The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County

Spring 2008

Vol. 1, Issue 4

Adar II, 5768

Celebrating the 60 th Anniversary

Of Israel 's Independence :

The Monmouth County Home Front

By Jean Klerman

The momentous events leading up to Israel 's proclamation of independence on May 14, 1948 were played out against a background of broken political promises for a Jewish homeland even as the horrors of the Holocaust unfolded in full detail. Despite the United Nations vote the previous year to partition Palestine into two separate nations, one Arab, one Jewish [one-eighth the size originally granted in the Balfour declaration], no provision was made for the defense of the Jewish residents against their enemies.

The U.S. State Department imposed an embargo on the shipment of arms to any nation in the Middle East . And then in 1948, all five of the surrounding Arab nations ( Lebanon , Syria , Iraq , Trans-Jordan and Egypt ) attacked the newly established Jewish state. In vain did Israel 's American friends plead for allowing material assistance to the besieged nation.

In secret, a small group of Monmouth County Jewish residents led by Zemil Resnick, the proprietor of an Asbury Park amusement park, were already engaged in collecting and storing weapons and ammunition for transport to the Jewish defense forces in Palestine . Among others, Resnick enlisted the aid of Charles Lowy, the owner of a moving and storage company and it was on his farm in Wall Township early in January 1948 that the local police uncovered a hoard of munitions.

The front pages of the Asbury Park Evening News and the Long Branch Daily Record, as well as other newspapers around the nation, were immediately filled with alarming headlines of “Tons of Explosives Found” and “ Lowy Faces FBI Grill.” Radio broadcasts reported on caches of dangerous explosives and demolition blocks hidden about Monmouth County .

Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County A Wemrock Road and Route 537 A P.O. Box 7078 A Freehold, NJ 07728

These discoveries, as well as others in Jersey City and New York , brought into the open the nation-wide efforts of individual American Zionists to supply Israel with the materials needed to prevent another Holocaust. Happily, subsequent articles would attest to the growing sympathy Americans began to feel toward the struggling Jewish state and Lowy, who had been imprisoned, was released with a minimum $500 fine and the sympathetic words of the local judge.

Mollie and Zimel Resnick with David Ben-Gurion (center)

The Story of Zimel Resnick and the Founding of the State of Israel, one of the most exciting chapters in Monmouth County Jewish history, is the subject of the JHMOMC's April 15 afternoon program to be presented at the Ruth Hyman JCC in Deal Park (for additional information see inside article).

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A Home for the Jewish Heritage Museum

By Michael Berman, Co-President

This May, the JHMOMC hopes to take occupancy of its own “homeland” in the Levi Solomon Barn in Freehold Township . The barn's loft is being transformed into a modern multi-media, interactive exhibit and performance space where the Resnick story and those of many other people and events in Monmouth County 's Jewish past will be featured. The Museum interior is now being insulated and will soon receive rough cut pine wide plank siding to finish off the walls. The electrical upgrades to the space have been completed and the rough plumbing and interior framing have been installed. The handicap lift, heating and air conditioning systems are in place and after the interior walls are completed the museum will be getting new pine plank tongue and groove flooring and paint (where appropriate). The installation of track lighting and ceiling fans along with final fixturing in the Handicap accessible bathrooms will complete the build out process. Nardie Hochberg (owner of the building) has assured the executive board that a certificate of occupancy will be applied for in early May.

Construction underway in the Barn. The framed walls at the right will be the bathrooms and office.

What does all this mean? Well, it means that we are at the beginning of an exciting new chapter in a journey that started more than two years ago. What this also means is that we are now responsible for all building operation and maintenance costs. We are also challenged to flesh out exhibits, hold programs and feature special events that bring people to this very special space. Now more than ever we need you, our membership, to support this dream and make it a reality. The “ how” of this request is simple; volunteer for a committee or offer your services for a special need (see the dive into the talent pool article enclosed), support upcoming special events and programs being planned for the museum by attending, support all fundraising campaigns (buy a brick, Genesis garden, building on memory, etc.) whenever possible and spread the word to others. There is nothing more powerful than one person inspiring another to get involved.

