The Pride of Judea Childrens' Home,
on Dumont Ave. in the East New York section of Brooklyn, NY.
It was "home" to hundreds of children between 1923 and 1959.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

HISTORY OF THE PRIDE OF JUDEA PJCH TIMELINE PRIDE OF JUDEA ORPHAN HOME U.S. CENSUS - APRIL, 1930 NEW DIRECTOR

ALUMNI INFORMATION Alumni History Programs & Activities Project Help Program Memorial Plaque Florida Branch Membership Further History Contacts Location of Current Alumni

CURRENT NEWS

"AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS" by Stan Friedland and Phil Craft ---------- Amazon Editorial Review Amazon Customer Reviews A Critique by Sam George Arcus Thank you Stan and Phil! - Karin Peterson

PHOTO ALBUM

PJCH MEMORIAL PLAQUE Residents and Staff

Updated 11-05-2007

HISTORY OF THE PJCH

In 1916, a number of Eastern European Jewish immigrant men were concerned by the number of Jewish families, who, having come here, could not care for their large families, and had to farm out many of their children to foster homes. Under the able leadership of philanthropist, Max Blumberg, they developed the idea for a small "children's home" that could provide a better setting for these children until their parents could bring them back together again, and started to raise funds for its construction. The result of their labors, the Pride of Judea Children's Home, located at 1000 Dumont Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn, N.Y. was opened in 1923 with less than 100 Jewish children as its first residents. With a co-ed population, ranging in age from 4 to 18, it offered its young residents, eight bed comfortable rooms, the opportunity to go to neighborhood schools, a good Jewish education, clean clothes, satisfactory food and varied opportunities to develop their interests and aptitudes. Children could stay there through high school, for the most part, and there was heavy emphasis on school success.

In the 1950's, the social service emphasis changed to foster care, and with the residential population of "The Home" dwindling down to just a few children, the PJCH, in 1959, closed down as a residential setting and re-opened as a mental health out-patient facility. During its 36 year life as a children's home, with its peak capacity of 200-220 children, it had served as home for upwards of 1500 children.

In 1971, the Pride of Judea Mental Health Center moved to Douglaston, Queens, N.Y. and continued its development as an outstanding mental health facility that serviced people of all ages and backgrounds, on a sliding fee basis, based on their ability to pay. In the mid-90's, it became affiliated with the Jewish Board of Children and Family Services, which is its identity today.

Contents

THE PRIDE OF JUDEA TIMELINE

April 16, 1923- Pride of Judea Orphan Home, 992 Dumont Avenue (East New York) Brooklyn, receives its first 75 residents - infants and children thru age five. It is one of the last Jewish orphanages built in the U.S.A.

January, 1924- six recently orphaned (Snyder) sisters, four to 13 years old, are admitted to the Pride. This action will effect a change in the Home's age policy when infants and toddlers are no longer admitted and the minimum age is gradually raised to five years.

1925- P.S.202 opens its doors, will be elementary school to hundreds of Pride children.

THE PRIDE IN 1930

April, 1930 marked the start of the Pride of Judea Orphan Home's eighth year of operation and time when the decennial census was conducted. As mandated in federal law it would be 72 more years before detailed information of the Home's 215 residents would become available to the public.

Their names and ages, as best deciphered from the handwritten document, are listed below. A review of the entries indicates that about 60 % (127) of the residents were boys and most of all the residents were age 10 or younger. (Note- the Home began as an institution for infants and other children under five and it would be several years before the age levels were to rise. In 1930 the numbers of residents by age groups were;

1 to 3 -16; 3 to 6- 54; 6 to 10- 98; 10 to 13- 41; and over 13 years old - 6.

This record was developed because of the following reasons:

1) A number of persons on the list are alive and other alumni, who were admitted at later dates, could also be familiar with some of the boys and girls.

(2) Several names are followed by a "?" indicating uncertainty and readers might provide help with the correct spelling. (Martha Snyder Miller assisted us in this undertaking)

(3) This information has been posted to aid a grandchild, or others, seeking to locate a family member.

(4) Finally, the 1930 census contains a wealth of information for anyone interested in Pride of Judea history. Here are just a few examples:

Our alumni chapter was named in memory of Rose Nadler Schefer. Milton Schneider came to the Pride in December, 1923, at age nine days, making him the earliest known resident. Four of the six Snyder sisters are recorded- Freda, now an Atlanta resident, just celebrated her 95th birthday, while Martha, 92, lives in Pensacola along with Claire, 96, (left the Pride in November 1929 and not included). On the other hand, brothers Harry and Marty Zalinsky were admitted just prior to the census. Several names are associated with Pride's joyful and/or tragic moments. Ashur Passes, appears in a 1932 photo of the senior band as well as one taken of the (first?) b'nei mitzvah class, the same year. His name is also on the list of seven Rockaway beach drowning victims, August, 1933. A number of the boys were to experience WWII military service and two, Daniel Goodman and Isidore Halperin, died in action.

