Pattison, David_1968/08/28, Oral History

Subjects of interview include: Travel, Hartford, First Zionist Congress, Tailor occupation, Zionist Organizations, teaching Judaism, Education, children.

GREATER HARTFORD JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Tape No.: 11 No. of Tapes: Name of Interviewee: Pattison, David Date of Interview: August 28, 1968 Occupation: Tailoring Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Poland Transcript (yes/no): Yes No. of Pages: 10

Abstract: Mr. Pattison left Poland in 1908, went to Haifa, Palestine, where he went to the first Jewish school for one year, then to Germany. From Germany he left for America, arriving in Hartford in 1910. He attended the First Zionist Congress in Basle, Switzerland, in 1897. Present at the Congress were Dr. Theodore Herzl, Max Nordau, Mr. Sokolov. He talked about the proceedings at the Congress.

Mr. Pattison opened a tailoring shop on Park Street. He had been a member of Zionist organizations, the B’nai Zion, Daughters of Zion, and the Labor Zionist group. There was a great deal of Zionist activity in Hartford, and he memtioned particularly Rabbi Hoffenberg and his son, Samuel Hoffenberg.

He recalled early days in Poland where he conducted religious classes for boys and girls. He was schooled in the Yeshiva in Kovna for four years.

He spoke of his children, four sons and three daughters, with pride.

Subject Index: Business Religion Zionism Oral History