Welcome to the next chapter, it is certain to be a page turner and YOU are an essential part of the story.

ISRAELI PIONEERS IN

MONMOUTH COUNTY

By Beverly and Joel Stern

In the bucolic countryside of Route 539 in Cream Ridge, Upper Freehold Township, stands a dilapidated rambling white house soon to be razed for a bank, a drugstore and medical offices. This old farmhouse/dormitory was the home of the Hechalutz Training Farm, a hachshara (vocational training camp) founded by Enzo Sereni, an Italian delegate of Histadrut (the Labor Movement) in 1936. This farm served for more than a decade as a training center for Habonim chalutzim( pioneers) and as a mecca for thousands of friends of the movement.

We first learned of the existence of this unique training facility from Donna and John Dawes, natives of Allentown and Upper Freehold. Mrs. Dawes recalled how her step- father, a skilled mechanic often was called to repair the farm machinery and how he gave his expertise and time teaching the young pioneers to do this vital task.

She also recalled that the residents were welcomed into the Grange in Upper Freehold and were assisted by the farmers living there.

Continued on page 3

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Pioneers continued…

The goal of preparing young people to help build the state of Israel was spelled out in the memoir of Mordy Cohen, titled “Memoirs of a Chalutz—An Israeli Pioneer.”

In his memoir, Cohen wrote, “The farm was a diverse assortment of endeavors including dairy, poultry, truck gardening and field crop farming. The farm also included two trucks, a tractor, the typical assortment of farm machinery and two Belgian workhorses.”

The home of the Hechalutz Training Farm

The farm also boasted flight training in two small Piper Cub airplanes purchased with the help of a small fund from David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel . 20 members began their flight training at an airfield close to the farm, according to material supplied by Al Trenton, a current resident of Upper Freehold who urged the Township Committee to preserve historic properties. The flight training was discontinued when the United States entered World War II and all civilian flying was prohibited.

A national convention of Habonim was held at the farm and a summer camp was operated in the early 1940's for children from the New York and New Jersey area. It is reported that Albert Einstein attended the dedication of the Pioneers for Palestine Farm.

wrote: “Since the principal aim of Hechalutz was to train pioneers for life in Palestine which special emphasis on the kibbutz, most of the energy of the membership was directed toward this goal. No absolute statistics are available, but the fact is that hundreds of young men and women did go through the ranks of the movement, many achieving aliya and many drifting away before taking the final steps towards self-realization. Those who settled in Israel have made notable contribution to the life of the country. The chaverim who came to Israel faced many special problems: lack of adequate preparations, an easy road back to America , insufficient understanding of their mentality on the part of the Israelis…”

“The overall influence of Hechalutz cannot be measured solely by the number of pioneers who went to Israel under its auspices. Many more young people, having had some contact with the movement, must have been inspired to venture abroad and see what the experiment was all about. The adult Zionist movement, too, gained spiritual substance during the nearly two decades when Hechalutz was in its prime."

Another view of the Hechalutz Training Farm Dormitory 

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SAVE THE DATE

The Annual Meeting of the Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County will be held on Monday, May 19 th .

The time and place are to be determined and will be announced as more details become available.

All members are encouraged to attend.

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Jump into the Talent Pool

We near a special time in the history of the JHMOMC, the opening of the barn/museum space is a momentous and exciting event. With this special event comes challenges to our board and membership to step up and be counted. We need your talent and commitment to keep moving forward and make this museum all it can be. The following needs come to mind and if a certain area of interest inspires and excites your interest please contact Michael Berman at 732-685-7377, Jean Klerman at Jeanklerman@verizon.net, or reach out to us at our web site www.jhmomc.org

Building Operations ,

Ushering and being a guide during Museum Operations, special events and programs

Fundraising

Comes in many forms and projects, it is very important to the success of any non profit organization and can be a part of any exhibit, program or performance. Gala events, art exhibits, klezmer/jazz fest, Matzah Ball making competition, the biggest Latke event and Museum gift shop all have fundraising potential. The fact is fundraising can be fun, keep smiling and join the party.

