Interviews - Sheila (Happy) Feigelson and Ruth Siegel, 2013

Abstract

Ruth Siegel is interviewed by Sheila Feigelson on 4/21/2009 at 2:00:00 PM in Ann Arbor, MI. Ruth (89) talks to her friend Happy (73) about marrying into a Jewish family and the Jewish community in Ann Arbor. Interview log: 3:00 Ruth talks about moving to Ann Arbor in 1949- worked at the U of M in the music department. She lived in a boarding house with other girls. 4:45 Happy came from Minneapolis and raised family in Ann Arbor. 7:25 Happy talks about learning Hebrew. 10:00 Happy talks about what she loves about Ann Arbor-opportunities to learn. 11:00 Ruth talks about joining Rabbi White's temple- he was Conservative. Temple Beth Emeth was formed for Reform Jews. 12:40 Happy talks about singing in the Temple Beth Emeth choir. 15:50 Ruth and Happy talk about religious tolerance in Ann Arbor. 18:45 Ruth talks about her husband who worked for the Department of Defense. It was shocking when he died. People at the synagogue were supportive. Ruth talks about her sons. 29:20 Ruth and Happy talk about raising their children in Ann Arbor. 34:00 Ruth talks about converting to Judaism for her husband. They knew it would be easier to adopt children if they came from the same religion.