and

Would like to welcome you to:

"A COMMUNITY REMEMBERS"
An Oral History Arts Project

A Photography Exhibition dedicated to the Jewish Community of Northeast Philadelphia and created by student participants of the 2006 "A Community Remembers Oral History Arts Project."


This exhibit was recently exhibited at:

The Fred Wolf, Jr. Gallery in the JCC Klein Branch
10100 Jamison Road in Philadelphia.

(For more information of displaying the full exhibit, please contact Julianne Theodoropulos)

 

THE HISTORY

In 2004, Theatre Ariel collaborated with Temple Sholom to commemorate the closing of the 56-year-old Northeast synagogue. As teens from the congregation interviewed their elders, they learned about their own community and the impact of world events on their congregation. Drawing from the interviews, a theatrical script was created and presented for Temple Sholom's final Sabbath service. The story of Temple Sholom inspired Theatre Ariel to further explore the greater historical landscape of the Jewish Community of Northeast Philadelphia, and hence was launched: A Community Remembers. To record the story of this evolving Jewish community, Theatre Ariel enlisted students from George Washington High School, Northeast High, and the Jewish Community High School of Gratz College to serve as oral historians and photographers. These students conducted over 50 interviews with Jewish seniors, most of whose portraits appear in this exhibit.


THE EXHIBIT

To honor and thank our oral history subjects, Theatre Ariel has mounted this photography exhibit that we believe captures the spirit of each of the interviewees and their connection to this community. Each senior was invited to pose with either a personal object or a placard that expressed their sentiments and relationship to Northeast Philadelphia.


THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS EXHIBIT WERE TAKEN PREDOMINANTLY BY THE STUDENTS WHO SERVED UNDER THE PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE OF PHOTOGRAPHER JORDAN CASSWAY.


THE PROJECT

From March through the end of May, The Klein Branch of the Jewish Community Centers of Greater Philadelphia served as the home and hub of activity for this Oral History Arts Project. Strewn about the hallways and tucked away in classrooms, high school students representing the multi-cultural mosaic of Northeast Philadelphia descended upon the JCC. With enthusiasm in their backpacks and armed with oral history questionnaires, they interviewed and documented the seniors' stories of immigration, migration, and post-World War II suburbanization. These photographs and copies of the taped interviews will become a permanent part of the archives for the Feinstein Center for American Jewish History and the Urban Archive Center at Temple University. Funding for this project comes from the Pennsylvania Humanities Council and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

THE PHOTOGRAPHS

1Esther Gold
"Esther Gold," March, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
1Betty Sampson
"Betty Sampson," March, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
1Esther Moskow
"Esther Moskow," March, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
1Marvin Danocoff
"Marvin Danocoff," March, 2006
Jackie Gershtein, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
1Dan Yager
"Dan Yager," March, 2006
Jackie Gershtein, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
1Leah Zoll2
"Leah Zoll," March, 2006
Jordan Cassway
2Elaine Gross
"Elaine Gross," March, 2006
Jordan Cassway
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
2Elaine Keyser
"Elaine Keyser," March, 2006
Jordan Cassway
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
2Mary Lakernick
"Mary Lakernick," March, 2006
Jordan Cassway
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
2Beatrice Fedarko
"Beatrice Fedarko," March, 2006
Jordan Cassway
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
3Jeanette Helenan
"Jeanette Helenan," March, 2006
Ritsy George ,11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
3Shirley Dashoff
"Shirley Dashoff," March, 2006
Christina Matthew, 12th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
3Esther Shapiro
"Esther Shapiro," March, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
3Philip Tregob
"Philip Tregob," March, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
3Nettie Lesch
"Nettie Lesch," March, 2006
Ritsy George, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
4Harold Rosenthal2
"Harold Rosenthal," April, 2006
Romie Hecdivert, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
4Bernice Lewis
"Bernice Lewis," April, 2006
Yanlam Li, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
4Anette Soikol
"Annette Spikol," April, 2006
Yanlam Li, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
4Edith Kutcher
"Edith Kutcher," April, 2006
Yanlam Li, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
4Lydia Roth
"Lydia Roth," April, 2006
Yanlam Li, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
5Sidney Melaned
"Sidney Melaned," April, 2006
Daniel Rybalov, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
5Edith Diskan
"Edith Diskan," April, 2006
Daniel Rybalov, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
5Phyllis Tovsky
"Phyllis Tovsky," April, 2006
Daniel Rybalov, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
5Betty Brian
"Betty Brian," April, 2006
Jordan Cassway
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Hannah Waldman
"Hannah Waldman," April, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Ruth Fleishman
"Ruth Fleishman," April, 2006
Ansu Jacob, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Paul Kreithen
"Paul Kreithen," April, 2006
Emy Oommen, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Linda Hershman
"Linda Hershman," April, 2006
Rose Philip, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Selma Wohl
"Selma Wohl," April, 2006
Ansu Jacob, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Ruth Gruberg
"Ruth Gruberg," April, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
7Jack Belitsky
"Jack Belitsky," April, 2006
Ritsy George, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"

8Dorothy Calder
"Dorothy Calder," May, 2006
Staci Myer-Klein, 12th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"

