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A Brief Look at Catskill’s Jewish Community and a Personal Connection To It by Steve A. Mann Catskill has had an active Jewish population for many years. Old family names such as Sherman, Margolius, Oren, Zwickel, Greenberg, Goldschlag, Davis, Kapner, and Kalmus were joined by Meadow, Schlenker, Applebaum, Vipler, Jacobs, Snapper, Turck, and Wagman. The Margolius family had a doctor and later a lawyer in the family and I’m told had a store at one time where Aunt Jane worked as a young lady, the Orens always had the furniture store, Uncle Milty and Aunt Shirley Zwickel had the Cadillac dealership, liquor store, and other entities, Miss Fanny Kapner was a very well respected teacher at Irving School, the Kalmus siblings worked for the State. Later comers included Attorney and Greene County DA Sy Meadow whose sister Hannah worked at the Fashion Shop, Phil Schlenker was the Rabbi for many years, and Mrs. Vipler owned the Fashion Shop on Main Street. Marie Jacobs had a lovely women’s store on the south end of Main Street, and Jim Wagman is a respected attorney. Gene Goldschlag had the Valley Casuals store where the family frequently patronized. And who could forget Dr. Paul M. Snapper who my mother worked for as his secretary for a good number of years. The Turcks are Shirley Zwickel’s sister Sidell (Tootie)’s family. Their maiden name was Greenberg, and they had a brother Art who was an attorney. The earliest graves at Temple Israel Cemetery on North Jefferson Avenue in Catskill dates back to the early 1930s. Many of the older graves are written in Hebrew, which make it very difficult for us younger folks to read or translate. I am grateful that the cemetery is very well maintained thanks to Mrs. Margolius. For many years the graves were dug and lawn mowed and weeded by the superintendent of Jefferson Rural, Donald Pike, Jr. and his father, Donald Pike Sr., superintendent of Catskill Rural. The new caretaker is also quite capable and provides a great deal of care as well. One thing I have noticed is that the last row of graves way at the end, which represents families with inter-denominational beliefs, has expanded quickly. Another thing is that the funerals tend to have flowers. Years ago it would have been an oddity to have a Jewish family use flowers at a funeral. Today, with more families of the Reform tradition, it has become commonplace. Again, just a few small changes in the faith, like any other... ........................... -- The entire essay can be read in the upcoming issue of Greene County Historical Journal -- Visit this library to read the essay or to donate additional genealogical material related to said families. E-mail: vedderlibrary@yahoo.com Phone: 518-731-1033 ........................... Currently, the author of this article is trying to expand upon the family genealogy. Anyone with information on the Sherman-Tenenbaum-Katz family or the Cutrupi-Mann family can contact Steven Mann by writing to him, in care of the Greene County Historical Society. Anyone with memories of his grandfather’s store, his Uncle Alvin Applebaum from The Bottle Shop, or any of the family should do so as well. August 2006 |