Preserving Jewish Heritage in Texas Texas Jewish Established 1980 Historical Society January 2000 Newsletter 1882 . Nacogdoches, Texas – Submitted by TJHS member Idarene Glick This photograph shows my Grandpa’s chant in Nacogdoches. He was 86 years old (Joe Zeve’s) store on the square in and was called “Uncle Joe” by all his Nacogdoches, Texas. Actually, his first friends and customers who loved and store was in the Old Stone Fort with a dirt admired him. floor. It was located on what is the campus Joe and Ida Zeve’s children were: of Stephen F. Austin University today. Belle Zeve Kahn, Alus Zeve, Leo Zeve, My grandfather continued going to his and Elece Zeve Haas. business daily until he was unable to walk Their grandchildren were Robert W. the distance of one block. Kahn (deceased), Edel Zeve Gainsburgh, At the time of his death on Octo- Charlotte Zeve Davis (deceased), Betty ber 4, 1941, he was the oldest mer- Zeve Baccus and Idarene Haas Glick. From the TJHS President Fall in History Instructor at problems. He was Corsicana provided Navarro College. Sandra gracious and candid a lovely setting for Palmer took us on a visual as he told us how a wonderful “tour” of the Temple as the Jewish commu- weekend of she does for many visitors nity of Corsicana activities that had who come to see it. She transformed him been planned by is a dedicated docent who from a shipping TJHS member has learned about the clerk at the K. Babbette Samuels. religious significance of Wolen’s depart- Although the the items in the Temple. ment store to an Jewish presence in Corsicana is no Then, we sat down with Ordained Rabbi! longer over 200 families, as it was in TJHS members Irvin He holds the past years, the warmth and hospitality Samuels, Natalie distinction of having of that community was fantastic. Our Rosenbloom and Natalie’s simultaneously visit to Navarro College was extremely daughter, Joyce Sussman, served the Conser- interesting. The Director of Special to talk about growing up vative AND Collections, Dr. Darryl Beauchamp, Jewish in Corsicana. Reform Congrega- shared information about their incred- Wonderful memories! Sandra Palmer - docent of tions for many ible Civil War and Native American And it is now on tape! Temple Beth-El in Corsicana. years. It is with Artifact and Art Saturday great sadness that collection and we saw evening, at I share with you the news that Rabbi the collection of hand a lovely dinner at the Ernest Joseph died on November 10. carved figures from Kinsloe House, we What a treasure we have in the tape the Hobbitt series that heard about the recording of his remarks to us. This were donated by Irvin Wolen’s family from brings special meaning to our mission and Babbette TJHS member, Dean of collecting and documenting the Samuels. They form Milkes. The highlight Jewish experience in Texas! a centerpiece of the of that evening was library in their hand- hearing from Continued on next page some glass case. We Rabbi Ernest are always amazed to Joseph about find so many fascinat- his extremely ing things in each and interesting every community we life. We felt visit. most fortu- During the nate that the afternoon session, Rabbi was held in the almost 100 well enough year old Temple Beth Dr. Tommy Stringer speaks to to be with us, El Community Center, TJHS at Temple Beth-El in as he had just we heard about the Corsicana. Note the beautiful come out of history of the Jewish Tiffany glass Magen David a long Community from Dr. and Ten Commandment hospital stay TJHS on the bimah of Temple Beth-El in windows. Tommy Stringer, for multiple Corsicana, October 16, 1999 Dean of Students and health The Texas Jewish Historical Society Newsletter is a publication of the Texas Jewish Historical Society, P.O. Box 10193, Austin, Texas 78766-0193 Helen Wilk (Corpus Christi).....................................................................................................President Jack Gerrick (Fort Worth)...........................................................................................Managing Editor Walter Fein (San Antonio)..................................................................................................Proofreader Geri Gregory (San Antonio).....................................................Layout, Typesetting and Distribution Page 2 Texas Jewish Historical Society – January 2000 From the TJHS President, cont’d application for the scholarship in this the registration form in the mail. We Newsletter and forward it to students have discontinued putting meeting Our Sunday Board meeting you think might be candidates. We registration in our Newsletters because was productive. have sent this to all the Hillel’s, and it they seem to take an extremely long We continue to is on our Web time to be delivered , often after the be involved with Site. deadline for the