Melanie Greenberg was born June 24, 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri. She came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976 with her daughter Sari and husband Gene Greenberg. She is an active member of Temple Beth Sholom, the Jewish Federation’s Young Leadership and Women’s programs, organizer of Hebrew High, coordinator of L’Dor V’Dor activities for seniors, and served as Executive Director of Hillel from 1996 – 2003.
Jacqueline “Jaki” Baskow was born in 1951 and grew up Jewish in Camden, New Jersey where her father was a murder victim; her tenacious effort to find the perpetrator included the help of celebrity detective Joe Schillaci. She has worked with a colorful array of A-list entertainers and events in her successful business, Baskow and Associates. She came to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1976. For over forty years she has worked in celebrity talents brokering, planning events, and in production services.
Mike Gordon speaks about their liquor stores and lists his occupation as a bartender. Among the civic organizations that he participated in were: Young Democrats, Eagles Lodge, Lions Club, past president of Temple Beth Sholom and B'nai B'rith Lodge. Together Mike and Sallie recall the growth and changes of the valley they have witnessed between the early 1930s and mid-1970s. Among his anecdotes is one about the carrying of payroll checks to Boulder Dam to avoid "interference" (robberies).
Mike and Sallie were among the very first people of Jewish ancestry to make their way to Las Vegas. They arrived January 26, 1932 to join relatives of Sallie?s who had moved to Las Vegas when the Boulder Dam construction began. They had married in 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Soon they were involved members of a small but growing group of Jewish pioneers and helped found Temple Beth Sholom, the community?s first synagogue. Mike speaks about their liquor stores and lists his occupation as a bartender. Among the civic organizations that he participated in were: Young Democrats, Eagles Lodge, Lions Club, past president of Temple Beth Sholom and B?nai B?rith Lodge. Together Mike and Sallie recall the growth and changes of the valley they have witnessed between the early 1930s and mid-1970s. Among his anecdotes is one about the carrying of payroll checks to Boulder Dam to avoid ?interference? (robberies).
Iris Torjman was born June 22, 1947 in the Bronx of New York. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1966 to live with relatives as a young woman. She met her husband, David, in Las Vegas when they actually lived within blocks of each other in New York. Torjman worked for the Clark County School District as a health aide. She and her husband have been successful in investing in local property and enjoying their retirement.
Harry Wallerstein (?-1971) was a Las Vegas, Nevada businessman who owned Tinch Furniture on South Main Street with Max Goot. Wallerstein served as president of Temple Beth Sholom from 1963 to 1964 and helped come up with the idea of holding a gin rummy tournament sponsored by local casinos to raise money for the temple.
"Former leader of LV Jewish community Wallerstein dies." Las Vegas Sun. July 2, 2003. Accessed July 25, 2016.
Sharon Maurer-Schwartz was born May 15, 1939 in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was raised in a Jewish household, yet she has belonged to various types of synagogues. She met her partner, Edna Rice in the 1980s, but were not able to legally marry each other until 2008 in California. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1999 to raise Maurer-Schwartz’s daughter Julie. She dedicated her life to being a life coach and owning her own business, Growth Unlimited.
Irene Fisher was born in New York, New York; October 14, 1940. Fisher moved to Nevada in 1971 following her husband Barry Fisher, who was stationed at Nellis Air Force Base. It was the early 1970s and as a young mother she found the best path to being a part of the community was to connect with the Jewish community. She joined Temple Beth Sholom, was active in Sisterhood and served on the Clark County Public Library Board (1975-1983.) Her children are Stacey Fisher and Scott Fisher.