Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

Join us at our Fall Program on September 22, 2024 at 11am at the Dwares Jewish Community Center where we will discuss The Jews That Built Rhode Island. The program will feature histories and artifacts of Jewish-owned businesses in Rhode Island including American Tourister, Twin Florists, School House Candy, The Outlet Company, Paramount Optical, and Paramount Greeting Cards.

You can register for this event by filling out the registration form here https://form.jotform.com/242394356652159, we hope to see you there!

It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the passing of one of our past board members, Mel Zurier.

Zurier was one of the first of his family to be born in the United States as well as pursue a higher education. He graduated from Henry Barnard School, Classical High School, and Harvard College. He later obtained a commission in the Air Force Reserve allowing him to attend and graduate from Harvard Law School, after which he joined the US Air Force Reserve, later retiring as a Colonel.

Zurier was passionate for his community, serving as the Chairman of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission, and served as President of Temple Beth-El, in addition to supporting local organizations such as the Classical High School Varsity Club, and the Jewish Federation of Rhode Island.

Shiva will be observed on Monday and Tuesday at Laurelmead from 7:00 to 9:00pm.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Classical High School Alumni Association, 11 S. Angell Street #302, Providence, RI 02906.

Bernard Goldowsky was the first Jewish detective in Rhode Island and played a crucial role in the arrests of German spies in Providence during World War I.

Born Beryl "Bernard" Manuel Goldowsky on January 3, 1864, in Alexot, Lithuania, he was the son of Samuel Goldowsky and Eleanor Chiah Libbe. Beryl immigrated to America in 1873 at the age of nine, with his father having paid for their visas through work in the United States. It was during this time that Beryl adopted the American name Bernard.

Before becoming a detective, Bernard briefly worked as a peddler in Texas. During his travels, he met a German Jewish family named Lotary and their daughter Antoinette. Bernard and Antoinette began a long correspondence, which led to his proposal in 1899 after finding little success in Texas. Upon securing a position with the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Boston, Bernard's life became more stable, allowing him to marry Antoinette.

While working with the Pinkertons, Bernard met Patrick “Patsy” Parker, Chief of Detectives of Providence PD. Parker admired Bernard and introduced him to key figures in Providence's jewelry industry. At that time, Providence, known for its high-quality jewelry, was experiencing significant insider thefts of gold, silver, and platinum. Encouraged by Parker and industry leaders, Bernard founded The National Detective Agency, later renamed The Goldowsky Detective Agency, in Providence in 1902, making him the first Jewish detective in Rhode Island.

Bernard's contributions during World War I were only revealed to his son, Seebert, through his father's obituary, which mentioned that Bernard had generously supported government intelligence efforts. Under the alias Mr. Brown, Bernard worked with Special Agent Tom Howick of the Bureau of Investigation (later the FBI) in Providence, suspected of being a center for German spy activity. Bernard played a key role in the arrest of nine Germans involved in exporting gold to Germany and distributing pro-German propaganda, as reported in a Providence Journal article on April 30, 1918.

Hyman L Banks was born in Providence Rhode Island on April 22,1922 to Peter Banks and Bella Gorin, a Jewish couple originally from Russia. Hyman graduated from Classical High School in 1940 where he began working at his fathers shoe store as a salesman. Two years after the United States entered World War II, Hyman was drafted into the army in 1943 and quickly worked his way to the rank of staff sergeant. He was chosen to be sent to officer's training but was sent overseas in July of 1944 beforehand to join the 175th Infantry of the 29th Division.

Before he entered military service, Hyman had learned to read and write Yiddish, which allowed him to write correspondence to his mother who only understood Yiddish. This is seen in one of his last letters that he wrote on October 12, 1944.

In September of 1944, Hyman's Division had been tasked with assisting in the capture of the city of Aachen, Germany. His division was attached to the 30th Infantry Division on October 12th, and were ordered to link up with the 1st Infantry Regiment on Hill 231 to their South.

