German Jews Frederick and Doris Stein became part of the Sanford community, 1946.
After WWII, Stein opened Sanford Jewelry and Luggage on Sanford Avenue. Following his death at age 50, Doris learned to drive a car, run a business and raise a family by herself. She was active in the Pilot Club of Sanford. She organized a naturalization ceremony and participated in many organizations in the Jewish community. Their son Steven and his family live in Central Florida.
Steven Stein
Before settling in Sanford, German native Frederick Stein received these awards from Adolph Hitler in Essen, Germany, for raising his prize black Langschan chickens, 1935.
Stein’s story could be a movie. Forced into a concentration camp during WWII, Stein’s relatives procured a release for him to come to Belize where they lived. He received a $700 loan from the Jewish Agricultural Society to start a chicken farm in Sanford. With that, and an additional $3,000 in support from the Sanford community, he purchased 57 acres to begin his business in America. Before the end of World War II he was actually drafted to fight against Hitler! Stein married Doris Lowenberg in 1945 and she joined him in Sanford.
Collections of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, LHD, Founding Executive Director
Milt Medine shows off his famous cheesecake, c. 1956.
After WWII, Samuel and Esther Medinkowitz’s son Milton and his wife Rae moved permanently to Orlando. He changed his name from Medinkowitz to Medine and opened the delicatessen restaurant Medine’s at 49 W. Central Avenue in the San Juan Hotel. He was famous for his cheesecake and proudly sent one to President Eisenhower at the White House.
Louise and Dick Weiner
The Wise family at wedding of Bluma Wise to Ralph Meitin, 1940.
Bluma of Chattanooga, TN, and Ralph met at the boardwalk on Daytona Beach in 1939. She had come with brother Shally to visit brother Harry at the Orlando Air Force Base. Bluma and Ralph married and, in 1943, settled in Orlando with son Julian. Judith [Toll Cope] and Samuel were born here. Ralph was a president of Congregation Ohev Shalom, on the board of the Florida Symphony Orchestra in its early years, chairman of the Tangerine Bowl (1949) and a president of the Jewish Community Council. Front L-R: Pearl Wise, Fannie Fox Wise, Osher Zelig Wise and Pearl’s parents Mr. & Mrs. Proger; back L-R: Evelyn Meitin, Harry Wise, Ralph, Bluma, Zelig, Shally and Abe Wise
Collections of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, LHD, Founding Executive Director
Celebrating Ralph and Bluma Meitin’s 52nd anniversary in their Ardsley Drive home, the Meitins blend the Shader and Wise family legacies, 1992.
Descendent of pioneers Rose and Israel Shader, Ralph continued the family tradition of community service. His son Julian was president of the Jewish Community Center and a pillar of Temple Israel. His wife Sheryl, a lifelong volunteer for the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando and copresident of the Hebrew Day School, also helped found the Jewish Pavilion. Debbie, widow of Ralph and Bluma’s other son Samuel, is an active community volunteer and former cantorial soloist at Temple Israel. Front L-R: Bluma, Debbie, Jennifer, Rebecca, Sheryl, Judy Meitin [Toll Cope], Dara Toll [Bayllinson]; back L-R: Ralph, Samuel, Julian, Josh, Ross, Jason Toll, Bill Cope
Sheryl and Julian Meitin
At a meeting of young Zionists, Abe Wise met Tess Goldberg, a Holocaust survivor whose uncle brought her to Orlando in 1947, and they became engaged soon after, 1948.
Their marriage continued for 63 years until Abe’s death in 2013. With shared vision, leadership and financial support, they accomplished much. Abe, a founder and president of Temple Israel was the driving force in founding the JCC and its first president. The Holocaust Memorial Research and Education Center, a passion they built into a reality, teaches the lessons of tolerance and understanding to the entire community. Tess was director of the center for 23 years. Their son Steven and family live in Jerusalem and daughter Ellen Lang and husband Marc live in the Palomar neighborhood the Wise Brothers built.
Tess Wise
Zelig and Bobbi Wise at home, built by Wise Brothers, with Daniel, Michael and Deborah (front), c. 1966.
Zelig got a degree in agriculture following WWII. His citrus career lasted one year, and then he joined twin brother Abe in Wise Brothers Inc. to build houses. He married Naomi (Bobbi) Jackson in 1956. Involved in every aspect of Jewish life, Bobbi and Zelig were founders of the Hebrew Day School, leaders of Temple Israel and the Jewish Federation. Known for his quiet inner strength and big heart, Zelig’s advice was sought by many. Their son Daniel runs Wise Bothers; he and his wife Lori are both past presidents of Temple Israel.
Daniel Wise
Frank and Zelda Stein ring in the New Year, 1949.
Florida native Frank Stein was immediately smitten in 1932 when he met beautiful Zelda Bonnet at a party. They married and moved to Orlando in 1939. Frank owned the Southern Beverage Company. A born leader, he was the first president of Temple Israel and president of Ohev Shalom and the Jewish Community Council. They had two daughters Tami [Grant] and Merle [Feinberg]. Merle’s husband Louis Feinberg also served as a president of Temple Israel and the TOP Foundation. Their son Andrew and his wife Michelle are a third generation living here and contributing to the community.
