Perkel, Morris_1973/7/18, Oral History, July 18, 1973

GREATER HARTFORD JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Tape No.: 54 No. of Tapes: Name of Interviewee: Perkel, Morris Date of Interview: July 18, 1973 Occupation: Hebrew teacher, Superintendent, Children’s Home Date of Birth: March 12, 1899 Place of Birth: Brasseltores, Russia Transcript (yes/no): Yes No. of Pages: 47

Abstract: Mr. Perkel’s father, a baker, left for the United States in 1905. Mr. Perkel spoke in detail about the persecution of Jews in Russia and his early Hebrew education. Although very poor, he was able to continue his studies at the Yeshiva in Prujani and Lapitch in Minsk. In addition to Hebrew, he studied mathematics, history and the Russian Language. After finishing with the equivalent of a four-year high school education, he returned home to experience the hardships and horrors of World War II, when the Germans occupied his town and also the two wars between Russia and Poland. In 1920 his father sent for his family of wife and three children who joined him in Hartford. As soon as Mr. Perkel arrived in Hartford, he started studying English at night school under Lucy Taylor and Fannie Silverman. Later on he attended Trinity College.

He joined a Zionist group, B’nai B’not Zion (sons and daughter of Herzl). With the help of Abe Goldstein, he was hired as secretary of the Zionist Group. He was tested for the position of teacher at the Children’s Home by Rabbis Hoffenberg and Hurwitz and Dr. George Cohen and Morris Older and hired as a teacher. He taught for 17 years, becoming Superintendent.

Most of the interview is devoted to the description of the Children’s Home: how it started, the development, organization, teaching by Mr. Perkel, activities both religious and secular, cultural activities and interaction with the community. The Orthodox, Conservative and Reform groups were all very supportive of the Children’s Home. Mr. Perkel recalled the names of persons who were very active: Mrs. Alfred Silverman, Mrs. Rothschild, Lily Myers, Mrs. Samuels, Mrs. Joseloff, Mrs. Seide, Mrs. Koppelman, Sara Suisman, Yetta Gaylor, Mrs. Zachs, Mrs. White, Mrs Leschever, Mrs. David Mitnick. Mr. Farber taught boxing and his wife taught dancing. Mrs. Nirenstein and Mrs. Schechter organized youth groups called Tzillitze Zion (Youth of Zion) for the study of Hebrew at night. Dental and medical services were provided by Drs. Cohen, Wernick, and Gaberman. Nurses were Mrs. Ralph and Mrs. Suisman. Mr. Tovarsky provided haircuts. Mr. Wider gave tickets for 20 children, ages 5 to 17 to attend the circus on July 6, 1944. A disastrous fire occurred, but Mr. Perkel was able to get the children out without harm. He stayed at the home until the middle 40s when it finally closed. During his tenure at the Home he had very close, warm relationships with the children, acting in a parental role.

During the years 1940-45, he was involved in the Jewish Literary Society named after Nathan Promisil. Together, they published a Jewish newspaper with Abe Goldstein as the editor and Mr. Perkel as manager and literary editor. Articles and essays were written by these two along with Messrs. Lieberman, Lantz Clavinsky and poetry by Shana Kedes. The paper folded in 1945 because of financial reasons. Mr. Perkel was also proficient in English and in his twenties he wrote stories and articles.

In 1945 Mr. Perkel was appointed to the Yeshiva as a Hebrew teacher and taught there the rest of his life. At the instigation of Mr. Kaminsky of New York, he started a new method of teaching, called Evrei Bevreit, that of translation into modern Hebrew instead of into English.

He has two daughters and he and his wife plan to live in Israel when he retires.

Subject Index: Circus Fire 1944 Community activities (in the Jewish community) Community leadership (in the Jewish community) Oral History Education – Jewish Jewish Children’s Service Organization (formerly the Children’s Orphan Home) Yiddish Culture Author Zionism