On October 13, 1944, Hyman's sister, Zelda, recounted in a letter to the RIJHA that her family received a phone call informing them that her older brother was missing in action. This was later followed by a phone call stating that he was killed in action at the age of 22 while leading a mission, and confirmed by a telegram dated October 31st from the Adjutant General.

Peter, Bella, and Zelda sat Shiva that week, and the Jewish War Veterans of the United States designated a plot at Lincoln Park Cemetery as a burial site. Hyman was recovered and returned home five years after his death and was given a proper burial. His little sister Zelda was pregnant at the time of her brother's burial, and her brother's namesake was later born on May 9, 1949.

A photograph of Hyman Banks is featured on page 79 of Jews of Rhode Island 1658-1958 by Geraldine S. Foster, Eleanor F. Horvitz, and Judith Weiss Cohen.

Maurice and Gerald Cohen were born on June 10, 1921 in Providence, Rhode Island. The twins grew up working in their father’s flower shop, Lowell Avenue Greenhouses, at 11 years old. After graduating from high school, they joined their father full-time until 1942 when they were enlisted into the US Army. Maurice, married to Francis Borod in February of 1942, served in the 220th Coastal Artillery Battalion, while Gerald, who later married Julie Malatt, served in the Ninth Army Air Corps’ 355th Fighter Squadron.

After the war, in September of 1951, Maurice and Gerald pursued their childhood passion and opened their own floral shop, The Twins Florists, in Cranston, RI. In a 1994 interview, Maurice expressed he and his brother’s passion for the floral industry saying that “Gerry and I both knew right from the start that we were going into the floral business.” Their floral shop would go on to receive special recognition from the Florists’ Transworld Delivery Association in Rhode Island. They would also receive an award “in recognition of 25 years of continuous and meritorious service as a member of Florists’ Transworld Delivery Association” in 1980. They dedicated themselves to the business until their retirements in 1985 and 1988, respectively.

Alongside their floral endeavors, both brothers were deeply involved in the Jewish community. Gerald served as a lifelong member and officer of Redwood Lodge #35 AF & AM and served on the Grand Lodge, while Maurice was active in the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association, a member of Jewish War Veterans Post #23, Redwood Lodge #35 AF & AM, Touro Fraternal Association, and was a member and former officer of FTD and The RI Floral Association.

Gerald's first wife, Julie, passed away in 1985, leading him to remarry Bernice Karton in 1987. Maurice and Francis had three children, while Gerald and Julie had two. Beyond his professional and community engagements, Maurice had a fondness for collecting stamps, postcards, and spoons.

Gerald unfortunately passed away on April 14, 2011 at the age of 89, as did Maurice, who passed away on April 5, 2015 at the age of 93.

What would you like to know more about? RIJHA's Chaya and Beryl Segal Archive currently houses over 790 linear feet of boxed materials including manuscripts, letters, photographs, artifacts, and much more. Let us know what you want to see! Whether it's an individual, a business, or a temple we will do our best to gather information from the records at our disposal.

Did you know we also take personal research requests? Whether it's your family's genealogy or general research, our staff will comb through our records to help find what you've been searching for! Visit us on our website at https://rijha.org/research/ and you can submit a personal research request.

Due to the weather being worse than expected, we have made the decision to cancel the tour at the Hahn Memorial today. We apologize for the inconvenience.

Don't forget to register for the Hahn Memorial walk this Sunday June 9th, if you haven't done so already!

We are aware that there is a possibility of rain and we will notify everyone via email and through our social media the night prior if the event is canceled.

Come visit us at the Jewish Culture Fest at the Dwares Jewish Community Center today from 11-3 to learn about Jewish Rhode Island, show your support, or for the free candy!

Join us Sunday, June 9th at Roger Williams National Memorial for a tour of the Hahn Memorial, lead by National Park Ranger Andrew Schnetzer. We will begin the tour at 1:30 p.m. in the Visitor Center at 282 North Main St. Providence, RI. Parking is available at their guest parking lot off of US-44 as well as street parking on US-44 and North Main St.

RSVP will be mandatory for this event, so please register on our website at https://rijha.org/events/ or by scanning the qr code on the invitation below.

