Oral history interview with Michael A. Cherry conducted by Barbara Tabach on September 19, 2014 for the Southern Nevada Jewish Heritage Project. In this interview, Justice Michael Cherry talks about how he came to Las Vegas, Nevada and his work as a public defender and as a lawyer in private practice. He also discusses his involvement with Jewish organizations in various capacities, and his involvement with high-profile cases such as the MGM Grand and Las Vegas Hilton fires, earning him the nickname "master of disaster."
The Jewish Genealogy Society of Southern Nevada (JGSSN), established in 1989, is a chapter of the International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) and “is dedicated to researching and preserving Jewish family history in the United States and throughout the world.” In its early days, JGSSN met in the library in Temple Beth Sholom, but by the late 1990s, it became inactive. In 1998 Carole Montello reorganized and revitalized the Society. It offers free monthly classes, compiles resources on its website, and connects members who help each other research family history.
Allen Brewster (1921-2009) was the founder of King David Mortuary in Las Vegas, Nevada. Born in Yonkers, New York, Brewster grew up during the Great Depression and served in the U.S. Army during World War II. An executive at Palm Mortuary since 1978, he recognized the need for traditional Jewish burial services and helped to develop Las Vegas' first Jewish burial garden. Brewster founded King David Mortuary in 2001 and also helped create the Chesed Indigent Burial Fund, which assists families who cannot otherwise afford Jewish burial services.
Wilma (Frank) Bass (1939- ) is a retired Las Vegas, Nevada jewelry salesperson. Born and raised in New York, New York, Bass graduated from high school around 1958. She married Burt Bass in 1960 and the family moved to Las Vegas in the 1974.