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Sanford Akselrad oral history interview

Identifier
OH-02174
Abstract

Oral history interview with Rabbi Sanford Akselrad conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 29, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview Rabbi Akselrad describes his rabbinical training, coming to Las Vegas, Nevada, becoming the rabbi at Congregation Ner Tamid in 1988, and the growth of the congregation.

Archival Collection

Doug Unger oral history interview

Identifier
OH-02153
Abstract

Oral history interview with Doug Unger conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 26, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Unger discusses his upbringing in Cleveland, Ohio, working at a family-owned mattress factory, and attending boarding school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He recalls joining Jewish youth groups in Cleveland, his employment with Sealy Corporation, and buying his own mattress factory in Las Vegas, Nevada. Unger then talks about being invited to a Jewish Federation meeting, attending Temple Beth Sholom and Congregation Ner Tamid, and becoming more involved with the Jewish Federation (currently known as Jewish Nevada). Lastly, Unger discusses being co-chair of the Holocaust Library committee, fundraising for the Jewish Federation, and obtaining funding from Governor Brian Sandoval for the Jewish Federation.

Archival Collection

Temple Sinai (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Corporate Body Alternate Name
Temple Beth Am (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Adat Ari El (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Temple Sinai is a Jewish Reform congregation in Las Vegas, Nevada. It was founded in 2007 when Temple Beth Am and Congregation Adat Ari El merged. Temple Sinai has over 300 member families and its sub-groups include a Sisterhood, Men’s Club, Chavurah, Youth Group, and committees. Kenneth Segel was the first rabbi of Temple Sinai and was succeeded by Rabbi Malcolm Cohen in 2009.

Corporate Body

Audio clip from interview with Rabbi Malcolm Cohen, December 16, 2015

Date
2015-12-16
Description

In this audio clip, Rabbi Cohen discusses how he came to Las Vegas from London, and increasing the Temple Sinai membership to over 300 families.

Sound

Transcript of interview with Jon Sparer by Barbara Tabach, March 4, 2015

Date
2015-03-04
Description

In this interview, Jon Sparer discusses his involvement as the architect of Congregation Ner Tamid's synagogue in Green Valley. He explains details of the building including the concrete tilt-up form, glass windows and the incorporation of quotes throughout the building. Sparer also discusses his involvement with the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada (The Center) as a board member.

According to architect Jon Sparer, when he moved to Las Vegas in the early 1980s, the art of the deal was still based on a "handshake." It was just after the infamous MGM fire and Jon went to work for Rissman and Rissman. He later worked for Marnell Corrao Associates until 2001, and then as a principal in his own firm. He is now retired. While honing his design skills with the exciting transformation of the Strip into a world-class destination, Jon also became an active contributor to the Las Vegas community. Among his most notable experiences was being on the search committee for a new location for the fast growing Congregation Ner Tamid and then the architectural design for the synagogue's location in Henderson. It was a unique experience and Jon tells how he approached each aspect of the religious facility and how it would provide a memorable setting for life experiences. Jon has been involved with Jewish Family Services and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). In addition, Jon along with his husband John Klai have been instrumental in the LGBTQ community and the opening of the Gay and Lesbian Community Center of Southern Nevada [The Center]. In this interview, he also talks about the significance of The Center/ and its success in working with the Clark County Health District, as well as providing a user-friendly experience for all who visit The Center and the Bronze Cafe located there.

Text

Transcript of interview with Hershel Brooks by Barbara Tabach, December 8, 2016

Date
2016-12-08
Description

Hershel Brooks was born December 3, 1930 in Brooklyn, New York. He was raised in an orthodox Jewish household, along with his four siblings, and attended Jewish community schools before pursuing his rabbinical studies. He studied at TelsheYeshiva in Cleveland, Torah Vodaath in New York, and Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Before assuming his first rabbinical position, Brooks married his wife, Alma, and graduated with his BA from the University of Miami. He was first hired by a conservative congregation in Miami, and subsequently led congregations in Savannah, Georgia, Greensboro, North Carolina and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Eventually, he joined a temple in Anaheim, California, where he served for twenty years. In 1996, Brooks retired to Las Vegas. He was soon asked to lead services at Temple Bet Knesset Bamidbar [BKB] twice a month as its rabbi. He still is active at BKB, though he retired in 2011. In this interview, Brooks reflects on his family background and the path that lead to his becoming a rabbi in the Conservative Jewish Movement. He talks about his career, including his involvement with BKB as well as other Jewish community service, including facilitating adult bar mitzvah classes and serving on the local Rabbinical court of Judaism, known as Bet Din.

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Transcript of interview with Andrew and Debbie Levy by Barbara Tabach, September 12, 2016

Date
2016-09-12
Description

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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Transcript of interview with Rabbi Malcolm Cohen by Barbara Tabach, December 16, 2015

Date
2015-12-16
Description

In this interview, Rabbi Malcolm Cohen speaks about observed differences between British and American Jewish communities as well as new Temple Sinai initiatives to build community and engage younger congregants. Rabbi Cohen and his wife have two children, Elijah and Rachel.

Rabbi Malcolm Cohen was born on October 7, 1973 in London, England. He describes having the typical Reform Jewish upbringing of a second generation Londoner. His mother worked as an office assistant, and his father ran a bookshop and also prepared youth for their bar and bat mitzvahs. It was his father?s dedication to Jewish education and service that greatly influenced his career path. After earning a degree in psychology from Southampton University, Rabbi Cohen went on to get a professional qualification in youth and community work. He subsequently became the British Reform movement?s first outreach officer, leading the efforts to engage 20- and 30-year-olds to Judaism. At his wife, Sarah?s, encouragement, Rabbi Cohen enrolled in Leo Baeck College to become a rabbi. Upon finishing his studies in 2006, he got a job at West London Synagogue, a large Reform congregation, where he worked with a team of rabbis. In 2009, Rabbi Cohen took the position as Temple Sinai?s rabbi, where he has served ever since. In this interview, he speaks about observed differences between British and American Jewish communities as well as new Temple Sinai initiatives to build community and engage younger congregants. Rabbi Cohen and his wife have two children, Elijah and Rachel.

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