Identification of individuals who through their life, families, or profession possess important information regarding the American Traditional Jewish experience. Pending NEA grant proposal Available on request
There are a small number of individuals who are still with us who remember vibrant traditional life of cities and rural areas prior to the World War II. Many of these communities have disappeared. The priceless recollections of these people are in danger of being lost forever. A national project must be formed to save as many of these histories as possible. Of especial importance are older Rabbis and community leaders nationwide. These histories should be taken in both audio and video formats..
 Joe Paper's Bar Mitzvah 1919 in Fargo, ND |
Fargo, North Dakota
AJL oral history of Joe Paper, age 92, taken in Fargo, ND 1998. Oral history recounts the Jewish history of Fargo, ND. Its Chevra Kadisha, Cheder, Mikveh, and founding of its synagogue, the life history of the founding members, and the history of its institutions from 1898 until 1996.
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 Meta Buttnick of Seattle, WA. 2002 |
Seattle, Washington
AJL oral history of Meta Buttnick, age 88, taken in Seattle, WA. 2002. Oral history recounts the Jewish history of the community in Seattle founded in 1888. Mrs. Buttnick is a recognized Jewish historian who has been active throughout her entire professional life gathering the Jewish history of the North West. She has authored a number of historical works on this subject, and has herself taken a number of oral histories from prominent Jewish residents of Seattle. Mrs. Buttnick is also assisting in the creation of the Jewish Archives division at the University of Washington. Our oral history includes her colorful narratives concerning Sephardic and Ashkenazic immigration to Seattle from Charbin (Japan), Turkey and Greece, and after WWI and II. It also includes stories of her father leaving Shavel (Russia) and traveling to Fairbanks (Alaska), where he opened a general store for the Yukon-Klondike gold rush and became the chairman of the Jewish Welfare Board in Fairbanks. Meta was one of the first hundred non Native American to be born in Fairbanks.
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 Parents of Mr. & Mrs. Louis Raskas, Founder of Raskas Dairy Company. Raskas Family Immigrated to Saint Louis in 1882. |
St. Louis, Missouri
AJL oral history of Kenneth Spetner, age 78, taken in Saint Louis, Missouri, in 1993. The oral history recounts the Jewish history of six generations of the Spetner and Raskas families in Saint Louis, Missouri. Includes family narratives of Spetner and Raskas families, who sent their children to Europe to study in the Yeshivos of Slobodka and Radin before WWI. It also includes the histories of many synagogues and institutions of Saint Louis.
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 Mr. Jack Verschleisser at daughters wedding |
San Francisco, CA
AJL oral history of Jack Verschleisser, age 75, taken in Brooklyn, NY in 1990. Oral history recounts the Jewish history of the Boro Park section of Brooklyn, NY (1920s and 30s) and San Francisco, Ca. (1930s and 40s). Highlights include Mr. Verschleisser's accounts of kashrus and communal Jewish life, his work on behalf of Jewish immigrants during WWII including those from the Mir Yeshiva traveling through Shanghai (China) landing in San Francisco (1945).
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 Mrs. Freeda Yablok, Seattle 2002 |
Marietta, Ohio
AJL oral history of Freeda Yablok, in her 90s, taken in Seattle, WA. in 2002. Oral history recounts the Jewish history of the Lower East Side section of NY, 1920s, and Columbus and Marietta, Ohio, during 1939-1970s. Highlights of Jewish life in a small town with only one synagogue, buying kosher, raising children, and hosting Jewish college students.
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The AJL wishes to establish an audio-visual library, which not only houses our own collection of audio and video histories, but also includes parts of existing collections from across the US, which reflect the American traditional Jewish experience.
To become an audio/video sponsor, please contact us here.
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