The Jewish Centers Movement in Boyle Heights: Citations and Additional Resources
Citations and References
1 The history of these institutions and the Jewish Educational Alliance in LA was detailed by Vorspan and Gartner, History of the Jews of Los Angeles (San Marino: Huntington Library, 1970): 146-147.2 Ibid., 85.
3 Bruce Philips, “Not Quite White: the Emergence of Jewish ‘Ethnoburbs’ in Los Angeles, 1920-2010,” American Jewish History, vol. 100, no. 1 (Jan. 2016): 73-104.
4 Levenson, Norma, “A Study of the Jewish Community Centers of Los Angeles, California” M.A. Thesis, USC, 1935, p. 3. She cites Charles Nesmer, “The Place of the Jewish Center in American Jewish Life,” The Jewish Center vol. vi, no. 2 (June, 1926).
5 According to Levenson, one example was Tolchinsky’s Hebrew classes, which grew accommodate between 200 and 300 students, and as a result, began stretching further into the evening, which meant the 12 clubs and youth groups that met in the building often couldn’t access the space until after 8pm. See Levenson, "A Study of Jewish Community Centers," 40-41.
6 Cohen's report cited in Levenson, “A Study of the Jewish Community Centers," 46-47.
7 Ibid., 52-54.
8 Vorspan and Gartner, History of the Jews of Los Angeles, 216.
9 Special thanks to Aaron Paley for sharing his interview with Julius Shulman about the commission. For more, read Paley's 2008 essay, "Playing Jewish Geography with Julius Shulman," for the Forward.
10 “Boyle Heights: Where a New Jewish life is Arising,” B’nai B’rith Messenger, Sept. 3, 1928, 6. Thanks to Shmuel Gonzalez for sharing the article.
11 Levenson, Norma, "A Study of the Jewish Community Centers," 57-58.
12 Ibid., 61. See also, “Impressive Service at Dedication Ceremonial,” B’nai B’rith Messenger, March 20, 1931.
13 In total, public funds were used to employ as many as 16 teachers and teaching assistants, 2 clinic workers, and janitorial staff. See Levenson, "A Study of Jewish Community Centers," 64; Vorspan and Gartner, History of the Jews of Los Angeles, 216-217.
14 Levenson, "A Study of Jewish Community Centers," 67.
15 Levenson estimated that as many as 31-33% of the users of the Soto-Michigan JCC were non-Jews, compared to 11-16% of the users at the Menorah Center. See Levenson, "A Study of Jewish Community Centers," 110.
16 Research assistance here from Shmuel Gonzales.
17 Vorspan and Gartner, History of the Jews of Los Angeles, 250-251.
18 Deobrah Dash Moore, To the Golden Cities: Persuing the American Jewish Dream in Miami and L.A. (New York: Free Press, 1994): 201-202.
19 Ibid, 206-209.
20 Ibid, 211.
21 “Wabash-City Terrace Groups Make Drive for Menorah center Pool,” B’nai B’rith Messenger, March 6, 1955, 32; “Rabbi Siegelstein Makes Appeal for Fund to Keep Menorah Center Open,” B’nai B’rith Messenger, March 9, 1954, 18.
22 Thanks here to Aaron Paley and Zan Romanoff for their research assistance.
23 Sean Carrillo, “A Simple Suggestion,” A Vanishing World (blog), July 19, 2009.