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Jewish Histories in Multiethnic Boyle Heights

Letter from Mary Pickford, 1943

A 1943 letter to Mrs. Ida Mayer Cummings from actress Mary Pickford expressing her strong affection for Mrs. Cummings. Pickford became a major donor to the Jewish Home owed largely to her relationship with Mrs. Cummings. The Ida Mayer Cummings Papers at the Jewish Home Archive contain dozens of letters from Pickford over the course of their decades-long friendship, including this one. Courtesy of the Jewish Home Archives.

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1. Mae West with residents, c. 1940
5. Seder at the Jewish Home for the Aged, ca. 1928 The photo appeared in the Los Angeles Examiner March 31, 1928, with the caption: "Jewry to celebrate festival! -- A typical Seder service at the Hebrew Sheltering Home for the Aged in this city. This Jewish festival will be held at the home next Thursday night, with many prominent Hebrew residents of the city in attendance. This symbolic dinner is one of the features of the Passover holiday." The photograph subsequently appeared in a promotional pamphlet for the Home, "The Light," which drew attention to the prayer on the banner in the background, "Hatikva - The Prayer of Hope!" The Hatikva has since been adopted as the national anthem of the State of Israel. Photograph courtesy of USC Digital Libraries.
7. Passover at the Jewish Home for the Aged, 1946 The caption reads: "Depicting the Seder Feast—age-old ceremony as celebrated at the Public Seder participated in by aged Patriarchs and Matriarchs of the Jewish Home for the Aged, to be held in the Auditorium of the Home, 325 South Boyle Avenue. The old folks, in their white holiday garb, are here shown as they recite the ancient Haggadah in Hebrew. Twelve-year old Allen Chernack is here shown as he asks the traditional Four Questions, a vivid feature of this ceremony. Answering is Menachem Merzersky—80 years old. Shown also is one of the 13 traditional dishes of religious symbolism. This ceremony is an annual observance in obedience to the command recorded in Exodus 13-14, "When thy son asketh thee thou shalt say—'By strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.'"—and is a recital of the ancient story of the Passover—the escape of the Jewish people from bondage, which is considered by man the Birth of Freedom in the world... as a back drop is seen the new stage curtain, a scene representing Palestine, done in oils by the known artist Saul Rubino. From left to right: Mrs. Jennie Caper, Baurch Solomon, Mrs. Fannie Breslovsky, Allen Chernack, Menachem Mozersky, Mrs. Rose Weiner, Zelig Myerson, Mrs. Minnie Pascal, and Nathan Pascal." Donated by Bryde Baker to the Jewish Home Archives.
8. Jewish Home for the Aged Party, 1952
10. Letter from Mary Pickford, 1943 A 1943 letter to Mrs. Ida Mayer Cummings from actress Mary Pickford expressing her strong affection for Mrs. Cummings. Pickford became a major donor to the Jewish Home owed largely to her relationship with Mrs. Cummings. The Ida Mayer Cummings Papers at the Jewish Home Archive contain dozens of letters from Pickford over the course of their decades-long friendship, including this one. Courtesy of the Jewish Home Archives.
11. Jewish Home for the Aged Luncheon, 1951
14. Julius Shulman, Sanctuary at the Jewish Home for the Aged (n.d.) The caption on the back of the photo reads: "The Synagogue of the original Los Angeles Jewish Home for the Aging in Boyle Heights, circa 1920. The glass ceiling as well as many of the windows and other architectural artifacts, have been carefully preserved and are on display today in the Home's museum. Photo by Julius Shulman." It is doubtful the photograph dates to 1920 as the synagogue at the Home was not completed until a few years later, but the photograph may very well have been taken by Julius Shulman, who took other photographs in and around Boyle Heights in the 1930s. Courtesy of the Jewish Home Archives.
15. Eleanor Roosevelt visits the Jewish Home for the Aged, 1946
16. Pickford Building construction, 1944
17. Jewish Home for the Aged Charity Ball, 1953
18. The Hebrew Sheltering Association, Souvenir Program (1914)
20. Mary Pickford with Home for the Aged Auxiliary, 1950