Herman Leon Insel was born in Florence, S.C., in 1915. His father Charles Insel was born in Poland, and came to the United States at around the age of thirteen. He finished high school in New York City and then moved south; he eventually had a general merchandise store in Florence. As a travelling salesman, he called on a store in Allendale that was run by the interviewee's grandfather, Samuel Baruch Bannett, who had come from Russia. Charles Insel married Samuel Bannett's daughter Lena; they had two daughters and one son, Herman Leon Insel. Herman Insel grew up in Florence and was confirmed there in a class of about 7 other Jewish children. Jews in town met in a variety of places around town, many mentioned by the interviewee, before a synagogue was built. Mr. Insel graduated from the Citadel in 1936 and went into the armed forces; he eventually married Jewell Odom Whittington, a Baptist widow with children. She was born and grew up in Darlington County where she did not know any Jewish children, but she heard her father speak highly of Jews. They were married by a Justice of the Peace in 1957, and both have followed their separate religions, sometimes attending services with their spouse. Jewell Insel remarks that she prompted her husband to attend synagogue services more regularly. In the interview, Mr. Insel reminiscences about Florence, visits to Florence and Darlington by Rabbi Jacob Raisin of Charleston; and the experiences of one rabbi in Florence.