Merle Stein Feinberg
Jackie and Ervin Wahnish, c. 1946.
Jackie Abrahams from Valdosta, GA, and M. Ervin Wahnish from Tallahassee married in 1941, settling in Orlando. Wahnish, the first known Jewish dentist in Orlando, grew up as “a good country boy” on his family’s tobacco plantation. His brother Sam was a Tallahassee mayor (1939–1941) and Ervin served as president of the Central District Dental Society (1959). A forward thinker, Ervin patented an idea for a tooth implant in 1977. An avid car enthusiast, he even owned a Bricklin. The Wahnishes had three sons Alfred, Paul and Craig and were charter members of Temple Israel. Paul lives in the area.
Paul Wahnish
The wedding of Tillie and Ernest Lefkowitz, 1944.
Herman Lefkowitz was the first in the family to settle here. His brother Morris joined him in 1926, followed by Abe in 1945. Abe and wife Molly came from North Carolina with two of their children Shirley [Jacobs] and Joe. Their daughter Rose [Savage] and husband Alvin, a dentist, came soon after. In 1961, their oldest son Ernest and wife Tillie joined the rest of the family. Merchants and professionals, this family played a significant role in the local Jewish community. Alvin Savage was president of Ohev Shalom (1955) and Temple Israel (1985). Front L-R: Joe, Molly, Abe and Shirley Lefkowitz [Jacobs]; back L-R: groom and bride, Rose and Alvin Savage
Collections of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, LHD, Founding Executive Director
The Lefkowitz family has a long history in Orlando, 2016.
Howard, the older son of Tillie and Ernest, was 14 when the family moved here. After college, he married Pearl, his childhood Camp Judaea sweetheart, joined his family business, Leeds, and later ventured into real estate development. Howard was a leader in the expansion of the Jewish Community Maitland Campus. In 2015, Howard and Pearl were honored by the Roth Family JCC for their commitment to the community. Their son Ryan (Amy), who joined Avanti Properties in 2013, continues the family tradition of community involvement. Ryan served as copresident of Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando (2011–2013). Front L-R: Pearl, Ruby, Amy and Macy; back L-R: Ryan and Howard
Ryan Lefkowitz
Ivan and Fern Lefkowitz are a third generation philanthropic model for their children, 1990.
Following in the footsteps of his parents and grandparents, Ivan and Fern have created and supported projects to help people with special needs in Central Florida. Ivan practiced law and when Fern wasn’t in the office helping him, she was helping others. Projects to feed the hungry, especially children, have been their focus. In 2012, they were honored by Jewish Family Services with the George Wolly Leadership Award. Their son Aaron, a banker and musician, lives in the area.
L-R: Aaron, Fern, Ivan and Shira Lefkowitz
Fern and Ivan Lefkowitz
Louis and Harriet Katz, c. 1945.
Louis and Harriet Katz moved from New York to Daytona Beach in 1939. They owned and operated retail stores in Jacksonville, Tampa and Daytona. In 1941, they moved to Orlando and opened Oelkers, a millinery store, located at 8 N. Orange
Avenue. Lou and Harriet were actively involved in the community, first at Ohev Shalom and then as founders of Temple Israel. Both Lou and his son Dick were presidents of Temple Israel. Today, Dick and Nancy Katz’s daughter Jana Sherr, her husband Evan and three children also call Orlando home.
Dick Katz
Irving Gibbs brought elegant fashions to Orlando, 1965.
In 1946, Irving and Ethel Gibbs moved to Orlando. Irving bought Louis Baum’s dress shop, moved it across Orange Avenue, added his own name and called the up scale store Gibbs Louis. Fifteen years later, Gibbs expanded and they opened stores in several malls. Irving remained true to tradition, and long after most Jewish merchants stopped closing their stores for the High Holidays, he continued to close his stores. Irv became the sixth president of the Jewish Community Council.
Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando
The Revelers enjoy a party! c. 1949.
This gathering of partygoers celebrated the birthdays of Alvin Savage and Jimmy Becker at the Heller’s Sand Lake summer home. After the war, a Jewish couples group called The Revelers was formed for fun and merriment. Each couple placed $25 into the pot to cover expenses, and when the money was depleted, they would put in another $25. “Everyone joined,” said George Wolly. “We had great times!”
From L-R: First row: Henrietta Weinroth, Alice Jacob, Sylvia Fox, Sibbie Reiss, Audrey Heller, Jimmy Heller, Becky Fleisher, Hindy Wolly, George Wolly. Second row: Alvin Savage (in chair) Alice Simensky, Dot Becker, Rae Becker, Birdie Damus, Lee Wolfe, Ethel Gibbs, Dorothy Allweisse, Joe Wolfe. Third row L-R: Adele Frank, Sylvia Fox’s two sisters, Rose Savage, Sibbie Shapiro, Naomi Berger, Harriet Katz, Zelda Stein, Sid Reiss, Irving Allweiss. Fourth row: Moe
Shapiro, Phil Simensky, Lou Jacob, Eli Frank, Teddy Weinroth, Al Damus. Fifth row: Harry Becker, Morris Fleisher, Lou Katz, Jimmy Becker
Collections of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU, originated by Marcia Jo Zerivitz, LHD, Founding Executive Director