Come visit us this Sunday at the Jewish Community Center for this years Jewish Culture Festival! We will have a table set up on the second floor from 11-3! Feel free to stop by and ask questions, show your support, or for the free candy!

Thank you to everyone who came to this years Spring Program this past Sunday! As we welcome the beginning of a new chapter lead by our newly appointed president Linda Lotridge Levin, we would like to thank Harold Foster for his astounding leadership these past three years.

We would also like to thank Andrew Shnetzer, Sparkle Bryant, and Eric Breitkreutz from the National Park Service for their insightful presentation on Isaac Hahn, Jerome Hahn, and the Hahn Memorial.

This was a recorded event. If you missed the event and wish to see the recording, please email the office at [email protected] for the link.

Don't forget to register for our Spring Program this Sunday! We will be welcoming on our new president as well as board members and officers followed by a historical lecture lead by National Park Service Ranger on Jerome Hahn and the Hahn Memorial. You can register through the link or qr code on our post below!

We will be hosting our Spring Program on Sunday, May 19th at 11 a.m. in the boardroom of the Dwares JCC.

Rangers from the National Park Service will lead a talk about the Hahn Memorial in the Roger Williams National Memorial. This talk, in recognition of May as Jewish American Heritage Month, will delve into the rich history and significance of the memorial, generously gifted to the city of Providence in 1931 by Judge Gerome Hahn, the first Jewish judge in Rhode Island.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

To register for this event, click here; https://rijha.org/events/ or scan the qr code on the invite below.

We will be hosting our Spring Program on Sunday, May 19th at 11 a.m. in the boardroom of the Dwares JCC.

Rangers from the National Park Service will lead a talk about the Hahn Memorial in the Roger Williams National Memorial. This talk, in recognition of May as Jewish American Heritage Month, will delve into the rich history and significance of the memorial, generously gifted to the city of Providence in 1931 by Judge Gerome Hahn, the first Jewish judge in Rhode Island.
This event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be provided.

To register for this event, click here; https://rijha.org/events/ or scan the qr code on the invite below.

In 1989, Governor Edward Di Prete declared that May 4th was to be a day of recognition for Chaya Segal and Geraldine Foster, who of which we would like to take the time to honor their commitment and dedication to the community.

Chaya Segal taught at Temple Beth-El as a Hebrew Teacher for 35 years and was involved in both the Rhode Island and Israel community. She received commendations for her involvement with the Red Cross and Community Chest, the latter of which she helped organize in South Providence in the 1940s, and served as the Area Chairman. She would collect clothes and household goods for Holocaust refugees coming to Rhode Island, and was involved with several Jewish organizations such as the JFRI, the State of Israel Bonds campaign, and perhaps the closest to her heart was her work with Na'amat, formerly Pioneer Women. Working alongside with Na'amat's sister organization in Israel she showed dedication, even continuing to carry on her work while bedridden for 90 days following a major surgery. According to her daughter Jerry, her motto reflects the passion and dedication she had to the people around her, saying; "To be able to help people is the greatest blessing in life. To be able to teach children is the greatest pleasure."

Geraldine "Jerry" Foster was involved with several Jewish organizations during her lifetime much like her mother. She was chairman of the Board of Jewish Education as well as the President of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association. In addition to her involvement with these organizations, she was also the chairman of the English Department at the Nathan Bishop Middle School, and was also a teacher at Temple Beth El and Emanu-El. The latter of which she taught Yiddish and American Jewish Literature at Emanu-El's Adult Institute. During the event ceremony where she and her mother Chaya were awarded the Community Service Award by the National Council of Jewish Women, Roberta Holland said that "teaching for Jerry is indeed an act of giving, for she leaves a bit of herself with every student whom she touches."

As we go into the weekend we here at RIJHA would like to wish everyone a very Happy Passover to you and your families. May you remember the story of Passover and the meaning of freedom in listening to the Haggadah.
Chag Pesach Sameach!

