Oral history interview with Frederica (Freddie) Weinberg Kronsberg, 1996.

ArchivalResource

Kronsberg, Frederica Weinberg ("Freddie"), 1910-2002,. Oral history interview with Frederica (Freddie) Weinberg Kronsberg, 1996.

Oral history interview with Frederica (Freddie) Weinberg Kronsberg, 1996.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/52232926

Frederica (Freddie) Weinberg Kronsberg sums up her life in Staunton, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina. Her father, Abraham Weinberg, came to the United States as a young man from Daventer, Holland. He first worked in Baltimore, Maryland, but then moved to Staunton, Virginia, where there were about 20 Jewish families. There he met and married Johanna Barth, whose brother owned a clothing store in town; eventually Weinberg joined him in partnership and the store was called Barth Weinberg. Johanna Barth, the daughter of Magdalena Levy and Solomon Barth, of Illigen, Germany, had come to the United States as a young woman and lived for a while in Missouri, marrying Abraham Weinberg in Staunton when she was 24 years old. The Weinbergs had 4 children who survived to adulthood, three sons and the subject of this interview. Mrs. Kronsberg briefly describes her brothers and her growing up. Her family helped build the Temple in Staunton; although technically Reform, the family was more observant, not driving on the Sabbath, fasting, etc. They nevertheless kept their store open on Saturday. Milton Kronsberg and Frederica Weinberg were married in 1940 and lived on Smith Street in Charleston. They had three children: Regina, Marion and Abram. At first, the family did not keep kosher, but when her children told her that the Rabbi and other people could not eat in their home, Mrs. Kronsberg began keeping a kosher home, feeling that "home is a sanctuary." The family attended the Orthodox synagogue Brith Sholom, but Mrs. Kronsberg did not like all the talking and having to sit away from her husband. Her husband, but most especially her brother-in-law Macey, were involved in the creation of the Conservative Synagogue Emanu-El in Charleston. Most of those involved were younger and a bit more liberal than the orthodox members of Brith Sholom; if there was ill will over the split, it did not last long. Mrs. Kronsberg speaks of the early years of the new congregation and notes that her daughter Regina ("Gina") was the first girl to have a bat mitzvah in South Carolina in 1955.

Sound recording : 1 sound cassette : analog.Sound recording : 1 sound cassette : digital.Transcript : 27 p. ; 28 cm.

College of Charleston, Marlene and Nathan Addlestone Library