Archives West Finding Aid

Nancy Blase interviews Esther Kahn on Mercer Island on 17 November 2016. In the interview Kahn describes her father, Judah Chiprut, who came from Tikerdag, Turkey. He arrived in Seattle in 1909 via Ellis Island and first worked with his cousins in the wooden coal business. Her mother, whose parents' surname was Azose, was raised in Gallipol, Turkey. Kahn grew up in Seattle's Central District (on 20th Avenue between Yesler Way and East First Street). It was very diverse. She remembers the grocery store owned by Jack Maimon, who was especially nice to children. Sephardic Bikur Holim was built around 1929 at 20th Ave. When it was being built, Mr. John Calderon, the president, came every day to check on the progress and her oldest brother, Jack, would often sleep there during construction to make sure no one would steal anything from the grounds. Her father often volunteered her and siblings to help with synagogue functions and she describes frying fish for Sukkot in the downstairs kitchen. Her father, the Gabai of Sephardic Bikur Holim, for over 40 years, also went a few times a week to the Public Market to collect dues for the synagogue; people paid 10 cents a week, a hardship for many. He was a doer and also drove people to the hospital to visit the sick. Esther attended many single Jewish events at the Temple Circle Club, where she met Fred Kahn at a dance. Although some didn't want her to marry an Ashkenazi Jew, they were very happy. Her advice to young people growing up today: "Treat children with respect and love."