Thank you to everyone who attended our viewing of The Last Days this past weekend. We are honored to have been joined by Rabbi Michael Cahana, the son of Alice Lok Cahana, on Zoom, who answered questions from the audience and discussed his mother's art, as well as her involvement in activism and Holocaust education.
We would also like to thank the Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center for working alongside us in planning and implementing this event. If you'd like to see some of Alice Lok Cahana's artwork and writings, they can be found on her website that has been linked below.

www.alicelokcahana.com

Happy Purim to everyone this weekend! May this Purim be filled with fun, laughter, and celebration!

Above are photos taken during the 1993 Purim Parade led by Parade Master Jay N. Rosenstein down Sessions Street to Elmgrove Avenue in Providence.

Chag Purim Sameach!

Happy Purim to everyone this weekend! May this Purim be filled with fun, laughter, and celebration!

Below are photos taken during the 1993 Purim Parade led by Parade Master Jay N. Rosenstein down Sessions Street to Elmgrove Avenue in Providence.

Chag Purim Sameach!

Lea Eliash was a teacher born in Lithuania in 1916. She attended the Hebrew Gimnasyon of Marjampol, the Hebrew Teachers Seminary and University, of Kovno, in Lithuania. In 1941 she was married to her husband Solomon and mother of her daughter Asya when the N***s invaded Lithuania.

In June of 1941 the invading N***s had forced Eliash’s parents, sisters, aunts and uncles to the bank of a nearby river, where they were executed. Solomon was sent to the Dachau concentration camp and Lea was forced into a ghetto where she worked in a factory making gloves and vests for the German army. During her time in the ghetto, she heard that the N***s planned to take and execute all Jewish children. Knowing this, Eliash made a deal with a Catholic family to take her daughter Asya, then 18 months old, as their own under the condition that she would be returned to Lea if she survived. Asya was smuggled out of the ghetto in a sack covered in blankets and survived the Holocaust under the care of this family.

Both Lea and Solomon survived the war, and were reunited with Asya in Munich. After the war, Lea taught in a Hebrew Elementary School in Germany. Wishing to emigrate, her family received papers from the Hasbro Toy Company, in 1951. These papers allowed them to relocate to New York. The family then moved to Providence, Rhode Island that same year.

Lea began teaching at Temple Emanu El’s Religious School in 1953, until her retirement in 1998. Before her retirement, Eliash was invited to the spring 1997 graduation of Rhode Island College by, then president, John Nazarian. On that day she received the honorary degree of Doctor of Public Service. This recognition was for her "extraordinary efforts to promote appreciation, respect, and understanding for the diversity among people."

Lea committed the remainder of her life speaking on her story of survival and the horrors of the Holocaust. Her husband Solomon requested she “tell as many people as you can '' about the Holocaust before he passed during the winter of 1978.

She was known as an encouraging, loving, and devoted teacher who was never bitter or angry and wanted nothing but to educate people. She passed away in July of 2006 at the age of 89.

The Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association and The Sandra Bornstein Holocaust Education Center invite you to a free showing of The Last Days a film by James Moll.

This Academy Award winning feature documentary film shares the remarkable stories of five people - a grandmother, a teacher, a businessman, an artist and a U.S. congressman - as they return from the United States to their hometowns and to the ghettos and concentration camps that once imprisoned them.

The screening will be followed by a Q&A with Michael Cahana, the son of one the survivors in the movie and a former associate rabbi at Temple Beth-El, in Providence.

Registration is available at rijha.org/events or through the QR code provided below.

Jerome Hahn was born on Aug. 20, 1868, in Albany, New York. He attended Boston University and the Boston University School of Law, graduating in 1889. He was then admitted to the Massachusetts Bar and, two years later, to the Rhode Island Bar, making him the second Jewish lawyer in Rhode Island. He went on to serve on the Rhode Island Supreme Court from 1931 to 1935.

In 1931, Judge Hahn purchased and donated the land and well that is now called the Roger Williams Spring Park and Hahn Memorial, and is part of the Roger Williams National Memorial, in Providence. Hahn saw the land and the well located on it as a hallowed spot. He donated the land in memory of his father, Isaac, who was the first Jew to be elected to public office in Rhode Island.

