Levy, Gertrude_1968/08/28, Oral History, August 28, 1968

GREATER HARTFORD JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Tape No.: 13 No. of Tapes: Name of Interviewee: Gertrude Levy Date of Interview: August 28, 1968 Occupation: Teacher Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Hartford, CT Transcript (yes/no): Yes No. of Pages: 8

Abstract: Miss Levy attended the Chauncey Harris Grammar School, then Hartford High School, and finally the Normal School at New Britain, CT, for 4 years. She taught at the Chauncey Harris School starting in 1912 or 1915.

Her mother and father both emigrated to Hartford, from Koenisberg, Germany, and he worked for the Jules Vernon company on Asylum Avenue. Miss Levy never lived in a Jewish neighborhood although her Mother kept a kosher home and taught her children religion. They had many Jewish friends who visited them.

As a result of the murder of a Jewish immigrant who was befriended by Miss Levy’s father, Mr. Levy helped to organize the first Jewish funeral home, the Hesed Shelemes.

Many German Jews came to Hartford, and the Cashman Family and Haas Family started the reform temple on Charter Oak Avenue. The later immigrants, who were more orthodox, and her father, Messrs. Samuels, Kempner and Blumenthal organized the synagogue on Market Street.

Miss Levy praised Mrs. Dora Lipman who was very active in teaching Jewish religion to children before there were any Talmud Torahs or Yeshivas.

Subject Index: Education - secular German Jewry Business Oral History