Samuel Goldman oral history interview

Mr. Goldman was the first Jew on the Hartford Council. Mr. Goldman came to Hartford from New York City in 1891 at the age of 5. His father had immigrated from Poland and set up a men's clothing store on Front St. Mr. Goldman went to Brown School until the 8th grade when he dropped out and did not resume any education thereafter, however he continued with Hebrew studies with Rabbi Cohen. The family was very orthodox, observing the Sabbath. There were two synagogues at that time in Hartford, the Ados Israel and Rumanischer, as well as the reform temple, Beth Israel. Mr. Goldman belonged to the Ados Israel. As a young man he belonged to a club called the Zionist Guard. This group stood guard for President Theodore Roosevelt when he visited Hartford. Mr. Goldman was one of the first Jews to be involved in politics in Hartford, first becoming a council member, then police commissioner. Around 1908 he was made street commissioner and served in this post for 9 years. After leaving school, he worked in a couple of men's clothing stores and met his wife when he worked at her father's wholesale and retail clothing store. He subsequently became a member of the firm. He was on the committee that established the first Talmud Torah in 1923. He was president of Knights of Pitheas and Foresters of America, which were social lodges that gave money to charity. His son-in-law is Rabbi Israel Miller, assistant to Rabbi Beekin, of the Yeshiva University.

1968-10-23

00:27:41

English

Goldman, Samuel

Cohen, Emma Perlstein

M 5 Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford oral history collection

Politics

Zionism

Copyright Undetermined

Compact audio cassette tape

Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut

Oral histories