The Hahn Memorial is located on the site where Roger Williams and his followers settled after being exiled from the English Colonies in Massachusetts in 1636. In Rhode Island, they established a new form of government where residents would meet at the well located on the site and make orders or agreements by majority vote. This system of government would serve as the foundation for the United States Constitution, according to the National Park Service.

You can visit the Roger Williams Spring Park and the Hahn Memorial at the Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main St., Providence.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Getting Started in Genealogy event hosted by American Ancestors by the New England Historic Genealogical Society last Thursday. We would especially like to thank Rhonda McClure for helping us host such an event and educating everyone present on the best practices of researching our genealogy!

It is with profound sorrow that we share the news of the passing of our esteemed Past President, Geraldine Foster. Jerry served our organization with dedication for many years, leaving an indelible mark on all of us.

In memory of a life beautifully lived and a heart so deeply loved, Geraldine “Jerry” Foster was the president of the Women’s Division of JFRI, president of the Rhode Island Bureau of Jewish Education, president of Dvorah Dayan Club, Na’Amat, and president of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association. She was also a board member for several major Jewish organizations, including Miriam Hospital, JFRI, and the Alperin Schechter School.

The significance of Jewish history in the state of Rhode Island held considerable importance to Jerry. This cannot be represented any better than her once saying, “We have deep roots here, tracing these roots is important in understanding our development as a Jewish community. It is also fascinating to meet along the way the hosts of interesting people who assisted, in their individual ways, to this development.”

The funeral arrangements have been scheduled as follows:

Funeral Service:
Date: Thursday, February 15
Time: 12:00 noon
Location: Temple Beth-El
Address: 70 Orchard Ave., Providence

Burial-Following Funeral Service:
Location: Lincoln Park Cemetery
Address: 1469 Post Rd., Warwick

Shiva:
At the home of Harold Foster
16 Columbus Ave., Barrington

Shiva Schedule:
Thursday, February 15: 7:00-9:00 p.m.
Friday, February 16: 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Saturday, February 17: 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Tonight, RIJHA will be hosting a free Zoom presentation in conjunction with American Ancestors. "Getting Started in Genealogy,” led by professional genealogist and lecturer Rhonda McClure will delve into the best practices for research, basic organizational tools and templates, common records and resources, and more.

The presentation will be held remotely tonight, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. For any last minute registrations click the link below.

https://forms.gle/QZXaSXmCZhfYAssD9

Just a reminder!

RIJHA, in conjunction with American Ancestors, will host a free Zoom presentation on Feb. 8, “Getting Started in Genealogy,” led by professional genealogist and lecturer Rhonda McClure.
McClure will delve into the best practices for research, basic organizational tools and templates, common records and resources, and more.
The presentation will be held remotely on Thursday, Feb. 8, at 7 p.m. and is open to the public. For registration go to https://forms.gle/QZXaSXmCZhfYAssD9

Henry Jacob Matzner, the son of Samuel Matzner and Celia Berger Matzner, was born in Providence on May 31, 1917. He was a general clerk before he was drafted into the Army on June 29, 1942, at the age of 24.

After graduating from basic training, Matzner was assigned to the Supply and Service Detachment in Camp Blanding, Florida. On March 17, 1945, he was deployed to the European Theater of Operations.

Matzner would return home 11 months later, on Feb. 16, 1945. Four days later, on Feb. 20, he was honorably discharged with the rank of sergeant and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Campaign Ribbon, the Victory in Europe Medal and the European African Middle Eastern Theater Campaign Ribbon.
While the circumstances of how he acquired it is unknown, Matzner had acquired a French Star of David Patch, which is now in RIJHA’s archives, along with artifacts he brought home and records that documented his military service.

Matzner returned to Cranston, RI after the war where he spent the remainder of his life with his wife Beth and his son Steven. He began working as an inventory clerk with the U.S. Civil Service at Quonset Point until his retirement in 1973. Shortly afterwards he began working as a courier for the Cranston Public Library until 1983. He was also a member of Overseas Lodge of the Masons and a former member of Temple Torat Yisrael and Warwick Senior Guild before passing away at the age of 95 in 2012.