Interview begins with discussion of Aronson's maternal grandfather, Lewis Leopold Block. Originally from Baden-Baden, Germany, Block immigrated to the United States in the 1890s and settled in Camden, South Carolina. Block established a friendship with brothers, Jake and Gus Hirsh, who in turn sent for their sister, Rosa Hirsch, for Block to marry. Block later went into business with the brothers operating the dry-goods establishment, Hirsh, Hirsh and Block. Aronson recalls spending summers in Camden with her grandfather and describes his store and home. She also mentions that although her grandfather was born and raised Jewish, he did not actively participate in the Jewish faith. Aronson next discusses her paternal relatives, the Rich family. She describes Moritz and Lipman Rich, the first of the family to emigrate to the U.S. from Prussia. The Rich brothers lived (ca. 1850s) in Charleston, SC, for a time and may have been among the early founders of Brith Sholom Synagogue. The brothers later moved to St. Matthews, SC, where several generations of Rich's have flourished Aronson discusses the Rich family genealogy and recalls visiting St. Matthews during her childhood. Interview continues with Aronson's recollections of growing up in Orangeburg, SC, where her parents settled shortly after she was born. She discusses life during the Depression and provides details of how her family tightened their belts to stay afloat financially. Aronson mentions that although she was confirmed, she did not have much formal Jewish education. She discusses other Jewish families in Orangeburg during her childhood including the Benjamin, Becker and Furchgott families. She mentions that her parent's social circle consisted mainly of older, established Orangeburg Jews, and notes this circle generally did not mix well with the influx of Jewish newcomers who settled in Orangeburg in later years. Interview ends with discussion of Aronson's adult life. She married husband, Harold Aronson, shortly after World War II, and the couple settled in Orangeburg. Aronson recalls the founding (1953) of Temple Sinai, and her contribution toward its success. She mentions wanting a place for her own children to learn about Judaism. Aronson's daughter, Rhetta Mendelsohn, discusses her involvement with Temple Sinai and describes attending Jewish dances in Charleston, SC during her youth. Mendelsohn affirms that although the family was not devout Jews, her parents instilled the notion of Jewish heritage in her and her sister.