Most of the boys and girls included in the 1930 Pride census were (and several continue) to live full and productive lives, many to become parents and grandparents. Look upon this list as 215 names with 215 stories. by pmh

Early 1930's - The institution's name is changed to Pride of Judea Children's Home-in recognition of the fact that many of the residents are not "orphans".

Religious (Orthodox Judaism) education for boys is provided by a rabbi and teachers in the Home's classrooms. In addition to each Sabbath, most Jewish holidays are observed. The year 1932 marked the earliest known b'nei mitzvah and consisted of sixteen boys. At some later date the b'nei mitzvah will become annual weekend event with the ceremony to be held in the Home's synagogue on Saturday morning followed by a fund raising banquet at Brooklyn's St. George Hotel on the next day.

August 8, 1933- A summer outing at Edgemere Beach in the Rockaways turns to tragedy with the drowning deaths of seven boys, ages 10 to 14. The event is the front page headline story for New York as well as newspapers in other cities.

1937-third floor is added and new dormitories accommodate all of girls. Many other interior changes are made to accommodate an older and larger resident population. (The term "inmates" is no longer used).

November 9, 1938- Max Blumberg, the Pride's founder and president, dies while conducting a radio appeal for contributions. Treasurer Jacob H. Cohen succeeds him.

1930's + Memorable staff members include: resident physician, Dr. Sarah Demick; her assistant and night nurse Rose Gorelick; housekeeper- Eleanor Gatner; her assistant- Ida Silver; younger boys' supervisor Ida Braverman and Ben Karp, security guard.

Early 1940's- PJCH population peaks at about 275 residents, with even distribution of ages from five to 18. Popular boys' supervisors include: Lou Feigelson; Sam Arcus and "Mr. Charles" Vladimer.

Milton Schneider, who was admitted in December, 1923 when he was nine days old, is discharged in July 1941 age 17 the longest tenured resident.

Martin D. Sharp, a benefactor, donates two large private homes in Long Beach which become the summer facility.

During WW II (1941- 1945) - The Pride receives several refugee children from war torn European countries. More than 100 former residents and staff personnel serve in the military with four known killed in action: Daniel Goodman; Isidore Halperin; Jack Rabkin and Dr. Maxwell J. Papurt, PJCH superintendent, 1939-42. On the "home front" the kids follow the world news; correspond with alumni in the service; work their victory garden and look forward to summer vacation time in Long Beach.

Post WWII- Number of residents and new admissions begin to decline. For the first time, girls are included in the annual b'nai mitzvah ceremonies.

Efforts ('47-'48) by supervisors Charlie Vladimer, Harry Koval as well as long term employees Ida Braverman and Reba Weingust to unionize, results in their dismissal.

The title "counselor" replaces "supervisor" and "executive director" for "superintendent".

1950's-. Resident population continues to decline and there are no new admissions after 1954. In June, 1959 arrangements are made for placement of the remaining 30 adolescent children. After 36 years of service the Pride of Judea Children's Home ceases to exist.

1960 - The building reopens with a new name and mission - Pride of Judea Child Guidance Clinic and a related Family Aide Service. Warren Deutsch, C.S.W. is appointed director and Melvin Scharfman M.D., psychiatrist and child specialist, consultant. The clinic's program for emotionally disturbed children is designated Public School 300 by the New York City Board of Education.

1962- After 24 years of service as head of the Pride as an institution and outpatient service, Jacob H. Cohen is succeeded by Maurice Bernhardt, a district court judge.

1972- Clinic relocates to Douglaston, Queens where it provides, on non-sectarian basis, psychiatric services to all area residents (Paula Held will become the director in 1980).

Mid-1982- Several hundred Pride of Judea Children's Home alumni attend reunion at a Comack, Long Island roller skate rink. The primary sponsors are the facility's owners:

Irv, Joyce and Marv Schneider.

