Interview begins with discussion of Helen Berle's parents, Harry and Toba Laufer, originally from Mogelnitsa, Poland. Berle describes how her father immigrated (ca. 1914) to New York City and earned money to bring over his wife and infant daughter (Berle's older sister, Rose.) Berle notes that in Poland, the family name was Pitler; she was uncertain as to how or why the name changed to Laufer. She mentions that Toba and Rose traveled to the United States on the Lusitania before its sinking during World War I. The Laufer family lived in New York for several years and eventually relocated to Charleston, South Carolina, after learning fellow landsmen had settled there. Once in Charleston (where Helen was born,) Harry Laufer, a shoemaker by trade in Poland, joined a number of Jewish merchants on King Street and ran a men's clothing store. Interview continues with discussion of Laufer's Restaurant. Berle's mother, an excellent cook, often prepared lunch for King Street shopkeepers and many encouraged her to open a restaurant. The Laufers purchased Greenberg's, the first Jewish restaurant in Charleston, in the early 1930s and served quality kosher meals to King Street merchants and visitors from far and wide. Laufer's offered home-cooked, Jewish meals and a family atmosphere. Berle describes popular meals and the variety of people (gentiles and Jews) who frequented the establishment. She recalls the World War II era when the restaurant was constantly filled with Jewish soldiers and notes that many of Charleston's Jewish couples met at Laufer's. Conversation turns to religion, and Berle notes that her Orthodox parents attended Beth Israel synagogue, kept a kosher house, and often invited Jewish travelers for holidays and Sabbath dinners. Berle recalls a feeling of separation between wealthier Jews who attended Brith Sholom and K.K. Beth Elohim and the "greenhorns" living in the St. Philip Street area who went to Beth Israel. She also notes that although the Laufers were Orthodox, the family restaurant remained open on the Sabbath. Interview ends with discussion of Berle's childhood on St. Philip Street. She recalls the crowd of Jewish children in the area and describes colorful characters of her youth including Joe Truere ("Jew Joe") and Jake Widelitz. Maurice Berle, Helen's husband, participates in the discussion throughout and notes his belief that Jewish businesses were often successful because entire families worked at the store and kept costs down.
