Oral history interview with Lovee duBoef Arum conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 01, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Arum discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada with her first husband, raising her children within the local Jewish community, and her various philanthropic activities in Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with David and Iris Torjman conducted by Barbara Tabach on November 12, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Iris discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada from the Bronx in New York and meeting her husband. David discusses being a Jewish educator for Temple Beth Sholom. David also talks about working as a card dealer and investing in land.
Oral history interview with Joni, Sarah, and Max Fried conducted by Barbara Tabach on March 04, 2016 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Joni Fried, her daughter Sarah Fried, and nephew Max Jacobson-Fried share stories of working in the family business, Freed’s Bakery, started by Joni's parents Milton and Esther Fried. They also discuss how computer technologies and social media marketing impacted their early business.
Las Vegas has been home to Irene Fisher (1940 - ) since the early 1970s. It felt like home as she connected with the Jewish community, including a dear friendship with Roberta ‘Bobbie’ Gang, who sits with her during this interview. During their oral history conversation, the seemingly common concerns of any mother are touched upon. In their case they were young Jewish women looking out for the well-being of their children. They cover a range of topics, from b’nai mitzvahs to Hanukkah to shopping in those years of raising children, being active in the community, and maintaining career paths. Irene begins by describing her ancestral background that includes parents who emigrated from Poland to New York. In New York she met and married a young doctor who she followed to Nellis Air Force Base. Irene was a recent graduate of Brooklyn Law School. In Las Vegas, though Irene did not practice law here, she immersed herself into civic contributions. Chief among those was with the Clark County
The documentation of the Holocaust of World War II reveals the desperation of Jewish families to protect their loved ones from doom. In this oral history, Sonja (neé Niekerk) Walter recalls the story of being an infant handed off to a family friend for safety and nurturing. Next to Sonja is Wilma, her “sister” and the biological daughter of that friend. Sonja and Wilma are tethered together by history and love for Cor Vandenberg, mother and protector. Sonja was born in 1943 Holland to Simon and Rose Niekerk. At thirteen days of age she was given sanctuary by Cor, who raise her as her own for the next two and half years. She and Wilma reminisce about the circumstances that brought them together, their love of Cor, and the impact of being a child survivor of the Holocaust. Sonja also shares her family’s journey to the United States and to Las Vegas.
Oral history interview with Karin Sporn conducted by Claytee D. White on May 25, 2023 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Karin Sporn grew up in Germany when her father was a member of Hitler's army. As a young woman, she converted to Judaism, and she shares how it was a difficult path. Much of her study and sacred rituals were done in Israel, and she shares that many signs along the way gave her encouragement, and she learned from others around her in Israel who shared their stories with Sporn. Eventually, her travel business brought her to Las Vegas, Nevada. After selling her and her husband's business, Sporn discusses how she was then free to volunteer for Jewish and civic organizations, and the leisure to sculp and to write her memoir, Just Peek Over the Fence.
Oral history interview with Sonja Saltman conducted by Barbara Tabach on August 18, 2015 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. Saltman describes being born and raised in the Lower Austrian town of Pottschach, post-World War II as an only child. She talks about her father who was in the German Air Force, and her grandfather who served during World War I and was forced to register as a Nazi. She then recalls her first impression of Las Vegas, Nevada. Saltman explains how she, a non-Jew married to a Jew, became involved in the Jewish community. She then reminisces about visiting Las Vegas and her dislike for the Strip but her enjoyment of the adventure.
Oral history interview with Dorothy Eisenberg conducted by Barbara Tabach on October 23, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Eisenberg discusses her childhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the Great Depression, her religious upbringing, and attending Hebrew school. She talks about her early passion for civic involvement, attending Temple University, and moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1964. Eisenberg then discusses Temple Beth Sholom Las Vegas, receiving a teaching certificate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and her involvement with the League of Women Voters. Lastly, Eisenberg recalls her participation with school desegregation, her involvement with the Public Education Foundation, and having a school named in her honor.
Oral history interview with Suzanne Dalitz conducted by David Schwartz on December 17, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Suzanne Dalitz discusses growing up with her father, Morris Dalitz, and how she maintained their relationship by visiting him in Las Vegas, Nevada after her parents separated. Dalitz mentions that her father kept his family completely separate from his life in organized crime. She discusses her establishment of the Angelica Foundation as well as her involvement with the Mob Museum to curate a story of Morris Dalitz and his history with Las Vegas. Dalitz finishes the interview with a discussion of her relationship with her father and her general experience living in Las Vegas.