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Bernie and Barbara Kaufman oral history interview
Oral history interview with Bernard and Barbara Kaufman conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 27, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, the Kaufmans reflect upon their upbringing in St. Louis, Missouri, where they met and married, and making the decision to move to Las Vegas, Nevada. They discuss the experience of running their stores and the impact on business as the retail environment changed over the years. The Kaufmans also talk about their involvement with the Jewish community, including B’nai B’rith and Sisterhood, and how it has grown over the years. They also discuss the impact of the Jewish community members in gaming as well as other sectors, and the increase of congregations over the decades.
Archival Collection
Transcript of interview with Dorothy Eisenberg by Barbara Tabach, October 23, 2014
Interview with Dorothy Eisenberg by Barbara Tabach on October 23, 2014. In this interview, Eisenberg discusses her upbringing on the east coast and becoming a widow with four children. She met her second husband at a synagogue, and they moved to Las Vegas for a fresh start. Eisenberg became involved with Temple Beth Sholom, and the Las Vegas League of Women Voters. She has a school named after her in the Clark County School District.
Dorothy Eisenberg is a first generation American, with roots in Ukraine and Central Europe, and grew up in Philadelphia. Judaism was a significant part of Dorothy's life from the beginning, and both her and her brother spent many of their afternoons at Hebrew school and most weekends at Shabbat services as adolescents. Eisenberg moved to Las Vegas with her children and second husband in 1964. She became an influential member of the community and served as the Jewish Federation of Las Vegas's first female president. She was also actively involved in the League of Women Voters of Las Vegas Valley, including leading the organization's advocacy for school desegregation and serving as its president for two years.
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Willis, Shawn, 1972-
Shawn Willis grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan and a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2004. Since moving she converted to judaism. She held the position of Director of the Jewish National Fund of Las Vegas from 2015 to 2017. She also has been a member of UNLV Foundation’s President’s Associates Council.
Person
Willis, Shawn, 1972-
Shawn Willis grew up outside of Detroit, Michigan and a graduate of University of Detroit Mercy. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 2004. Since moving she converted to judaism. She held the position of Director of the Jewish National Fund of Las Vegas from 2015 to 2017. She also has been a member of UNLV Foundation’s President’s Associates Council.
Person
Shaw, Gilbert, 1928-
Gilbert Shaw, better known as Gil, is an original member of Congregation Ner Tamid, a Reform synagogue in Las Vegas, Nevada. Shaw was raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Los Angeles, California. At the age of 17 he enlisted in the US Navy and became a combat correspondent and was trained as a journalist and photographer. In 1973 Shaw and his family moved to Los Vegas, Nevada where he took on a sales position and eventually became a regional manager for Familian Pipe and Supply Company.
Person
Transcript of interview with Deanne Alterwitz-Stralser by Barbara Tabach, November 1, 2014
Interview with Deanne Alterwitz-Stralser with contributions from her son Daryl Alterwitz on November 1, 2014. In this interview Deanne talks about her Jewish upbringing near the Illinois-Indiana state line, meeting her first husband Oscar, with whom she had four children, and the difficulties with keeping kosher. The family moved to Las Vegas from Gary, Indiana for opportunities in the furniture business. Daryl weighs in on his father's personality, business decisions, and their move to Las Vegas. They discuss the location of the store the Alterwitz's bought (Walker Furniture) and purchasing the building from Jackie Gaughan, and the different tastes in furniture in Las Vegas. Then they talk about the Jewish community and the division between the east and west sides.
On New Year's Day, 1931, Deanne Alterwitz-Stralser was born Deanne Friedman in Hammond, Indiana, the daughter of an insurance salesman and a stay-at-home mom. Deanne spent her childhood in Calumet City, just across the state line in Illinois, and was raised with a strong Jewish identity. At the age of sixteen, she met her first husband, Oscar Alterwitz, at an Alpha Zadik Alpha (AZA) dance in Gary, Indiana, and the two were married in 1950. Deanne and Oscar settled in Gary, where they had four children?Aimee, Larry, Daryl and Linda?and took over the Alterwitz family furniture business. Eventually, the couple grew the business to three successful retail furniture stores. However, a decline in the city's safety and opportunities forced the Alterwitz's to consider relocating, and in 1973, after a family vote, Deanne and Oscar moved their family to Las Vegas. Upon arrival, Deanne and Oscar bought Walker Furniture from original owners, George and Ruth Walker. Deanne used her artistic eye and training from the Art Institute of Chicago to lead the design and merchandising elements of the business. Socially, Deanne integrated into the local Jewish community, and ensured her children participated in Jewish life as well. Deanne and Oscar's children still remained involved in Walker Furniture operations, including Daryl, who serves as the company's general counsel; Larry, who is the company's president; and a daughter who now oversees the store's design and merchandising.
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Adat Ari El (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Congregation Adat Ari El was a Jewish Reform congregation in Las Vegas, Nevada founded by former members of Temple Beth Am in 1992. The congregation started out with about 15 families that held services in a donated storefront every two weeks, led by a rabbi who traveled from California. In 2007, Adat Ariel merged with Temple Beth Am to form Temple Sinai.
Corporate Body
Jewish Community of Southern Nevada Summary Report of 2005, published 2007
This study was conducted in 2005 to better understand the Jewish community in Southern Nevada. The themes of the study include population growth, population geographic shift and dispersal, Jewish youth, Jewish identity, increasing synagogue membership and general participation in Jewish causes.
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George Smith oral history interview
Oral history interview with George Smith conducted by Dennis McBride on June 28, 2002 for the Las Vegas Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Archives Oral History Project. In this interview, Smith discusses his life as a priest of the Christian Orthodox church and a gay man. He describes his experiences living in an Orthodox monastery, his interactions with the gay community of Las Vegas, Nevada since the 1960s, and other gay priests Smith has known. Smith also details bringing in speakers for talks with his gay congregation to provide information on topics including sexually transmitted diseases and careers. He concludes by discussing his involvement with gay student groups at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
Archival Collection