA project and has now and work together. It is a growing orga- discussing who should belong and why grown to be taken under the auspices of nization, and once again discussions are it should exist. The event of September one of the local homeless shelters. The being had about who can join and the 11, 2001, changed everything. For three Faith Network for Immigrant Justice of aims and goals of the ILA. This time, months following that dreadful day, the Santa Fe, started in 2017 under the though, the tone seems to be different, group could not agree on a common auspices of the ILA, now essentially and the discussions are helping shape statement of faith and hope for the works as a separate organization. An new initiatives. For example, the ILA city, and clergy left in great number as a anti-bullying program in local schools just launched the Green Fusion initia- result. was started by the ILA. tive, which brings together faith and environmental leaders from all around In 2007, a woman told Rabbi Marvin The ILA also supports local organiza- the city. Schwab at Temple Beth Shalom that tions. For example, in 2016, it ran a (continued on p. 10) she was frustrated there wasn’t a single campaign that ultimately raised $52,000 Page 9 Legacy, Volume 32, Number 1, Spring 2018 2018 ABQ Jewish Film Fest (continued from p. 7) is now considered the basis of Bluetooth many more. Through an engaging mix of both a moving portrait of a marriage and GPS technology. 2017 Tribeca Film love letters, film clips, and candid conver- and a celebration of the unknown tal- Festival; Winner, Audience Award, Best ents that helped shape the films we love. Documentary, San Francisco Jewish Film This film will be screened at the JCC, Festival 2017-2018. 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, on a new big screen with digital surround sound. Wednesday, 7/18, 7 PM: Harold and Lillion: A Hollywood Love Story. USA, The JCC appreciates the support of 2017 | Documentary, 90 minutes. the Film Fest’s organizational spon- Director: Daniel Raim. Working largely sors: Regal Entertainment Group, City uncredited in the Hollywood system, the of Albuquerque Film Office, 100.3 the Michelsons – storyboard artist Harold Peak, and the Jewish Federation of New and film researcher Lillian – left an indel- Mexico. ible mark on classics by Alfred Hitch- cock, Steven Spielberg, Mel Brooks, Seating for all films is limited, so Stanley Kubrick, Roman Polanski, and purchasing tickets in advance is recom- mended. Admission at the door will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open 30 minutes before show time. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at sations with Danny DeVito, Mel Brooks, the door. Series tickets for all six films Francis Ford Coppola and others, this are $50. Visit HoldMyTicket.com or deeply engaging documentary offers JCCAbq.org, or call 505-348-4518.A

The Rising of Challah Rising in the Desert (continued from p. 4) as conversos escaping the Spanish Inqui- out, with standing room only. In early sition 400 years ago; German Jewish 2018, the film was shown at the Atlanta pioneers of the Santa Fe Trail in the Jewish Film Festival, and the produc- 1800s; Jews brought by the railroad to tion team was invited to submit the film Albuquerque after 1880; scientists in the to the San Francisco, Boston, Mexico 1940s who came to Los Alamos dur- City, Chicago, Sun Valley, Boca Raton, ing World War II; and members of the and Honolulu Jewish Film Festivals. counterculture who lived communally in the Taos area in the 1960s and 1970s. Challah Rising in the Desert is just enter- ing distribution, and it may be too soon Stefanie Beninato The Rising for talk of returning to the kitchen for A Well-Born Guide / Have Ph.D. Will Travel The completed film was released in the baking of another challah, but Paula Original Tour 2017, and multiple screenings through- hasn’t ruled it out: “Ask me next year.” A Jewish Legacy in New Mexico out New Mexico have shown the film

www.swguides.com [email protected] to thousands of viewers in Albuquer- Editor’s note: Sarah Winger serves on the P.O. Box 1601 Santa Fe, NM 87504 que, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, as well as NMJHS board. A licensed professional clini- 505.988.8022 at several conferences. Showings at the cal counselor, she is a child and family psycho- Tucson Jewish Film Festival and Skir- therapist at Children’s Psychiatric Hospital, ball Museum in Los Angeles were sold UNM Hospitals.

Interfaith Leadership Alliance of Santa Fe (continued from p. 9) It is quite extraordinary to think about from each other. It is an organization the impact the ILA has had on Santa Fe of which Santa Feans, and members of in only ten years – saving lives, protect- the faith communities, should be very ing the vulnerable, and bringing together proud. A. people of differing traditions to learn

Page 10 New Mexico Jewish Historical Society 2017 NMJHS Annual Meeting, Santa Fe, New Mexico: Hurst Award Photos by Ed Goff

Linda Goff, President Rae Siporin, Treasurer Sandra Dietz Secretary/Membership

Paula Amar Schwartz Dr. Noel Pugach Kathryn Rubin, Hurst Award Past President Introduction of Kathryn Rubin

Marcia Torobin, Keynote Address Rubin Family Memorabilia

Page 11 NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID Newsletter of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society PERMIT NO. 1322 ALBUQUERQUE, NM New Mexico Jewish Historical Society 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Suite B Albuquerque, NM 87109

Membership in NMJHS Calendar of NMJHS Upcoming Events

For information contact the NMJHS Check for future events at www.nmjhs.org office at 505-348-4471 or June 3: NMJHS Annual Meeting (see p. 3). JCC, 5520 Wyoming Blvd. NE, [email protected] to request a mem- Albuquerque, 3-5 PM. bership brochure. Alternatively, you can download a membership applica- June 10: Naomi Sandweiss, “A Mobster in the Family: Jewish Outlaws, Gangsters, tion from the NMJHS website and Bandits.” NMJHS Speakers Bureau and Congregation Beit Tikva, 2230 Old www.nmjhs.org Pecos Trail, Santa Fe, 2-4 PM. June 24: “Telling the Stories: The Personal Accounts of New Mexico Jews in Business and Community Life.” Panel with Dr. Noel Pugach, Harvey Buchalter, Dr. Richard Melzer, Jon Bell, and Howard Friedman. New Mexico Humanities Council Grant. JCC, Albuquerque, 2-4 PM. July 29: “New Mexico & Israel at 70: The People and Organizations Who Played a Role.” Panel with Rabbis Paul Citrin and Jack Schlachter, Dr. Noel Pugach, Harvey Buchalter, and Lance Bell. JCC, Albuquerque, 2-4 PM. Santa Fe Jewish Film Festival: Arabic Movie, June 24, 7 PM, Center for Contemporary Arts, 1050 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe; Joe’s Violin, August 26, check www.SantaFeJff.org for time and location. Visit www.SantaFeJFF for film descrip- tions, 505-216-0672. 2018 ABQ Film Fest, July 12-18 (see pp. 7, 10). UA High Ridge Movie Theater, first five films; JCC, final film. Visit JCCAbq.org, 505-345-4518.

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