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Oscar Goodman oral history interview
Oral history interview with Oscar Goodman conducted by Claytee White on November 10, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Goodman discusses his experiences with the Temple Beth Sholom, Jewish leaders and organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada; raising children in Las Vegas, and practicing law as an attorney.
Archival Collection
Wilma and Burt Bass oral history interview
Oral history interview with Wilma and Burt Bass conducted by Barbara Tabach on February 09, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Burt Bass discusses his photography business, the migration of its storefront around town, and his colorful landlords. Wilma Bass talks about her sales career in the local jewelry industry, and more extensively, she shares memories of her involvement in the Jewish community with theater productions. The couple also shares stories of friendships with local entertainers, including Jerry Lewis and Neil Sedaka.
Archival Collection
Photograph of Hal Ober, November 08, 1981
A portrait photograph of Hal Ober, a member of the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas. 120mm negative.
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Daryl Alterwitz oral history interview
Oral history interview with Daryl Alterwitz conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 08, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Alterwitz discusses being an attorney and active in the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community, including volunteering in organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League. He also talks about his family owning the Walker Furniture business.
Archival Collection
Stanley and Sandra Mallin oral history interview
Oral history interview with Stanley and Sandy Mallin conducted by Barbara Tabach on January 07, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview the Mallins discuss Stanley's college roommate, Jay Sarno, how they joined him in his casino development endeavors, and about the various business projects Stanley participated in. They also discuss the Jewish community in Las Vegas, Nevada through the ages, how Las Vegas has changed, and their volunteer work in the community.
Archival Collection
Transcript of interview with Andrew and Debbie Levy by Barbara Tabach, September 12, 2016
Andrew (Drew) Levy was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, where his family became prominent civic and real estate leaders. His grandfather was Harry Levy, a former Las Vegas City Commissioner, and his father Alvin Levy was a former councilman. Drew is always proud to say that he never left Las Vegas and of partnering with his father in the Levy Realty Company. While growing up, Drew it was easy for a teenager to enjoy the perks that could accompany his family?s civic persona?such as casino shows, events and meeting early Las Vegas casino executives like Moe Dalitz. After graduation from Clark High School, Drew attended Arizona State University. It was in Tempe that he met Debbie Cheek, his future wife. When Debbie arrived in Las Vegas, she enrolled at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she finished her degree and started her accounting practice. She ran her business for ten years before opening Art Starts Here, an art school. In the 1990s, Debbie?s passion for art led her to be involved in the creation of First Friday, a local monthly art festival. She also teaches a summer art camp for the Adelson Educational Campus. Drew and Debbie became deeply involved in the many Jewish congregations in Las Vegas. Blossoming first at Temple Beth Sholom where they were married in 1980, Debbie sat on the preschool board and oversaw the temple board, while Drew was the advisor for the youth group. The couple later joined Congregation Ner Tamid where Drew was congregation president from 1999 to 2000 and Debbie was board treasurer in 2001. Debbie includes stories of her conversion to Judaism and keeping kosher. In this interview, Drew and Debbie Levy reflect on changes they see in Las Vegas, from when Drew was a kid to the times they raised their own daughters, Sarah and Jenna, here. Looking at the larger picture of the city, they describe booms in the real estate market and growth in the artistic and cultural aspects of Las Vegas. They provide a perspective of the growth of the local Jewish community.
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Ann-Marja Lander oral history interview
Oral history interview with Ann-Marja Lander conducted by Claytee D. White on August 14, 2023 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Lander tells the history of her family living in Europe, getting visas for the United States in 1953, and migratng to Seattle. The family then moved to Souther California, and Lander worked in a department store in high school and joined B'nai B'rith as she began to feel closer to her Jewish heritage. After college, Lander recalls following family moving to Las Vegas, Nevada and joined the Westside Newcomers Club and worked as a certified financial planner. Lander discusses being a member of the Second Generation organization, which is composed of children of Holocaust survivors.
Archival Collection
Transcript of interview with Steven Eisen by Barbara Tabach, September 14, 2016
Steven Eisen (1966 - ) is the oldest son of Barry and Beverly Eisen, who were part of the migration of Jews from St. Louis to Las Vegas in the 1960s. He is married to Stacy Fisher and the older brother to Andrew and Robert Eisen. They are members of an early group of born-and-raised Las Vegans. Growing up Jewish, he became a bar mitzvah, belonged to B?nai B?rith Youth Organization. In this oral history interview, Steve recalls enjoyable stories of growing up in Las Vegas and humorous anecdotes of mistaken identity since the three brothers bear such strong physical resemblances. Today he finds himself enjoying his career as CEO of the Children?s Heart Center since 2001 and talks about the success and reputation of the pediatric medical group. It was his first job as a fourteen year old helping Theodore Manos and Michael Cherry during the MGM fire litigations where he learned about the legal world and being organized as a path to success in whatever he might pursue. Steve graduated from University of Missouri, attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, and received his business degree from UNLV. Throughout the interview, he recalls the steady and strong involvement of his parents in their sons? educations. He also describes their active connection with the Jewish community and organizations. Steve?s wife Stacy is a professor in physical therapy at Touro University.
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Ron Lurie oral history interview
Oral history interview with Ron Lurie conducted by Barbara Tabach on June 05, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Lurie discusses growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada, attending Las Vegas High School, and working for his father in a grocery store. He also talks about his time in politics, campaigning for office, and changes he made while in office as mayor and in the city council. Lurie then talks about crime, Jewish business leaders, and law enforcement of Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Transcript of interview with Suzie Chenin by Barbara Tabach, September 29, 2015
In this interview, Suzie discusses growing up in Las Vegas, with a strong community of friends, particularly within Temple Beth Sholom. She also talks about her real estate career, both in residential and commercial properties, highlighting some of the successes and challenges. She describes her working relationship with Milton Schwartz, as well her time working with the Greenspuns while selling advertising at the Las Vegas Sun.
Suzie Chenin was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in August of 1949. The next year, her parents, Joseph and Irene Chenin, moved the family to Las Vegas. Her father, a dentist, was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, becoming the first Jewish dentist in the state ? and only the thirtieth overall. After graduating from Las Vegas High School, Suzie attended Arizona State University. However, she quit school and moved to Los Angeles where she got a job with a large real estate developer. This was her first foray into the industry. A few years later, back in Las Vegas, Suzie got her real estate license, eventually starting her own brokerage firm, Chenin and Associates.
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