Oral history interview with Sam Kirshtein, 1998.

ArchivalResource

Kirshtein, Sam, 1925-. Oral history interview with Sam Kirshtein, 1998.

Oral history interview with Sam Kirshtein, 1998.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48840906

In this interview, Sam Kirshtein (b. 1925) speaks about the emigration of his father's and mother's families from Kaluszyn, Poland, and his own growing up on Radcliffe Street in Charleston. There are some mentions of his mother's family, the Miedzyrzeckis, who emigrated at different times (Kirshtein's grandfather Isaac coming in 1913, and his wife and children, including Kirshtein's mother, Edith Cohen, coming in 1920.) The family had their name changed to Cohen and one brother, Albert, changed his name to Kohn. Most of the family data concerns Kirshtein's father, Abe, who moved to Charleston, S.C., ca. 1920, trained as a scholar and ritual butcher, but who became a peddler, eventually launching a successful business, Dixie Furniture. Provides details of Abe Kirshtein's business and religious life, married life (he married in 1922), the Kaluszyn Society, differences between various Jewish groups in Charleston, Brith Shalom and Beth Israel synagogues, religious versus secular Jews, and the Americanization of some family members. Kirshtein also discusses the ultra religious nature of some members of the family, including Abe Kirshtein's brother Alter, hazan of Beth Israel Congregation, and other mentions of related Kirshstein family.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette.Transcript: 35 p. ; 28 cm.

College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library