June, 1985- An alumni chapter of former PJCH residents is established and named in honor of the late Rose Nadler Schefer R.N., who lived in the Home for 16 years. In addition to a professional nursing career Rose was an active volunteer at the mental health clinic and dreamed of an alumni organization that would assist the "new" Pride in its important work. Manny Fineberg and Stan Friedland had a major role in its organization. Since its inception, the PJCH alumni chapter and individual members make financial contributions to the successor agency which publishes this Newsletter. Each year there is a picnic for alumni and family members and a (Chanukah) brunch is held at the JBFCS Building in Douglaston.

September, 1998- An Orphan Has Many Parents is co-authored by Phil Craft and Stan Friedland. It recounts the history of the Pride of Judea Children's Home with stories and photos of the residents and many of the people who worked there. The Long Island Newsday carries a feature story about the book and resulting publicity results in many more alumni reconnecting with the organization.

1999- Pride of Judea Mental Health Center becomes a division of the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services.

Fall, 2001- The center is renamed Pride of Judea Community Services- offers outpatient services and a variety of programs for very diverse population of Northeast Queens.

Fall, 2002- After 18 years as editor of the Newsletter, Stan Friedland is succeeded by Paul M. Hirsch pjch992@bellsouth.net.

Responses to a mail survey indicate that the average age of the alumni is 70. Many readers are either surviving spouses of alumni members or friends of the institution.

January 2004- Ina and Morrie Sloop organize a reunion luncheon for the sizeable number of PJCH alumni living in south Florida and more than 25 attend. Current contact in that area is Saul Tilson nas7777@adelphia.net

Fall, 2004- Paula Held steps down as Director of the Pride of Judea Community Services and Shoshana Garber is appointed to the position.

January, 2006 - The American Jewish Historical Society presents an exhibit "Cradled in Judea" at New York's Center for Jewish History. Subtitled "Jewish Orphanages in New York, 1860-1960" the Pride of Judea is one of four institutions that are featured in this unique presentation which will run for six months.

Updated September, 2005 -----

Updated October, 2007

The Pride of Judea MentalHealth Center recently joined with, and is now a part of, the the JEWISH BOARD FOR FAMILY and CHILDREN'S SERVICES.

PRIDE OF JUDEA - MENTAL HEALTH CENTER
243-02 Northern Boulevard
Douglaston, NY 11362-1199

1930 PRIDE OF JUDEA ORPHAN HOME U.S. CENSUS - APRIL, 1930

Name and Age
(Listed by first letter of last name-
NOT in strict alphabetical order)
 

Adler, Leon 8 Abrotsky, Jerome 5 Birenbaum, Shirley 5 Birenbaum, Franklin 4 Bass, Ida .....3 Bach, David 8 Berger, Dorothy 8 Berger, Abraham 10 Bichel, Gladys 5 Berry, David 11 Blum, Joseph 8 Borsen, Beverly 1 Borsen, Sidney 5 Brown, Lester 9 Behr, David 11 Cohen, Samuel 9 Cohen, Gusman 8 Cohen, Rebecca 5 Diamond, Manuel 6 Diamond, Ralph 5 Dreisen, Miriam 3 Dreisen, Israel 2 Dropkin, Solomon 4 Elkind, Jeanette 1 Eisenberg, Aileene 4 Evans, Joseph 12 Evans, Meyer 9 Feinstein, Jacob 8 Feinstein, Mary 7 Fishstein, Rubin 8 Fox, Samuel 9 Friedman, Helen 8 Friedman, Ruth 4 Feinman, Leonard 6 Finkel, Morris 5 Fisher, Esther 13 Fishman, Florence 3 Fishman, Lilian 1 Feldman, William 10 Gendler, Lilian 3 Gelnick, Joseph 10 Goldblum, Freda 8 Goldblum, Elaine 3 Goldstein, Fannie 8 Goldstein, Herbert 7 Goldstein, Gloria 2 Goodman, Daniel 4 Goodman, Beatrice 8 Gordon, Esther 4 Gross,Irving 3 Gancer(?). Constance 4 Gold, David 5 Gradinsky, Abraham 9 Halperin, Isidore 12 Halperin, Bertha 9 Harris, Irving 4 Herman, Yetta 10 Hodes, May 7 Hodes, Emanuel 4 Habif, Miriam 6 Horn, Pearl 10 Horn, David 12 Hauptman, Benjamin 10 Hauptman, Seymour 1 Jabish, Gertrude 12 Jabish, Jacob 9 Jacobs, Ruth 8 Jacobs, Elaine 5 Jacobson, Ethel 13 Jacobson, Pearl 11 Jacobson, Jacob 8 Kaflowitz, Henry 2 Kanervogel(?), Hilda 4 Karel, Minnie 8 Karel, Morris 4

