Oral history interview with Gerald Isaac Wolpe, 1999.

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Oral history interview with Gerald Isaac Wolpe, 1999.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/48934785

Wolpe begins with a description of the extended Wolpe family and its origins. His father Benjamin was born in the United States, c. 1894, and met Sarah Fine, originally from Poland, in the Boston area, where they were married. His father performed in vaudeville but died when Wolpe was 11, creating a sense of loss that permeated Wolpe's life. At 16, he left home to begin his studies, first studying history and then preparing for the rabbinate. After marrying Elaine Ring, and serving as a Marine at Camp Lejeune, NC, Wolpe came to Charleston in 1955 and for three years was rabbi of Emanu-El, a conservative congregation. Wolpe recalls the stresses of integration and segregation in South Carolina, discusses the congregation and the history of its founding, and gives tributes to its members and to Judge Julius Waites Waring, whom he met once. Wolpe also tells of being strongly influenced by religious leader Mordecai Kaplan, discusses his informal role as a visiting rabbi in small towns in South Carolina, and recounts a story of Mendel Rivers being named for Mendel Dumas of Bonneau, SC.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette : digital.Transcript : 23 p. ; 28 cm.

College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library

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SNAC Resource ID: 7600203

College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library

Related Entities

There are 7 Entities related to this resource.

Kaplan, Mordecai Menahem, 1881-1983

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6fs0p3d (person)

Mordecai M. Kaplan was a rabbi, essayist and Professor of Homiletics, later Philosophies of Religion, and Dean of the Teachers Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. Kaplan (1881-1983) was founder of the Reconstructionist movement in Judaism. ...

Wolpe, Gerald Isaac, 1927-

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x945bc (person)

This interview took place when Rabbi Gerald Isaac Wolpe was in Charleston, South Carolina, to deliver the first Milton Kronsberg Lecture. Kronsberg had been an avid supporter of his at Synagogue Emanu-El (also in Charleston). From the description of Oral history interview with Gerald Isaac Wolpe, 1999. (College of Charleston). WorldCat record id: 48934785 ...

Rosengarten, Dale, 1948-...

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6m04dd8 (person)

Synagogue Emanu-El (Charleston, S.C.)

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63n6hfm (corporateBody)

Wolpe family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w65b9382 (family)

Rivers, L. Mendel (Lucius Mendel), 1905-1970

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6417fjm (person)

Waring, Julius Waties, 1880-1968

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6j103dr (person)

Judge. From the description of Reminiscences of Julius Waties Waring : oral history, 1957. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 309728157 Federal judge, lawyer, and civil rights advocate; of Charleston, S.C. From the description of Letter, 1921 May 24, Charleston, S.C., to Julian Mitchell, Charleston, S.C. (University of South Carolina). WorldCat record id: 54862038 From the description of Letter, 1935 Apr. 27, Charleston, S...