Archives West Finding Aid

Aviva Ben-Ur collected these materials during the research for her book Sephardic Jews in America, published in 2009.

Herbert Bridge (1925-2018) was born in Seattle, Washington, graduated from the University of Washington, and lived in the city for the majority of his life. He worked at Ben Bridge Jewelers from childhood and began running the business, along with his brother Bob Bridge, at age 29. He enlisted in the United States Navy at age 17 and actively served in World War II and the Korean War, reaching the rank of Rear Admiral. He held leadership positions in numerous clubs, non-profits, and other organizations in Seattle. He was president of the Downtown Seattle Association, directly supporting and influencing growth in Seattle's retail core during the 1980s.

DVD from the BCMH, an Orthodox Synagogue.

Collection from Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, an Orthodox Synagogue. Ezra Bessaroth was formed in 1912 by a small community of Sephardic immigrants from the Island of Rhodes. It was this group which formed the nucleus of Koupa Ezra Bessaroth Rhodes in 1912. The congregation incorporated in 1914. The first synagogue was built on 15th and Fir Street in 1917. By 1957, Congregation Ezra Bessaroth had outgrown this building and began construction of a new synagogue in the Seward Park area. Mr. Israel joined the choir in 1935 when Samuel Goldfarb, music director at Temple de Hirsch, agreed to also train the Ezra Bessaroth choir. At first he coached the choir only on music for the High Holy Days, but the repertoire and the membership expanded later.

Joseph De Leon was president of the Ezra Bessaroth congregation in the early 1960s.

The Jewish Family Service (JFS) was founded in 1892 by 37 women, headed by mother and daughter Esther Levy and Lizzie Cooper. The agency changed its name many times over its history to reflect its focus during different time periods. In 1892, the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society was organized by volunteers to help the Jewish poor in Seattle. In 1917, it merged with the Seattle Hebrew Benevolent Association (a closely related organization, composed entirely of men, founded in 1895), becoming the Seattle Hebrew Benevolent Association. In 1929, the organization was renamed the Jewish Welfare Society. The agency provided emergency services during the Depression and World War II. From 1933 to 1935, it was designated by the state of Washington to administer relief to Jewish people as part of the Department of Public Welfare. Between 1946 and 1950, it took in the duties of the Washington Emigre Bureau, which assisted newly arrived European refugees. The work of the agency had changed from that of a relief agency to that of a social service agency, and in 1947 it became a member of the Family Service Association of America, changing its name to the Jewish Family and Child Service. In 1978, the named changed again, to Jewish Family Service. That year, the Jewish Family Life Education Program was launched, focusing on family issues such as parenting, caring for aging parents and workshops for couples. In 1987, Jewish Family Service created a subsidiary corporation, the Seattle Association for Jewish Disabled (SAJD), to serve individuals and families coping with mental illness, mental retardation, traumatic brain injury and other developmental disabilities.

Lenora (Leni) LaMarche was born in Seattle in 1921. All of her grandparents were born in Rhodes and Leni was known as Bavajadas de Benadam, reflecting her lifelong work as a storyteller, historian, and keeper of Sephardic culture and the Ladino language.

Jacob Lighter was born in Nova Scotia in 1900 and moved to Seattle in 1917. After becoming a Certified Public Accountant, he helped form the accounting firm Friedman and Lighter in 1925. Active in many Jewish organizations, his major interest was Hillel. He was instrumental in establishing the Foundation at University of Washington and played an important role in the building of the Hillel House on campus. He and Esther Marshin married in 1927.

Films about Sephardic Communities.

Lucille Spring was an active member of the Temple De Hirsch and acted as the Temple's Music Coordinator. Spring worked closely with music director Samuel Goldfarb, who asked her to join the music teaching staff in 1948. She went on to become the Temple's Music Coordinator.

A native of Germany, Stiefel emigrated to the United States in 1940. His papers relating to the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Camp Solomon Schechter, Council of Synagogue Presidents, the Jewish Education Council, and Herzl Conservative Congregation were accumulated during his tenure on various committees of these secular and religious institutions. Congregation Beth Shalom records were accumulated as a member and president of the congregation and because of Stiefel's volunteer work on its committees. He has served on the planning and allocations Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and has chaired the Jewish education allocations committee of the Federation.