Katz, Sarah 12 Kaufman, George 10 Kenger, Arthur 9 Kenger, Leonard 11 Klausman(?) Clara 9 Klausman (?) Philip 7 Kotlick, Helen 2 Krichman, Shirley 6 Krinick,Ethel 7 Krinick, Rebecca 11 Kurtzman, Ruth 8 Landrum, Marie 7 Lapidus, Benjamin 9 Lapidus, Charles 8 Labowich, Leo 3 Labowich, Maxwell 2 Levine, Rubin 2 Levinson, Sol 6 Levinson, Leo 5 Levinson, Hyman 8 Liebman, Martin 9 Liebman, Louis 8 Lillian, Leon 8 Lillian, Edward 5 Lipkin, Isidore 11 London, Florence 8 Meltzer, Mathilda 1 Markowitz, Abraham 9 Maurer, Annette 11 Mednick, Ida 8 Mednick, Bessie 5 Mendelsohn, Shirley 12 Michaels, Louis 8 Moonblatt, Ray 11 Moonblatt, Israel 5 Nadler, Florence 11 Nadler, Rose 8 Newmark, Charlotte 4 Newmark, Estelle 7 Nossmari (?), Lila 6 Orlens, Pearl 7 Orlens, Alvin 4 Podlofsky, Isidore 6 Podlofsky, Mildred 4 Pearlman, Harry 10 Pearlman, Freda 8 Pearlman, Anna 9 Parker, George 5 Pearl, Laura 6 Perigofky(?) Philip 8 Podersky, Lillian 9 Podersky, Miriam 7 Press, Joseph 7 Pirsimony, Nathan 10 Pirsimony, Joseph 6 Pirsimony, Thelma 5 Pollack, Michael 5 Passes, Joseph 11 Passes, Ashur 10 Potashkin, Meyer 11 Pertigh, Pauline 9 Pertigh, Aaron 5 Prelitsky, Hana 9 Priven, Morris 9 Priven, Bernard 11 Rappoport, Ethel 11 Rappoport, Abraham 9 Rauter(?) Jacob 7 Rauter(?) Rose 5 Resnick, Benjamin 9 Resnick, Irving 7 Rice, Jacob 8 Rice, Stanley 5 Rice, Hortence 7 Rosenberg, Manuel 6

Rosenberg, Marsha 1 Rosenberg, George 6 Rothman, Bernard 4 Rubelsky(?) David 8 Rubin, Miriam 8 Sacks, Morris 10 Sacks, Ida ..........7 Salady, Irene 3 Saltz, Herbert 6 Schacter, Leon 7 Schank, Ruth 6 Schank, Nathan 3 Schneider, Milton 6 Schneider, David 4 Schulman, Bernice 7 Schwartziet, Israel 4 Schwartziet, Max 6 Sedletzky, Bernard 8 Seitel, Shirley 7 Seretzsky, Martin 2 Serkin, Ida 9 Serkin, Samuel 1 Shaket, Benjamin 8 Shambrom, Sylvia 10 Shapiro,Bernard 6 Shapiro, Pearl 4 Shapiro,Edward 3 Shatoff, Frank 9 Shatoff, Hyman 7 Siegler, Isidore 9 Siever, Anna 6 Silverman, William 11 Silverman, Hyman 7 Silberman, Joseph 10 Silberman, Samuel 8 Sklar, Gertrude 3 Snyder, Freda 17 Snyder, Martha 15 Snyder, Rose 13 Snyder, Edith 12 Sokoloff, Sonia 2 Solomon, William 10 Sossis, Jacob 4 Steinberg, Edward 11 Swidlow, Rosalind 8 Thompson, Charles 9 Tiche, Benjamin 3 Tobin, Harry 5 Uretzky, Shirley 5 Uretzky, Leon 3 Wiener, Arthur 10 Weinberg, Bernard 8 Weinstein, Jennie 7 Weinstein, Hyman 9 Weinstein, Isidore 8 Weinbroad, Samuel 6 Weissman, Daniel 7 Weitz, William 5 Wolodiger, Nathan 4 Wollson, Barnett 10 Zalinsky, Harry 6 Zalinsky, Martin 2 Zucker, Sylvia 7 Zucker, Abraham 10 Zucker, Harry 11 x x x x x x x x x x

NEW DIRECTOR

The Alumni Chapter of the PJCH still works closely with its namesake successor, which has undergone a slight name change. It's now called the Pride of Judea Community Services Division, which is part of the Jewish Board of Family & Children's Services. (JBFCS). Under the very able direction of Ms. Shoshana Garber, this outstanding mental health center, still located in Douglaston, Queens, New York, offers a full range of counseling and community services to people of all ages, ethnicities and needs. Ms. Garber can be reached at 718-423-6200-X254.

