Goldman, Nettie_1968/10/23, Oral History

Subjects of interview include: Growing up in Hartford.

JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF GREATER HARTFORD ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Tape No.: 18 (side 2 of 17) No. of Tapes: 1 Name of Interviewee: Nettie Goldman (Nee Finkelstein) Occupation: Date of Birth: (Circa) 1893 Place of Birth: New York City Date of Interview: October 23, 1968 Transcript (yes/no): yes No. of pages: 10 (#14-23)

Abstract: Parents emigrated from Austria. Nettie was 5 years old when she moved from New York City to Hartford in 1898. Graduated from Brown School but got married while still in high school. At a very early age she started a Zionist group called the Miriam Zion Club, which started as a debating club with George Cohen, Saul Berman, and Sam Hoffman supervising. The group also attended the club of the Maccabees, also a Zionist group. Attended a private Talmud Torah for several years, being the only girl in the class, the teacher being David Traub. Two other girls joined the class later, Rabbi’s Hoffenberg and Hurwitz’s daughters. Nettie’s father later was one of the founders of the Pleasant St. Talmud Torah. Nettie saw to it that everyone could register. At one time this Talmud Torah had 500 students, boys and girls. She was active in the Council of Jewish Women, who gave assistance the immigrant families. Mrs. Leipziger, whose father was active in politics, was chairwoman of the club. Took Nettie along to interpret Yiddush. Nettie became co-chairman along with Mrs. Saul Berman. They helped the immigrants to find work and to become Americanized. Many of the social services provided to families and children were subsequently taken over by the government agencies. She has been a member of Hadassah for 55 years, a year after it was formed. She met several times with Henrietta Szold whom she described as a gentle, soft spoken, friendly person, an inspiration and a model to follow. Other prominent Jewish leaders who visited Hartford were Stephen Wise and Smaryahu Levine and Weizman. Both she and her husband were involved in many Jewish activities, including the Home for the Aged, Children’s Home, the Gemilles Hesed, a free loan association. Participation in all of these activities has been a joy and a pleasure.

Subject Index: Community Activities (in the Jewish community) Zionism Oral History Pleasant St. Talmud Torah Americanization Hadassah American Jewish History National Council of Jewish Women Immigrants Education - Jewish