Perkel, Morris_1973/7/18, Oral History

Morris discusses with Emma Cohen Growing up Jewish in Russia, his Education, War, Religion, America Jewish life in Hartford, Community, Music, the Hartford Circus Fire, Working with children, his own children, and Teaching in Hebrew

Date of Birth: March 12, 1899 Place of Birth: Brasseltores, Russia Occupation: Hebrew teacher, Superintendent, Children’s Home Abstract: Mr. Perkel spoke in detail about the persecution of Jews in Russia and his early Hebrew education. He continued his studies at the Yeshiva in Prujani and Lapitch in Minsk. 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. Later on he attended Trinity College. He joined a Zionist group, B'nai B'not Zion (sons and daughter of Herzl). He was hired as a teacher at the Children's Home. 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. He was involved in the Jewish Literary Society. In 1945 Mr. Perkel was appointed to the Yeshiva as a Hebrew teacher. He started a new method of teaching, called Evrei Bevreit, that of translation into modern Hebrew instead of into English.