Contents

ALUMNI INFORMATION

Alumni History:

In the mid eighties, the alumni of the Pride came together in a more organized way and developed a chapter, known as the Rose Nadler Schefer Alumni Chapter of the PJCH, in memory of an active alumnus who had wanted such a chapter and who had given strong volunteer service to the Mental Health Center. This chapter has been an active one since then. It has a mailing list of some 235 people, meets for an annual pre-Hanukah brunch each year; has a June picnic, and distributes a Newsletter some five times a year. The Chapter has a yearly dues of $25, has a Project Help Fund to help needy alumni, has a memorial plaque to commemorate alumni deaths, and constantly seeks to locate any and all missing PJCH alumni.

The Chapter, at present, is governed by an Executive Board of some 8 people. The contact person, who welcomes contact from all alumni, is

Stan Friedland, 10 Circle Drive, Syosset, N.Y. 11791, 516-681-7921, stanfree@verizon.net.

If you're an alumnus, or know of one, we invite you to contact Stan to renew your connection to this part of your life.

Programs & Activities:

The alumni meet twice per year, once in a picnic, and once at a pre-Hanukah Brunch. The picnic is held at Valley Stream State Park on Long Island, N.Y. It's usually on the 1st or 2nd Sunday in June. The Brunch takes place at the Pride of Judea Mental Health Center in Douglaston, Queens, N.Y., usually on the Sunday before Hanukah. Both affairs are funded by the Alumni Chapter.

Project Help Program:

The chapter has a separate fund to provide financial grants to alumni in financial distress. All such information is held in strict confidentiality.

Memorial Plaque:

The names of deceased alumni and supervisors are placed on this plaque, located in the Mental Health Center.

Florida Branch:

With many alumni having moved to Florida, a series of informal lunches are held each year, usually on the East coast, to maintain relationships, etc.

Membership:

Dues for membership each year have been $25.

Further History:

In 1982, thanks to the research and wonderful effort of the Schneider family, a mammoth national mailing went out to every alumnus who could be located, to attend a gala reunion of Pride of Judea alumni. The Schneiders shut down their skating rink, located in Commack, Long Island, New York, on a June Sunday and were delighted to see several hundred alumni, from all over the country, walk animatedly through their doors. From this event, a sizable mailing list was developed, which, several years later, became the basis of a successful effort to form an ongoing and active alumni chapter.

The chapter was named after a lovely female alumnus, Rose Nadler Schefer, whose last wish before she lost her battle to cancer, was for an active alumni chapter. Formed in 1985, this alumni chapter, at present, has a mailing list of over two hundred names, has two strong social events each year, publishes a colorful newsletter 4 times per year, has a number of interesting programs, and tries to support the work of its namesake, the Pride of Judea Mental Health Center.

For information to subscribing to the NEWSLETTER contact Chris Pearson at cpearson@jbfcs.org

Contacts:

For any information on joining or learning more about this Alumni Chapter, contact....

Stan Friedland
10 Circle Drive
Syosset, N.Y. 11791
516-681-7921
stanfree@verizon.net

or

Ms. Chris Pearson
Pride of Judea Mental Health Center
243-02 Northern Blvd.
Douglaston, N.Y. 11362
718-423-6200
cpearson@jbfcs.org

Location of Current Alumni:

STATE	ALUMNI
New York	77
Florida	43
New Jersey	15
California	14
Texas & Ohio	4 (each)
Connecticut	3
Arizona, Georgia, Illinois & Pennsylvania	2 (each)
Maryland, Massachussetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico	1 (each)

Data supplied by Paul Hirsch, from our current mailing list, January, 2002.

Contents

CURRENT NEWS

The Alumni Newsletter is mailed out 5 - 6 times a year, except for the summer. If you're not on our mailing list and want your name added, please contact Chris Pearson, at

cpearson@jbfcs.org

**********

There are now three books authored by our "Hall of Fame" former Supervisor, Sam Arcus. They are entitled: "Deja Views of an Aging Orphan", "The HNOH", authored with others, and, "Journeys", (soon to be published), which is a sequel to the first one. Congratulations to Sam, who has become a veritable "Grandpa Moses" in his prolific latter years!

To read about any of the three, go to the HNOH BOOK REVIEWS site. Enjoy!

