About The Project

1) Akron’s Jewish community
The genesis of the Jewish community in Akron dates back to 1850 and the founding of the Reform temple, Temple Israel. A rich history of the immigration of Jewish settlers and their descendents has left a wonderful legacy for the present-day community. In the interests of preservation of this legacy, the project, Living Memories: Jewish Akron 1850-present, was inaugurated in 2001. A timeline of the history of Jewish Akron can be found on the Links page or by going directly to www.jewishakron.org.

2) Genesis of project at JCBA
The Living Memories project began as a conversation between Michael Wise, CEO of the Jewish Community Board of Akron and Anna Rubin, composer and academic, who was born in Akron. Though she moved away at an early age, she retained ties to Akron because of family and friends in the area. While she was a professor at Oberlin College, she approached Mr. Wise, about putting together a documentary project about the Akron Jewish community. (Two other concurrent projects motivated by similar sentiments include Temple Israel of Akron’s video about their 150 year-old history and the Jewish Family Service’s call for stories from clients.) Mr. Wise had been increasingly frustrated by the lack of formal archival facilities at the Jewish Center site as mementos and documents accumulated haphazardly there, or remained in private hands out of public view. He felt it was the right time for the JCBA to sponsor such a documentary project; in the spring of 2001 it was decided to create a CD-ROM of video clips, scanned photos and audio interviews of Jewish elders.

3) Connecting with the Akron-Summit County Public Library (ASCPL)
Dr. Rubin next approached the Akron-Summit County Public Library (ASCPL) to see if there was any interest in their involvement. To her delight, she found much interest in the project. Rick Ewing, manager of the library’s main branch and Judy James, director of Special Collections that the library could serve as an archival site for any library – appropriate materials such as documents, photos, and film. ASCPL also agreed to scan appropriate materials that owners wished to have included in the project but retain for their personal collections. Ms. James also agreed to share many materials on conducting oral interviews, based on her extensive experience in such projects in various Akron neighborhoods. These materials are included in this site.
Through the Akron Art Museum, Dr. Rubin came in contact with Professor Neil Sapienza, Professor of Art at the University of Akron, and an accomplished photographer and video artist. He was enthusiastic about the project and agreed to handle the visual aspect of the project. Toby Siegel, teaching a class at the Jewish Community High School, an after-school program for Jewish high school students, in the spring of 2002, agreed to work with Dr. Rubin in presenting materials about Jewish immigration to their high school students and introduce them to the process of oral interviewing. Esther Hexter of the Jewish Community Resource Center was helpful in suggesting background materials and important people to include in the project. Judy James presented her materials on oral interviewing in two sessions for the students; Neil Sapienza discussed the process of making videos and Anna Rubin discussed the background of Jewish immigration to the U.S. in general, and Akron, in particular. Students had the experience at the class’s conclusion of conducting sample interviews with two Akronites during the class.

4) Funding
The first concrete financial support came from the Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund (JWEF) and the Jewish Identity Development Fund (JIDF). These two groups both operate under the umbrella of the Jewish Community Board of Akron. Then a successful grant application was made to the GAR Foundation. It was decided to include an art component to the project. A grant was proposed to the Ohio Arts Council to fund a musical presentation. Anna Rubin is composing a choral work based on Jewish texts about honoring parents and elders to be presented at Beth El Synagogue with the Beth El choir in the fall of 2003 as well as incidental music for the website.

5) Interviewing
Video interviews of nineteen Akronites were made during the winter of 2003. Some were in small groups of three and four while others were individual interviews. Audio interviews were also made with an additional four individuals. The process of finding people to interview was a word-of-mouth process. Several were suggested by Marilyn Merman, a long-time resident, who contacted and scheduled interviewees for video sessions. Dianne Newman arranged several others.

6) Shifting of project goals
It is not uncommon that once having started a project of this scope, that changes suggest themselves. After it was seen how much video material was collected, it was decided that a better format for the material would be a website where the digitized interviews – both video and audio – could be accessed along with other support material, appropriate internet links, and background materials such as this essay. It was also wonderful to happen upon a medium that could allow for continuousl updating. We anticipate many more video and audio interviews to be added over the coming years by project leaders and community participants. The community now has a vehicle to both foster and maintain its history and share it with as wide a public as possible.

7) Historical Photographs
Historical photographs of Akron are also a part of the website. An extraordinary photograph taken in 1919 is the gem of the collection. This photo, of excellent quality, documents a demonstration in Akron of 2500 men, women and children, protesting a Polish pogrom. The original had been kept at the Akron Jewish Community Center. Other historical photos come from the archives of the Akron Jewish News and personal holdings.

8) The Future
It is hoped that the website will be a continuing work-in-progress that can be added to over the years. It can be used as curricula material by the Akron Jewish Community High School. It can also be used by students in public schools studying Ohio history. We are very proud that this project is coming out in Ohio’s Bicentennial Year. We hope that the materials on the site will inspire other communities to document their histories and add to the rich store of Ohio and Jewish American history.

9) Conducting Oral Interviews
Neil Sapienza videoed all the individuals who gave video interviews with Anna Rubin and/or Dianne Newman acting as ‘off-stage’ interviewees. Anna Rubin will be conducting audio interviews which will be put up on the site in coming months. Judy James’ excellent guide to oral interviews is included on this website.

10) Acknowledgements
Thanks to the following organizations for their financial support:

The GAR Foundation

The Ohio Arts Council

The Jewish Identify Development Fund (JIDF)

Jewish Women’s Endowment Fund (JWEF) .

Michael Wise has supported and nurtured the project through its initial phase, funding and implementation.

Rick Ewing, Manager of the ASCPL, provided support and in-kind help for the project.

Judy James from the ASCPL was extremely helpful in providing support materials, and teaching classes for high school student in 2002 at the Jewish Community High School

Esther Hexter provided encouragement and many concrete suggestions and historical materials for the project.

Dianne Newman has provided tireless support for the project, help in setting up several interviews as well as conducting some interviews.

Marilyn Merman was extremely helpful in contacting potential interviewees and setting up interviews.

Cantor Stephen Stein of Beth El has been extremely helpful and supportive of the project.

Thanks to the following individuals who gave video interviews for the project:

Merle Gordon
Eva Greenberg
Jerome "Jerry" Holub
Doris Klausner
Pearl Kropko
Michael Kushkin
Sylvia Lewis
Ethel Mirman
Sophie Newman
Randy Norris
Esther Posen
Gloria Reich
William Rogovy
Ida Rosen
Beth Rothkin
Marvin Shapiro
Cantor Stephen Stein
Richard Sternberg