Gary Silverstein and Maxine Silverstein, 2000 March 12

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Identifier: JC-SI0010

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Gary Silverstein and Maxine Silverstein oral history interview, 2000 March 12

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Scope and Contents

Longtime Charlotteans Gary and Maxine Silverstein discuss their lives as members of the city's Jewish community and as travel industry professionals. Mr. Silverstein, whose family has a long history in the Charlotte area, recalls his grandfather, Benjamin Silverstein, who was one of the founders of Temple Israel in Charlotte. He also discusses childhood experiences in Hebrew school and his and his son's bar mitzvahs. The Silversteins talk about the important role Jewish youth groups like B'nai Brith Youth Organization (BBYO) played in their lives, and they discuss the network of relationships Jewish youth developed statewide. They discuss their experiences as the owners and operators of Mann Travels and Cruises, the receptivity of Charlotteans to Jewish-owned businesses, and the pervasiveness of Jewish-owned tour companies. Within the scope of their business, they recount an instance of antisemitism they experienced. Both cite the many changes within the Charlotte Jewish community, like tremendous growth and more community accommodation.

Dates

Creation: 2000 March 12

Conditions Governing Access

11 of the 13 interviews that comprise the Charlotte Jewish Historical Society oral history interviews have been digitized and are available in the digital repository. Original audiovisual materials are closed to patron use.

Biographical Note

Gary Silverstein was a 57-year-old man at the time of interview, which took place at the Jewish Community Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was born in Charlotte in 1943. He was educated at East Carolina University and was employed with Eastern Airlines and as an owner and manager of Mann Travels and Cruises with his wife. Maxine Silverstein was a 56-year-old woman at the time of interview, which took place at the Jewish Community Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. She was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1944. She was educated at the University North Carolina at Greensboro and was employed by Eastern Airlines and as an owner and manager of Mann Travels and Cruises with her husband.