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Roots of the Frozen Chosen

From: Rebecca Sheir
Length: 00:05:30

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Speed-kibitzing with the second Jewish baby ever born in Fairbanks, Alaska. Read the full description.
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Roots of the Frozen Chosen
From
Rebecca Sheir

Frozenchosen_small Jewish people in Alaska often joke about themselves as "The Frozen Chosen." Well, if it weren't for a mensch named Robert Bloom, those Jewish people might not even be in Alaska at all. Bloom was the first Jew to settle Fairbanks, Alaska; in doing so, he helped form the state's first Jewish community. More than 100 years later, Rebecca Sheir chats with Bloom's daughter, 93-year-old Meta Buttnick, about her family's story. But it's winter in Alaska, and the sun's about to set, ushering in the Jewish sabbath. Since Meta's "shomer shabbos," Rebecca's got 30 minutes to record a century of history... will her "mazel" run out before the sun goes down?

Roots of the Frozen Chosen | 00:05:30

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Piece Description

Jewish people in Alaska often joke about themselves as "The Frozen Chosen." Well, if it weren't for a mensch named Robert Bloom, those Jewish people might not even be in Alaska at all. Bloom was the first Jew to settle Fairbanks, Alaska; in doing so, he helped form the state's first Jewish community. More than 100 years later, Rebecca Sheir chats with Bloom's daughter, 93-year-old Meta Buttnick, about her family's story. But it's winter in Alaska, and the sun's about to set, ushering in the Jewish sabbath. Since Meta's "shomer shabbos," Rebecca's got 30 minutes to record a century of history... will her "mazel" run out before the sun goes down?

Broadcast History

Alaska Public Radio Network/"AK": November 25, 2006

Musical Works

Title Artist Album Label Year Length
Shtetl Medley: In Odess'/Yas Sid Beckerman and Howie Leess Klezmer Plus. Flying Fish Records 1989 00:30

Related Website

http://www.akradio.org

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