Audio interview of David Cohen, born 1938, by Dr. Justin Jaron Lewis at the interviewee's home in Winnipeg. 00:00 Interview begins with an introduction of the interviewer and interviewee, as well as location information; 00:36 Justin asks David how he knew Reb Zalman. He states he knew him through the Hillel house and reflects on how Zalman connected with people; 02:20 David talks about his own family and the religious background in his household. He comments being with Zalman was nice because he didn’t judge you based on your religious background compared to the environment he grew up in; 04:20 David continues to talk about how Zalman made everyone feel comfortable and that was a significant aspect about Zalman that he liked; 5:09 David talks about the programming Zalman put on and how stimulating it was. He compares Zalman’s programming to the rigidity of other teachers’ programming; 06:34 David talks about the Student Zionist Association and the culture of the time; 09:42 David talks about his wife and his experience asking Zalman to officiate the marriage. He continues to talk about his family and how Zalman also attended his son’s wedding in northern Colorado; 13:40 Justin asks David what year he met Reb Zalman. David states he met him in 1956, 1957 or 1958 around the time he started at the university; 17:15 Justin asks David to describe the Passover Seders that Zalman held at his house. David mentions Zalman always encouraged people to come but asked people to park their cars around the corner because he didn’t want to see the cars. Otherwise people sat around the tables and enjoyed themselves. They also sang songs; 19:30 Justin asks how well he knew Zalman’s family. David states he knew his family well but did not know the kids as well; 21:10 Justin asks if David spoke Yiddish with Reb Zalman. David states he did speak Yiddish with Zalman; 24:25 Justin asks how David often referred to Zalman. It was mostly on a personal or casual basis and he liked Reb Zalman or Zalman; 25:07 Justin asks David if Zalman ever hugged women and men. David state he thinks he interacted with both men and women because Zalman did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable; 27:50 Justin asks David if Zalman was the Chabad Rabbi at the time in Winnipeg. David admits he did not know what Chabad was at the time; 30:10 Justin asks David to recall specific programs at Hillel. He cannot recall specific details other than the fact that the topics were stimulating; 31:40 David talks about a close friend that became a rabbi. He continues to talk about programming and education from Zalman; 35:25 Justin asks if Zalman’s events happened in the north end of Winnipeg. David states the Hillel house was located in downtown; 38:30 Justin asks David if Zalman was a handy man, meaning he could create and fix things. David recalls Zalman tinkering with things; 40:30 Justin asks David if he thinks he became more religious after meeting Reb Zalman. David thinks he was always a very cultural Jew and his spiritual and religious background was always with him; 43:44 Justin closes the interview and David ensures that his stories are reflected in the context of the time, being in the 1950s and after the holocaust.
description
Audio interview of David Cohen, born 1938, by Dr. Justin Jaron Lewis at the interviewee's home in Winnipeg. 00:00 Interview begins with an introduction of the interviewer and interviewee, as well as location information; 00:36 Justin asks David how he knew Reb Zalman. He states he knew him through the Hillel house and reflects on how Zalman connected with people; 02:20 David talks about his own family and the religious background in his household. He comments being with Zalman was nice because he didn’t judge you based on your religious background compared to the environment he grew up in; 04:20 David continues to talk about how Zalman made everyone feel comfortable and that was a significant aspect about Zalman that he liked; 5:09 David talks about the programming Zalman put on and how stimulating it was. He compares Zalman’s programming to the rigidity of other teachers’ programming; 06:34 David talks about the Student Zionist Association and the culture of the time; 09:42 David talks about his wife and his experience asking Zalman to officiate the marriage. He continues to talk about his family and how Zalman also attended his son’s wedding in northern Colorado; 13:40 Justin asks David what year he met Reb Zalman. David states he met him in 1956, 1957 or 1958 around the time he started at the university; 17:15 Justin asks David to describe the Passover Seders that Zalman held at his house. David mentions Zalman always encouraged people to come but asked people to park their cars around the corner because he didn’t want to see the cars. Otherwise people sat around the tables and enjoyed themselves. They also sang songs; 19:30 Justin asks how well he knew Zalman’s family. David states he knew his family well but did not know the kids as well; 21:10 Justin asks if David spoke Yiddish with Reb Zalman. David states he did speak Yiddish with Zalman; 24:25 Justin asks how David often referred to Zalman. It was mostly on a personal or casual basis and he liked Reb Zalman or Zalman; 25:07 Justin asks David if Zalman ever hugged women and men. David state he thinks he interacted with both men and women because Zalman did not want to make anyone feel uncomfortable; 27:50 Justin asks David if Zalman was the Chabad Rabbi at the time in Winnipeg. David admits he did not know what Chabad was at the time; 30:10 Justin asks David to recall specific programs at Hillel. He cannot recall specific details other than the fact that the topics were stimulating; 31:40 David talks about a close friend that became a rabbi. He continues to talk about programming and education from Zalman; 35:25 Justin asks if Zalman’s events happened in the north end of Winnipeg. David states the Hillel house was located in downtown; 38:30 Justin asks David if Zalman was a handy man, meaning he could create and fix things. David recalls Zalman tinkering with things; 40:30 Justin asks David if he thinks he became more religious after meeting Reb Zalman. David thinks he was always a very cultural Jew and his spiritual and religious background was always with him; 43:44 Justin closes the interview and David ensures that his stories are reflected in the context of the time, being in the 1950s and after the holocaust.
Description
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