To order any book, please go to the ONLINE BOOKSTORE Page on this website.

......and you won't be sorry. In fact, we'll get Sam to autograph any of them for you, long distance of course (unless you want to fly to Tucson, Arizona).

**********

We will use this category to provide a sort of bulletin board for current happenings and news. It's for you to use as well. Just drop me (Stan Friedland) a note containing any news or message or information, or whatever, that you'd like to insert. Simple as that. My e-mail address is listed above.

Contents

"AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS"

Stan Friedland, along with his fellow alumnus, Phil Craft, wrote a fine book about the PJCH, in 1998. Entitled, An Orphan Has Many Parents, it provided a comprehensive look at this children's home, its memorable supervisors, and a first hand account from many of its residents. Published by KTAV Publishing (Hoboken, N.J.), it can be purchased at any book store, or by contacting the publisher OR from the ONLINE BOOKSTORE Page on this website.

Editorial Review:

From Booklist August 19, 1998

Craft and Friedland were raised in the Pride of Judea Children's Home, an orphanage in Brooklyn, during the Depression. Craft's mother died in childbirth. He was sent to an infant home for five years, a time filled with "indescribable terror and misery." Craft was then transferred to the Judea Home in 1932, where he stayed for 14 years. Here Craft found the adults and peers that became the family he so desperately wanted and needed. Friedland, then nine, and his older brother were sent to Judea Home in 1940 after running away from a foster home where they had been abused for three years. Friedland spent seven years in the home. These two authors recall their daily lives, including sleeping arrangements, food and clothing provisions, sports activities, religious studies, and music instruction. They remember the caring parent figures who ran the Jewish orphanage and the colorful crew of fellow orphans. This is a remarkable memoir, both entertaining and moving. George Cohen

Contents

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding memoir of growing up in a unique orphanage., November 21, 1998

Reviewer: calidogs@aol.com from California

Phil Craft's mother died giving birth to him. Rejected outright by his father, he immediately was placed in a foundling home, where, according to his own words, he was "terrorized" for five years, the very first five years of his life! He then was transferred to an orphange, where he thought he was being sent to die. Little did he know then that the orphange would save his life instead. It was the Pride of Judea Children's Home in Brooklyn, New York. He would emerge from that Home thirteen years later, a stronger human being, ready to get on with the rest of his life. PeeWee Friedland and his older brother, Bernie, were stuck in an abusive foster home for three and one half years. Finallt, they could take it no longer and they ran away. Where to next? It was a despondent time. One more bad placement, Pee Wee thought, and he'd be a wreck for life. But good fortune smiled upon them. They were placed in the same orphanage as Phil, the Pride of Judea. Peewee Friedland would be helped immeasurably by the place and his life would be turned around. Just what kind of orphanage was the Pride of Judea and who were these surrogate parent figures who helped these orphans so much? This book, written by Messrs. Craft and Friedland, is a fascinating memoir of this orphanage, complete with its entire scene, its colorful cast of characters, and a full description of the wonderful people who staffed it. In fact, three of the main four adult figures, (all still alive) give their own first hand account of their experiences in the orphanage. The result is a poignant and moving memoir of two kids initially thrown on the scrap heap, only to be resurrected by a unique institution staffed by caring adults. Another related theme is raised, starting with a powerful foreword to the book by Father Val J. Peter, the Executive Director of the most well known orphanage in the world, Boys'Town. The theme, further elaborated on by the authors in an excellent final chapter, strongly recommends that small quality orphanages can definitely meet the needs of many of the three quarter million children who are shuttled through foster care today in this country with very poor results. These small orphanages would serve their needs far better and should be considered as strong options to the one track system of foster care. This book is an excellent read, and as one review put it, "a remarkable memoir, both moving and entertaining."

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Outstanding, sensitive comment on life in orphanage, November 20, 1998

Reviewer: kushelg@aol.com from Florida--USA

Friedland, especially, is very very sensitive and an excellent writer. Shows that being an orphan is necessarily a hardship. Can be an advantage. He is a modern hero.

Contents

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A Critique---by Sam George Arcus

When I was asked to write a critique of AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS, I wondered if I was an appropriate person to do so, considering the fact that I was so close to the project from its very beginning, and that I'm one of the "characters" in the book, and finally that I contributed material for it. In short, that I have a vested interest in the work and its success. Several vested interests in fact. The first one just described above. A second vested interest because of my own literary efforts involving my book DEJA VIEWS OF AN AGING ORPHAN dealing with growing up in the Hebrew National Orphan Home. If Phil's and Stan's book does well in the market place, it bodes well for my own contribution. So could I be objective enough to write an honest critique?

