Mack, Nate, 1891-1965

Nathan "Nate" Mack (1891-1965) was one of the pioneers of the Las Vegas, Nevada Jewish community. Born January 27, 1891 in Mielec, Poland, he owned a supermarket in Los Angeles, California before moving to Las Vegas in 1929 and opening a haberdashery. At various times in his career, Mack sold tires and batteries, ran a towing service and wrecking yard, sold produce, and owned a clothing store, a liquor store, and a Fremont Street bar. He invested in jukeboxes and slot machines, which he placed in bars in Central and Southern Nevada. He also invested in land and casinos, with partners such as Moe Sedway, Sanford Adler, Gus Greenbaum, Charlie Resnick, and Art Rosen. In 1950, Mack loaned Hank Greenspun $1,000 that helped establish the Las Vegas Sun newspaper. In 1954 Nate Mack and his son Jerome D. Mack founded the Bank of Las Vegas, an institution that became successful loaning money to casinos at a time when other banks would not.

Beginning in 1931, Nate Mack and his wife, Jenny (Solomon) Mack, gathered with other local Jewish families to pray and to teach their children the Torah. This group, which called itself the "Sons and Daughters of Israel," evolved into the first Jewish congregation in Southern Nevada, now known as Temple Beth Sholom. From 1945 to 1949 Mack was the second president of the organization. He was also the driving force behind the construction of its first synagogue, the Jewish Community Center, and for many years served as the state chairman of the United Jewish Appeal.