Midrasha

Abstract

Annie Fisher (1883-1968) devoted her life to public school education in Hartford, instituting many reforms aimed at aiding immigrant children and those with special needs. Fisher became Hartford's first female district superintendent and first female principal. She also worked on gaining reforms in salary and pensions for both female teachers and teachers in general. When she retired in 1945, Fisher was held in great esteem and a Hartford elementary school was later named in her honor.

Interview Much about life in Palestine, Family went to Palestine in 1925 came back to New Britain in 1927 when she was still in school, Returned in 1932 because of Depression (at risk of losing their land if they didn’t return) and stayed for about 8 years until 1939 on cusp of World War II, knew Itmar Ben-Avi (son of Eliezer Ben-Yehudah, father of modern Hewbrew), participated in the Royal Army Service co. as a civilian and in the Haganah, patrolled the shoreline and sometimes helped illegal...

Scope and Contents A hard copy transcript exists but is in poor conditionEdit: New typed transcription attached. Interview Much about life in Palestine, Family went to Palestine in 1925 came back to New Britain in 1927 when she was still in school, Returned in 1932 because of Depression (at risk of losing their land if they didn’t return) and stayed for about 8 years until 1939 on cusp of World War II, knew Itmar Ben-Avi (son of Eliezer...

Scope and Contents

Active in the West Hartford Community Involved Rabbi Vague information about her character Much of her work is focused on social justice and environmental concerns based on the information given Only partial transcript

Scope and Contents Subject: History of Conservative Judaism/Synagogues in Greater Hartford **Three Part Synagogue SeriesSpeaker: Rabbi Stanley KesslerKessler gives an overview of the conservative movement in the Greater Hartford area, giving brief histories of various congregations and general conservative movement (idea of “Positive-Historical” and “Catholic Israel”, that is, universal Israel). Great deal of focus the Emanuel. Discusses changes over the years (and congregational...

Interview [Possibly a handwritten abstract but handwriting is messy and often difficult to read]Activism on behalf of Soviet Jews in Maryland and Hartford, helped get Hartford into this activism and interested in helping resettle Soviet refugees in Hartford. Tricky dynamics between some activists and the early immigrants-some activists only wanted them to go to Israel/didn’t like that they would not demonstrate, but they were afraid for their families. Trip to USR to meet refuseniks....