And yet, despite all these doubts, I felt that I WANTED to write a critique. Who better to do so? I was raised in an orphanage and spent my entire adult life as a practicing social worker specializing in child and family and community welfare across the length and breath of the land. If my possible "conflict of interests" creates doubt about my objectivity, then let's agree at the outset that the critique is highly subjective. But that does not necessarily make the points I will make any the less valid.

Most importantly, AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS breaks new ground for the field of orphanology---a term created by Stan Friedland because one was required. Heretofore most, if not all books dealing with orphans in orphanages focused on everything but the orphans. Oh there were references to the children and the impact social conditions (such as civil war, depressions, changing philosophies) had upon the children's upbringing. But mostly they focused on dates of successive administrations, of the superintendents and their boards, mostly derived from the minutes of the board of directors. They focused on the politics of the struggle for the control of the institutions, which when finally achieved in one instance was the cause for the establishment of two other orphanages. But they did not draw the picture of what it was like growing up in the orphanage such as AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS has done.

Father Val J. Peter, in his Foreword writes: "The authors of AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS have captured not only the history of the Pride of Judea, but recaptured many of the real 'feelings' that were generated there." He further writes: "When I finished this book, I felt I really knew orphanage life at the Pride of Judea." And finally he states: "So much good was done in such orphanages, but virtually no record exists about what life was like there."

Until NOW! AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS breaks new ground in this regard and in so doing paves the way for similar works, such as my own book, DEJA VIEWS OF AN AGING ORPHAN, focused on life in the Hebrew National Orphan Home in the outskirts of Yonkers, NY, and another HNOH book-in-progress, THE HEBREW NATIONAL ORPHAN HOME: Memories of Orphan Life, edited by Ira Greenberg, Richard Safran and Sam George Arcus, all alumni of that institution. All these works focus on the activities of daily living.

While AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS presents a brief history of the Pride of Judea Childrens Home, it is not a history of the Pride. Rather it is more a memoir--in fact--two memoirs in one book, with contributions from some of its celebrated supervisors, the ones referred to as "Many Parents" in the title. The book, therefore is different, if not unique from other books about orphanages in that it gives the reader, as Father Vail J. Peters has written, a fairly complete picture of life in an orphanage institution. The authors, Phil Craft and Stan Friedland, enable the reader to SHARE their orphanage experiences. Or at least provide the reader with a vicarious PJCH experience. Other orphanages have other stories to tell.

Both Craft and Friedland provided the reader with wide-ranging experiences providing a balance of pathos and positives. By the very personal nature of these experiences they made their histories compelling and alive. Imagine, history that is compelling and alive! And presenting almost universal tones of positiveness of the PJCH experience. Thus the book flies in the face of the heretofore stereotyped views of orphanages, and the prevailing perceptions of them as other manifestations of the OLIVER TWIST experience.

AN ORPHAN HAS MANY PARENTS is a most welcome addition to the field of orphanology and the growing number of volumes dealing with such a vital child-care issue.

Contents

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Thank you Stan and Phil!

I only recently met Stan through email as I am seeking stories of orphans who are making a difference. Stan told me about the book that he and Phil Craft jointly wrote. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down. It was insightful, heartwarming, humorous, and most of all a story of two peoples journey through the years at the Pride. I am an orphan who had a totally different experience, and what I've learned is that each orphan has a different experience. Reading books such as An Orphan Has Many Parents, I sensed the history during that time period, I felt the pain they felt, the sadness they felt, the joy they felt and the determination they felt. They saw hope outside of the walls and pursued that hope, that dream. Stan and Phil have truly made a difference in my life as well as the lives of many.

Karin Peterson founder of the Orphan Connection

Contents

PHOTO ALBUM

The dining room of the Pride.
The shirts and ties on all males probably means this is our Passover Sedar.
It was a comfortable room.

Flag raising each morning at our summer home in Long Beach, NY.
Only one block from the beach, it was a great place to spend our summers.

The interior yard at the Pride.
Basketball was the most popular activity.
Although many other things took place.

The playing fields of the Pride.
Softball and football were our prevalent activities during the day.
The summer house (gazebo) was a favortie spot for romantic meetings at night.

