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Abstract
| Myer Katz (April 28/29, 1910 - February 1, 1993) was born in Winona, Minnesota, to William Udell and Anna Sarah Katz. He speaks of having chosen his parents wisely. Both his parents spoke up to seven languages and imparted many lessons. He remembers his father sitting down with all the children on the Sabbath and having them take turns reading from "The Ethics of the Fathers" in Hebrew as well as translating and explaining what they read. His father would correct pronunciation as they went along and follow with discussion on the discourse read that day. While his father was generally responsible for educating the children, Katz learned lessons from his mother as well. She raised her children on the theory, "If you want others to respect your religion, you must always respect theirs," a lesson he took to heart and is evident as he speaks of the religious communities in La Crosse. Myer Katz attended Central High School in La Crosse and went on to higher education receiving a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 1936 and an Associate in Medicine from George Washington University in 1938. He attended a number of other institutions for graduate studies including the University of Wisconsin - Madison. He traveled and spoke English, Hebrew, Yiddish, French and German. He was President of La Crosse County Historical Society and received an Award of Merit from Wisconsin Council for Local History in 1974 for one of his historical books. He also published "Echoes of Our Past," a series of narratives about La Crosse history, as well as three historical fiction novels. In his interview, Katz not only relates family history, but La Crosse history as well, particularly that of its Jewish community. He elaborates on religion, the differences in practice among the different sects of Judaism, where certain Jewish names come from, and the difficulty of finding a kosher meal in the restaurants in town. Mr. Katz discusses the following topics: Myer Katz; Jewish origins— Family’s arrival La Crosse, 1900; Jewish settlers La Crosse, 1885— John Levy; Jewish Mayor of La Crosse, 1860— Herman Langstadt ; Jewish Judge in La Crosse, d.1933— Albert Hirshheimer; commerce and civic projects in La Crosse— Scharpf; secretary of Hebrew Indigent Society; Ansche Chessed, translated to "people of kindness"— Jewish custom, taking care of their own; refugees from German concentration camp— Interconnectivity of Jewish communities— Ansche Chessed; 1800s;Paul Kovenock— Hebrew Indigent Sick and Burial Society; Jewish burial customs— Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed; Jewish Groups— Kosher; dietary law— Cantrovitz; chairman of the Standing Committee of the Original Hebrew Indigent Society; 1857— Sigmund Guttman; treasurer of the Standing Committee of the Original Hebrew Indigent Society; 1857— Russian persecution,1890-1910— Differences: Traditional, Reformed— Discrimination in La Crosse— Differences: Judaism, Christianity— Childhood, religion in the home— Respecting religious differences, childhood discrimination— Assimilation— Learning Hebrew; reading to father— Ordained Rabbi, La Crosse— Hebrew School— Jewish prayers— Mother, modern woman— Evening prayers— Mother; charity. |
| Content | 00:00:18— Myer Katz; Jewish origins |
00:04:12— Family’s arrival La Crosse, 1900; Jewish settlers La Crosse, 1885 |
00:05:45— John Levy; Jewish Mayor of La Crosse, 1860 |
00:06:09— Herman Langstadt ; Jewish Judge in La Crosse, d.1933 |
00:06:23— Albert Hirshheimer; commerce and civic projects in La Crosse |
00:07:32— Scharpf; secretary of Hebrew Indigent Society; Ansche Chessed, translated to "people of kindness" |
00:08:57— Jewish custom, taking care of their own; refugees from German concentration camp |
00:11:24— Interconnectivity of Jewish communities |
00:13:59— Ansche Chessed; 1800s; Paul Kovenock |
00:15:52— Hebrew Indigent Sick and Burial Society; Jewish burial customs |
00:21:44— Orthodox, Conservative, Reformed; Jewish Groups |
00:24:12— Kosher; dietary law |
00:25:33— Cantrovitz; chairman of the Standing Committee of the Original Hebrew Indigent Society; 1857 |
00:26:59— Sigmund Guttman; treasurer of the Standing Committee of the Original Hebrew Indigent Society; 1857 |
00:27:54— Russian persecution,1890-1910 |
00:29:42— Differences: Traditional, Reformed |
00:33:23— Discrimination in La Crosse |
00:35:23— Differences: Judaism, Christianity |
00:37:05— Childhood, religion in the home |
00:40:57— Respecting religious differences, childhood discrimination |
00:45:33— Assimilation |
00:47:25— Learning Hebrew; reading to father |
00:49:49— Ordained Rabbi, La Crosse |
00:51:26— Hebrew School |
00:54:31— Jewish prayers |
00:58:59— Mother, modern woman |
01:00:38— Evening prayers |
01:02:35— Mother; charity |
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