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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
Ruth Urban photographs and program, 1940s-2015
Group of photographs of Lee Pearson, Bella Tyktin Stern, and Ruth Urban. This collection includes the program from Ruth Urban's 1964 Confirmation services at Temple Beth Sholom.
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Miriam "Mimi" Katz Papers
The Miriam "Mimi" Katz Papers are mainly comprised of materials documenting Katz's involvement with community organizations in Las Vegas, Nevada from the 1940s to 2015 (the bulk of the materials date from 2002 to 2014). A large portion of the collection consists of planning documents, correspondence, event programs, newsletters, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, photographs, and other records related to Katz's involvement in the Brandeis National Committee Las Vegas Chapter and the Temple Beth Sholom Women's League. The collection also includes similar types of materials that document Katz's work with other community groups such as the Jewish Community Center of Southern Nevada and the League of Women Voters, and her work on the political campaigns of Democratic state and federal politicians.
Archival Collection
Transcript of interview with Rabbi Mendy Harlig by Barbara Tabach, October 18, 2017
Known throughout the Las Vegas community as Rabbi Mendy, Mendy Harlig is a leader of the Chabad in Las Vegas, which was introduced to the valley in 1990 by his brother Rabbi Shea Harlig. Since his youth spent growing up in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, where he was surrounded by Hasidic Jews, Rabbi Mendy seemed destined to become a Chabad rabbi. During the early 1990s he often visited Las Vegas and assisted his brother at the Chabad of Southern Nevada. Then in 1997 he met and married Chaya Harlig and the couple permanently relocated to the valley to be the spiritual leaders of the Chabad of Green Valley. As their family grew, so did their importance to the Chabad movement in Las Vegas. During this interview, Rabbi Mendy touches upon the nature of Chabad teachings and observance in the so-called “Sin City” persona of Las Vegas. He also shares about his participation in the Las Vegas Metro Chaplaincy program. He particularly reflective of his active role immediately after of the horror of the October 1 mass casualty at the Route 91 country music festival and his perspectives afterwards.
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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
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
Photograph of Architect Jon Sparer, Henderson (Nev.), December 01, 2016
Longtime Las Vegas architect Jon Sparer poses in the Sanctuary at Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson. Sparer designed Ner Tamid's current location on the Greenspun Campus for Jewish Life, Learning, and Spiritual Renewal at 55 N. Valle Verde Drive.
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Photograph of Architect Jon Sparer, Henderson (Nev.), December 01, 2016
Longtime Las Vegas architect Jon Sparer poses in the Sanctuary at Congregation Ner Tamid in Henderson. Sparer designed Ner Tamid's current location on the Greenspun Campus for Jewish Life, Learning, and Spiritual Renewal at 55 N. Valle Verde Drive.
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