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Levy, Jack D.,. Oral history interview with Jack D. Levy, July 15, 1991.

Title: Oral history interview with Jack D. Levy, July 15, 1991.

Levy begins the interview by relating the history of his parents' immigration to the United States. His father left Turkey in 1903 or 1904, following his friends Solomon Calvo and Jack Policar, the first two Sephardim in Seattle. Levy's mother arrived two years later and was helped by Rabbi and Mrs. Hirsch Genss until her marriage. Levy discusses in detail his father's fish business in Pike Place Market. After starting out in partnership with Calvo at Water Front Fish Co., Levy's father ran City Fish Market in Pike Place for the Alhadeff family, later buying out the business himself. Levy then describes his early life growing up in the Central District of Seattle, his early education, attending Garfield High School, and starting business college in 1932. Levy worked in fish markets from childhood on. After operating a market in Aberdeen, he returned to City Fish. After two years of service in New Guinea during World War II, Levy and his brother Gary took over City Fish from brother Albert. He discusses details of the fish business, including formation of the first union and changes over his sixty years in the business. He also relates some early history of the local Sephardic community. He remembers that there was initially only one Sephardic congregation in Seattle. He recalls Rabbi Solomon Maimon's school in back of Bikur Holim at 13th Avenue and Washington. He talks about attending Ezra Bessaroth Heder (Hebrew school) and Talmud Torah. He also comments on the role of Sephardic women in the community. He describes the establishment of the Sephardic Brotherhood by a group of Sephardic men who were educators and leaders in the community, including Harry S. Tarica and Gordon DeLeon. He also mentions many members of the Levy and Adatto families.

ArchivalResource: Sound recordings: 2 sound cassettes : analog, mono.Transcript: 49 leaves.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/50577387 View