Our Home, the Pride of Judea Childrens' Home
at 1000 Dumont Ave., in East New York, Brooklyn, NY

The Mental Health Center, in Douglaston, NY
bearing its name

The Bar-Mitzvah Boys pose with the founder of the Pride,
Max Blumberg, probably around 1937

The man who succeeded Max Blumberg,
was Jacob H. Cohen,seen here with Bar-Mitzvah Boys
(the year was 1942)

Max Blumberg's wife, Lena, also was active.
She's seen here with Bas-Mitvah girls
(probably about 1946-7)

Two "Legendary" Pride Supervisors,
Sam Arcus (left), & Charlie Vladimer
(in their early 20's)

Scenes from the Annual Picnic of our Alumni Chapter
The picnic is held each June at Valley Stream State Park in Valley Stream, Long Island.
It will be held this year on June 10th.

The Book, "An Orphan Has Many Parents,"
was launched at a book-signing party that benefited the Mental Health Center.
Shown left to right is: Harry Koval, Barbara Bine Rosenberg, Barbara Goldstein Ritzer,
Manny Fineberg, Judy Cooper, Charlie Vladimer, Phil Craft, Stan Friedland, and Jerry Bine.

The Book, "An Orphan Has Many Parents," paid tribute to
two superb supervisors, our surrogate parents.
Where are they now? They're alive and well and pictured above.
From L to R: Elayne Hirsch, Phil Craft, Harry Koval (88 yrs. young),
Charlie Vladimer (82), and Paul Hirsch

Charles Vladimer, Lou Feigelson and Sam Arcus

From L to R: Lou Feigelson (80), Paul Hirsch and
Sam Arcus (78), author of his own book, "Deja Views Of An Aging Orphan"

Contents

PJCH MEMORIAL PLAQUE

The Alumni Chapter of the PJCH pays tribute to its deceased by posting their names on a memorial plaque, located at the Pride building in Douglaston, N.Y.

As of June, 2006....
Please Note: Names of married females are listed in alphabetical order
by their married names, followed by given and maiden names.

Anthony, Goldie Arcus, Adele Rosenthal Brenner, Stanley Bine, Jerry Brownstein, Roz Solomon Charles, Myrna Cohen, Gus Drescher, Rose Druckman, Red Duman, Jacob Evans, Raymond Faiderman, George Familier, Rose Feigelman, Norm Feldman, William Fischer, Warren Frankel, Selma Levitt Friedland, Bernard Friedman, Boris Friedman, Claire Friedman, Ruth Adelman Garfinkel, Anna Ginsberg, Leon Gobstein, Carl Gold, Alvin Goldberg, Goldie Goldman, George Goldstein, Arthur Goodman, Daniel Gordon, Albert Gordon, Harry Haklai, Michael, Rabbi Halperin, Isidore Hauptman, Benjamin Heymowitz, Maxine Kaplan, Louis (Whitey) Koppleman, Marvin Krechevsky, George Kreigsman, Regina Sinski Kresh, Lenny Kresh, Lona Leibowitz Lefkowitz, Jack Lefkowitz, Morty Leitz, Lou

Lenchner, Selma Weiss Levy, Ann  Levy, Estelle Gladstone Liederman, Rose Snyder  Lurye Leonard Maggin Seymour Meyers, Selma Miloff, Henry Nagel, Abe Nagel, Miriam Lachowsky Nyholm, Loretta Olans Jerome Olans, Alvin Olans, Phyllis Papurt, Maxwell Passer, Asher Pechenick, Clara Pechenick, Edith Pechenick, Milton Pechenick, Stanley Polashkin, Meyer Poltzakie, Meyer Rabkin, Jack Ringel, David Rogers, Sylvia Rothstein, Robert Saffer, Irving Schacter, Leon Schefer, Rose Nadler Schiffman, Sally Marine Schrader, Rhoda Kurtzman Schwartz, Rose Schwartzberg, Sy (Blackie) Schwartzite, Max Shabster, Leon Sloop, Morrie Swahlen, Sylvia (Frenchy) Ulanoff, Arnie Ulanoff, Milton Vinograd, Richard Weinstein, Bert Weiselberg, Bernard Weiss, Sol  Zalinsky, Harry

STAFF

Bierson, Mrs. Blumberg, Max & Lena Braverman, Ida Cohen, Jacob, H. Demick, Dr. Sarah Garelick, Rose Gatner, Eleanor Goldenberg, George Grunfeld, Charles Halpern, Rabbi Sidney Haklai, Rabbi Michael D. Karp, Ben Koval, Harry & Sarah Nierow, Julius & Mary Papurt, Maxwell J. Rosen, Mrs. Schreiber, Mona Silver, Ida Teitler, Harry Weiner, Mary Weingust, Reba

Contents

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©2004 by Marge Spears-Soloff