Theatrical and Sound System operations ,

Operating and understanding the creative potential of the Museums custom lighting and sound design system. This system includes a digital projector, sound and lighting elements that make our performance space a versatile and dynamic place to produce theatrical, musical and performance programming. A system is only as good as the people who understand the potential and enjoy the process of “putting on a show”. The system has been designed with simplicity in mind so do not fear if you have no previous experience, but being available and enjoying the process are critical. College and upper level High school students interested in backstage or theatrical careers are welcome.

Photographic and digital Video documentation

great opportunity to preserve them if we don't make every effort to photograph and video tape them.

Thank you for your continued interest and commitment to this project. Please feel free to pass on the above opportunities for involvement on to others even if you, yourself, are not able to sign on. The power of participation will drive our success.

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Do you have photographs, memorabilia, or ephemera that highlight Jewish life in Monmouth County ? If so, the Museum's Curatorial and Exhibits Committee would like to hear from you.

We are currently preparing the story that will become the Museum's first major exhibit, “From Peddler to Suburbanite, A Timeline of Jewish Life in Monmouth County over Three Centuries.”

The Curatorial and Exhibits Committee is looking for items that illustrate various periods in our county's Jewish history, including the colonial period, the Jewish Newport at the Jersey Shore, the 19 th century German Jewish immigration and the Eastern Jewish immigration of the late 19 th and 20 th -centuries. Other topics will include chicken farming, Roosevelt , synagogues and a history of anti-Semitism in the county.

If you would like your items considered for this exhibit, please contact Scott Peters at (732) 492-9216, e-mail at scott@latke.net .

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Program News!

In Celebration of Israel's 60 th Anniversary, The Jewish Heritage Museum of Monmouth County and The Jewish Community Center of Greater Monmouth Present:

ZIMEL RESNICK AND THE FORMATION OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL

A slide talk on one of the most exciting stories in Monmouth County 's Jewish History as presented by family and friends .

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

At the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center, 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, N.J.

Registration is Required.

Please contact Edith Glasser, JCC Senior Program Director, at 732-531-9100 ext.125, or JHMOMC Program Co-Chairs Gloria Berman, 732-780-1220 or Carol Cohen at Cohencrew@AOL.com.

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Givng is a Gift that keeps Giving

By Michael Berman, Co-President

The JHMOMC is a non profit organization that relies on the generosity of people, foundations and businesses to thrive. We now need your contribution more than ever and offer the following as a way of joining us in support of the grand opening of the JHMOMC.

There is still time to join the JHMOMC as a charter member . That will include anyone who has joined between our February 2006 incorporation to June 30, 2008. Classifications of membership range from $15.00 to $1,000 (see membership application on the back cover of this newsletter.

The Genesis Garden :

There is still time to have your name included on a Genesis Garden installation in the museum space.

$3,600 will plant your name on the root of our tree

$1800.00 and over will be listed as a trunk

$1,000.00 and over will be listed as a branch

$360.00 and over will be listed as a leaf

Buy a Brick and have your name inscribed in our personalized brick flagpole courtyard at just $118.00 (space is limited so don't delay)

Become a major contributor to the Building on Memory capital fund drive.

Receive a personal tour of the museum space and be given the following opportunities to become a permanent part of the JHMOMC

Your name ( family, foundation, business etc.) above the JHMOMC performance space

Your name (family, foundation, business etc.) above Individual exhibit areas within the Museum

Your Name (family, foundation, business etc.) inscribed on display cases

The above opportunities and dollar amounts can be discussed privately with interested parties or their representatives. Please feel free to contact Michael Berman at 732-685-7377 for a private tour and to receive a presentation folio describing the above opportunities in much greater detail.

Thank you for your support.

Support the JHMOMC