8Sarah Moskowitz
"Sarah Moskowitz," May, 2006
Jordan Cassway
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
8Harriet Feldman
"Harriet Feldman," May, 2006
Samantha Greenberg, 11th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
8Anna Kalen
"Anna Kallen," May, 2006
Staci Myer-Klein, 12th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
8Ruth Fruman
"Ruth Fruman," May, 2006
Staci Myer-Klein, 12th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
9Susan Leiber
"Susan Leiber," May, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
9Mr. Mrs. Schultz
"Alan & Helen Schultz,"
May, 2006
Rose Philip, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
9Esther Burden
"Esther Burden," May, 2006
Jackie Gershtein, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
9Suzanne Udell
"Suzanne Udell," May, 2006
Jackie Gershtein, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
9Lillian Rosen
"Lillian Rosen," May, 2006
Rose Philip, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
10Ed Berman
"Ed Berman," May, 2006
Staci Myer-Klein, 12th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
10Mr. Mras. Zinman
"Raymond & Ann Zibman,"
May, 2006
Tieraney Simmons, 11th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
10Elaine Hartman joan Keiser
"Elaine Hartman & Joan Keyser," May, 2006
Staci Myer-Klein, 12th Grade
Northeast High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
10Carol Lapinsky
"Carol Lapinsky," May, 2006
Alina Tovstik, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"
10Harold Grossman
"Harold Grossman," May, 2006
Jackie Gershtein, 11th Grade
George Washington High School
Silver Print, 11" X 14"

 

The following people participated in the
2006 A Community Remembers Oral Arts History Project


SENIORS

Jack Belitsky, Edward Berman, Betty Brian, Esther Burden, Dorothy Calder, Rosalie Cohen, Marvin Donocoff, Shirley Dashoff, Edith Diskan, Beatrice Fedarko, Harriet C. Feldman, Ruth Fleishman, Ruth Fruman, Esther Gold, Elaine Gross, Harold Grossman, Ruth Gruberg, Elaine Hartman, Jeanette Helenan, Linda Hershman, Myrna Izenberg, Anna Kalen, Joan Keyser, Elaine Keyser, Paul Kreithen, Edith L. Kutcher, Mary Lakernick, Carol Lapinsky, Susan Leiber, Nettie Lesch, Bernice Lewis, Marion Lomonosoff, Leonard & Mildred Lurie, Sidney Melaned, Esther Moskow, Sarah Moskowitz, Shirley Packel, Sarah Perrone, Linda Platt, Lillian Rosen, Harold Rosenthal, Lydia Roth, Betty Samson, Alan & Helen Schultz, Esther Shapiro, Annette Spikol, Phyllis Tovsky, Philip Tregob, Suzanne Udell, Hannah Waldman, Selma Wohl, Dan Yager, Raymond & Anne Zibman, Leah Zoll


PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ritsy George, Jacklyn Gershtein, Samantha Greenberg, Romie Hecdivert, Ansu Jacob, Yanlam Li,
Christina Mathew, Staci Myer-Klein, Emy Oommen, Rose Philip, Daniel Rybalov,
Tieraney Simmons, Alina Tovstik
Supervising Photographer: Jordan Cassway


INTERVIEWERS
George Washington High School
: Geoffrey Allen, Ritsy George, Jacklyn Gershtein, Romie Hecdivert,
Ansu Jacob, Yanlam Li, Justin Lipsitz, Ashley Liss, Christina Mathew, Emy Oommen, Anna Phan, Rose Philip, Tyrone Roberts, Jr., Daniel Rybalov, Marva St. Eustache, Linsa Sunny, Josh Tankel,
Alina Tovstik, Richard Yannella, Roxanne Zhilo
Supervising Faculty: Randee Hurvitz, Barbara Seigel
Northeast High School: Nyina Butler, Samantha Greenberg, Areej Hassan, Staci Myer-Klein, Sharvae Scott,
Tieraney Simmons, Jennifer Varan
Supervising Faculty: Lynn Dixon, Franco Fiorini
Jewish Community High School of Gratz College: Joshua Bowman, Philip Glass, Marlena Lurie, Jonathan Perrone
Supervising Faculty: Debbie Simons


PROJECT STAFF
A Community Remembers Project Coordinator: Julianne Theodoropulos
A Community Remembers Photographer: Jordan Cassway
Theatre Ariel Artistic Director: Deborah Baer Mozes
Consulting Archivists: Margaret Jerrido, Urban Archives of Temple University
Nancy Isserman, Feinstein Center for Jewish American Life
JCC KLEIN Branch: Barbara Shotz, Phyllis Actman, Suzanne Udell


FUNDERS
Pennsylvania Humanities Council
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission

We thank the citizens of Northeast Philadelphia and invite you to join us for the theatrical production of:
A COMMUNITY REMEMBERS, April 26-29, 2007
in the Klein Branch Theater at the JCC Klein Branch, 10100 Jamison Road.

Now celebrating its 15th year, Theatre Ariel is Pennsylvania's oldest professional Jewish theater company continuing to illuminate the social, cultural and spiritual heritage of the Jewish people while building bridges between people of all cultures.