Spiro, Yechiel_1981/08/06, Oral History

Tape #266 2t, 3s, 90mins Subject: Spiro, Yechiel (Chiloh Shapiro) Recorder: Emma Cohen Date: 8/6/1981 Place: Spiro home, 90 Dover Rd. WH Birthplace: Mukachevo, Shech Date: 1921 Came to US, 1949, Hartford in 1951 Personal Background: Hasidic town, pop. 35,000; 16,000 Jews. Family lived there for centuries. Grandfather, father, brothers had smicha; father kept grocery store; Hasidic courts- thousands came to town for holydays. Education: General (non-Jewish school; Heder everyday; Yeshivot elsewhere until 1938- smicha. Description of Yeshiva life. Holocaust: Conscripted for work force by Hungarians. Germans took over in March 1944. Grandmother, Father, mother, sisters, and 5 children lost in Auschwitz. Liberated by Russians Dec. 1944. Jewish communities helped in Budapest. Parents store taken by gentiles. Married after the war- wife Sheindel from nearby town- was also in Auschwitz Occupation: No trade except Jewish education. Various jobs in US. Came to Htfd 1951, started Hebrew Bookshop 1957, next to Crown on Albany Ave. Htfd. Successful from beginning. Moved to Whitney St. 1967. Worked with synagogues, Jewish schools, and non-Jews. Loves books, very knowledgeable. Sold store to Joe and Grace Sherman, Jan 1980. Highlights: Family very orthodox. 4 children went only to Jewish schools. Boys have smicha, Daughter, stern grad. People mentioned: Sam Smith (Crown); Calman Myerwitz (Ellington). Incidents: Tefillin Bag; Tax man; Bar mitzvah