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INVITATION TO EXHIBIT:
For one-night-only — Thursday, June 15 (6-8 PM)
Aidekman Jewish Community Campus, Whippany, NJ
**Experience the fascinating treasures and stories from the archives of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater MetroWest NJ!
**Explore interactive exhibits about Jewish merchants, schools, sports and leisure, women, and more including from the Weequahic District.
**Enjoy a delicious traditional Jewish deli spread and live music.
For more information and registration go to
SHARING OUR STORIES
Dan Rosen (6/53) reaches out to classmates:
I would like very much to communicate with those of my classmates that attended our 70th reunion, if indeed there are any of us left. I had been in touch with Cookie Klein and Mel Lissner recently, but no response for a while. Please me know who attended. Unfortunately, I was not well enough to make the trip. I can be reached at drosen1936@aol.com. Dan
Additional conversation on the Weequahic Lifestyle:
Jack Lippman (50)
The “Weequahic 'Lifestyle” grew out of the Great Depression of the 1930's. Without the benefits of FDR's New Deal, I don't know if it would have existed. Families were pulling themselves up by their bootstraps and succeeding in varying degrees, some more than others. There was a greater “left-wing” presence there than many can recall. There were homeowners and renters there, dealing with common problems, strengthened by families that were not necessarily composed of actual relatives.
Fortunately, there were solid institutions around which the community's “lifestyle” coalesced like Beth Israel Hospital, Weequahic Park, a few memorable eateries (Weequahic Diner, Tavern, Syd’s), and, of course, the high school. It cannot be ignored that the area was primarily Jewish in those days giving it a unity that helped, as well, considering that welcome mats were not out for them in other parts of the area. And that was almost ninety years ago. Jack
Larry Sharpe (Columbia (68)
Dad returned from WWII a highly decorated Vet with little money and no job. My parents found housing in army barracks in North Newark where there were few Jews. By 1956 they saved $11,000 and bought a two-family home on Aldine Street near Bragaw Avenue. Finally, Jewish kids for me and my brother Ron (WHS 64) to play with.
We never felt inferior or superior to the rich kids from Maple and Chancellor and we were tougher and better athletes (we thought). In 1964 we were moving on up to Maplewood. I did not fulfill my destiny to be an Indian and did not like the snotty kids from Maplewood. Mom took me to my real friends almost every weekend at The Y. My parents did not understand why I would rather hang out with my Newark friends rather than the Maplewood crowd. I am still best friends with Barry Cohen and Gary Kon (67). Brother Ron's Class of June 64 friends are my other older brothers; Saul Kelton, Jessie Duke Cogan, Howie Heshy Horn and the gang. They are a mixture of Hawthorn, Bragaw, Maple and Chancellor schools.
Ron and I opened a real estate office in Newark from which we bought and sold many homes in the Weequahic area including the apartment building on the corner of Bergen Street and Renner. How lucky we were then and now? Larry
W-SPEAK:
Steven Epstein (63)
To the WHS Alumni Association, I sit here in middle America (Illinois) and, through modern technology, I was able to watch the 20?? “Homecoming” City League game between Weequahic and West Side. Also, on You Tube I was able to watch the Class of 1964 reunion. It brought tears to my eyes because of the wonderful memories the event brought to mind.
Despite thinking we haven’t changed. I came to realize, after looking at myself from my granddaughter’s Bat Mitzvah, that the man looking back in the mirror is not as others see me. Thank you for allowing those of us unable to attend class events to be able to reminisce of those wonderful days as well as with people who used to be in our lives With much love to all ex Weequahicites. Steve
Sheila Stein Farbman (6/57)
In response to my classmate Miriam Perlman Feldmar’s note in the Weequahic newsletter, I enjoyed reading your memory about wanting to be an airline stewardess. I didn't know that. Before I went back to teaching, I worked for Eastern Airlines. It was the most wonderful job with fabulous perks for me and my family. Unfortunately, Eastern went out of business. I never believed that could happen. I remember the last day. Someone came to my desk at 4:30 pm and told me not to come to work again. There was no more Eastern Airlines. Unbelievable! Sheila
David Berger (6/55)
Reading the sad news a few weeks ago that my high school good friend David Bass (6/54) passed away reminded me we took German together in Miss Undritz’s class. Every day, David, Lenny Springer and I would stand up at the back of the room and proclaim, “Ein Feuer brent in unserem hertzen fur Freulein Undritz!” And, every day she would blush at the comment, “ a fire burns in our hearts for Ms. Undritz.” David
Fran Katz Sekela (6.54)
The importance of a great Weequahic foundation provided me with a profound future and the quality of meaningful friendships. Thanks to all of my outstanding staff never to be forgotten and the memories. Fran
Rich Kaplan (1/61)
"Unstoppable" is the title of a 2020 book by Joshua Greene. It tells the true story of Siggi Wilzig, who was a rare 2-year survivor of the Auschwitz and Mauthausen concentration camps. Wilzig came to the US as a 21-year-old in 1947 with $240 to his name and only a grade school education. By the time he died in 2003, he had become CEO and President of two major oil and banking companies with more than $4 billion in assets. The book mentions that his wife, Naomi, had a straight A average and was named "Citizen of the Year" at Weequahic High School in 1950. I did not know that Weequahic once selected a "Citizen of the Year." Rich
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