event has passed. We new projects that Allen & hope you will join us for this lovely Cynthia Mondell weekend beginning Friday, January help to get our th message out. showed us some 14 with a dutch treat dinner at the Rabbi Jimmy clips from their Holiday Inn, followed by Shabbat Kessler has been soon to be services at Temple B’nai Israel. gathering infor- completed film Guest Rabbi Sanford Shapero, visiting mation for the about Jewish from California, was the first student new book project Matchmaking Rabbi for this congregation 45 years we have under- From the ago. taken. The Babbette Samuels admires a carving Garden of Circle March 24,25,26, 2000 Institute of Texan which she and her husband, Irvin, Eden to for the Laredo Annual Gathering. Cultures has donated to Navarro Junior College. Matchmaker.com Doris Epstein and a great group of improved our and we are Laredoans are planning to provide a exhibit area with the addition of the eager to see this fascinating project in wonderful weekend of activities. Gallery of Texans photos that can be its final form. Another worthy project Their Sisterhood will serve us a viewed on the computer screens. we have helped to support. delicious, home cooked Shabbat dinner They have also added several Torah The at Agudah readings in Hebrew with English Austin JCC Achim syna- translations. Laurie Gudzikowski, has asked us gogue, fol- Director of Programs, has asked me to to participate lowed by request a replacement for the Bris in a program services on Gown that has been on loan to the ITC about Texas Friday evening. as that item has been returned to the Jewish History We will be family at their request. If you have a in their new staying at La ceremonial object that was used during Dell Center. Posada, once a bris and would like to loan or give it Please let me the public to the ITC please let me know. know if you Houston TJHS Board Meeting. school that Hollace Weiner’s book Jewish would like to was attended Stars in Texas is now in print and she work on this committee. We are by our Historian, Blanche Sheiness! has been appearing at a number of exploring ideas and are open to Blanche is working on the program Jewish Book Fairs around the state. suggestions. and will be able to share lots of We are very proud to have played a TJHS is proud of our Board information about her native city. part in supporting this interesting book member, Jimmy Alexander, who was You will receive more details about several of the pioneer rabbis of recently honored by the Dallas Jewish on the Registration form that will be Texas. Historical mailed to you in the near future. For the Society for his Our annual TJHS tour is being second year, our many contribu- planned to coordinate with the Gather- Board has tions to that ing. We will be traveling from Laredo approved offering organization. to Monterrey, Mexico in a Chartered scholarships to TJHS has also bus. Tentative dates are Monday Texas College been the recipi- March 20-Thursday March 23. The students to attend ent of his knowl- Jewish Community of Monterrey has our Annual edge and interest invited us to celebrate Purim with them Gathering in in Texas Jewish and learn about the history of their Laredo in March. History. Mazel community. Barbara Rosenberg is We were very Tov, Jimmy. working with Ana Portnoy Grumberg pleased to have Victoria will to take us on a fascinating journey initiated this TJHS toured the Library of Navarro be the site of our through Mexican-Jewish history. Junior College in Corsicana. during our last January Board Everyone will receive a registration Gathering in Fort Worth and we were meeting (Jan.14-16, 2000). Dave flyer in the mail with details of dates, delighted to have the winner, Greg Lack has been working on the pro- plans and costs. This will be another Meyer, attend the meeting and become gram, and he and his wife, Ruth, will fabulous TJHS trip. Come join us! a member of TJHS. You will note that be hosting us at a cocktail party prior he has contributed to this edition of our to our dinner Saturday night at the Newsletter. Please look for the Plaza Club. You should have received Texas Jewish Historical Society – January 2000 Page 3 Letter From Gonzales Cemetery Refurbished the Editor by Jack Kronick Congregation area. The Can you believe this is the Beth Am Gonzales first newsletter of the millennium? starts the Chamber of Sounds like such a long time since year of 5760 Commerce very few of us were around when the with a was very last century started. The Jews of the mitzvah. The cooperative in Congregation U.S. and Texas have certainly made a locating the has raised major impact on the lives of many site. $2,200.00 to When Shelly people, especially in light of the fact erect a chain Evans and that there are so few of us compared link fence Jack Kronick to the general population.