Erlen, Alexander

Date:
1991-01-10
Length:
50 minutes.
Interviewer:
Pressma, Naomi
Transcription available:
no
Series:
Louisville's Jewish Community
Series ID:
1991_129
Interview Number(s):
1991_129_6
Summary:
Erlen was born in 1906 in Columbus, Ohio. He came to Louisville as Executive Director of the Jewish Social Services Agency in 1938. He recalls Jewish geographical and congregational divisions; Young Men's Hebrew Association; Secretary of YMHA, War year; then temporary Executive Director 1942-1944. He remembers desegregation of schools, parks, and neighborhoods. He recalls discrimination against Jews; the Civil Liberties Union; Civil Rights; Arthur Kling. He discusses resettlement of victims concentration camps; 1990s Russian resettlement; Polish resettlement in 1964; the family unit; nursing homes; Louisville Hebrew Home 1949; Jewish Family and Vocational Service and Dave Dobson; memories of early Jewish civil workers and volunteers.
Topic(s):
Jews--Kentucky--Louisville, Jewish Social Service Agency (Louisville, Ky.), Young Men's Hebrew Association (Louisville, Ky.), Kentucky Civil Liberties Union, Anti-Semitism--Kentucky--Louisville, Civil rights, Jewish Family and Vocational Service (Louisville, Ky.)