MEMOIRIST: SYLVIA GOLDSTEIN BREMAN (1911-1992)
INTERVIEWER: MARGERY DIAMOND
LOCATION: ATLANTA, GEORGIA
DATE: JANUARY 27, 1986
ID#: OHC 10084
Transcript (PDF)
BIOGRAPHY
Sylvia Goldstein Breman was born in 1911 in Rochester, New York. Her parents were Abe and Henrietta Goldstein. Sylvia had two siblings: an older brother, Charles, and a younger sister, Erma. Sylvia's father was a vice-president and designer for Hickey Freeman clothes, a suit manufacturer.
Sylvia and her family lived a comfortable lifestyle in Rochester, living in a three-story home and employing live-in housekeepers. She attended public schools. The family attended Temple B'rith Kodesh, a Reform congregation. Sylvia was active in Jewish youth groups in the Temple and Jewish community.
After graduation from high school, Sylvia attended Connecticut College for Women in New London, Connecticut. When the Great Depression began, she transferred to the University of Rochester in New York. She later enrolled in the Rochester Business Institute. Sylvia first did volunteer secretarial work for Rabbi Philip Bernstein at Temple B'rith Kodesh and later worked part-time for a doctor in Rochester.
Sylvia met her husband, M. William (Bill) Breman, at Temple B'rith Kodesh. The couple married in 1934 and moved to Atlanta, Georgia. Bill Breman worked in the family business of scrap metal and later steel.
Sylvia raised two children: a son, Jim, and daughter, Carol. Her children first attended public school, and then attended the private Westminster School. Her family was affiliated with the Temple in Atlanta, a Reform congregation. Sylvia was a member of the Temple Sisterhood and other Jewish organizations including Brandeis Women, National Council of Jewish Women, and Atlanta Jewish Federation.
Sylvia did volunteer work in Atlanta. One of her volunteer activities was transcribing books into braille for the blind. She also served as a delegate to the 13th Conference on the Cause and Cure of War in Washington, D.C.
Sylvia has seven grandchildren. Her son Jim has four children and her daughter Carol has three. Both of Sylvia's children continue to incorporate Judaism into their family life.
Sylvia died in 1992 after an illness.
SCOPE OF INTERVIEW
Sylvia recalls her childhood in Rochester, New York with her mother, father, brother, and sister, in particular the fishing trips taken by her family. She discusses attending public school and participating in youth activities at Temple B'rith Kodesh. Sylvia describes attending college, first at Connecticut State College for Women, and then at the University of Rochester.
Sylvia tells about meeting her husband M. William (Bill) Breman at Temple B'rith Kodesh in Rochester, New York, her marriage to Bill in 1934, moving to Atlanta, and her affiliation with the Temple in Atlanta. Sylvia talks about her activities with the Temple Sisterhood, National Council of Jewish Women, and the Atlanta Jewish Federation. Sylvia discusses her volunteer work transcribing books into braille and serving on the Board of the Jewish Home.
Sylvia mentions her trip to Israel when she met Golda Meir, and her husband's trip to Israel during the Israeli-Lebanese Conflict (1982-1985). She tells about her son, Jim, and daughter, Carol (Nemo), and her seven grandchildren. Sylvia expresses satisfaction that both her children continue to maintain their Jewish identities. Sylvia relates that her daughter, especially, is more knowledgeable about Judaism than she and more traditional in her observances of Jewish customs.
KEYWORDS
Afikomen
Antisemitism
Atlanta, Georgia
Bar mitzvah
Bat mitzvah
Bernstein, Philip Sidney (Rabbi)
Braille
Brailling
Brandeis University National Women’s Committee
Breman, James (Jim)
Breman, M. William
Breman, Max
Breman, Sylvia Goldstein
Breman Jewish Home—Atlanta, Georgia
Breman Steel Company—Atlanta, Georgia
Breman Iron and Metal—Atlanta, Georgia
Clothing industry and trade
Conference on the Cause and Cure of War in Washington
Confirmation
Connecticut College for Women—New London, Connecticut
Dixville Notch, New Hampshire
Eastman, George
Eastman Kodak
Fishing
Frank, Leo
Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS)
Goldstein, Abe
Goldstein, Henrietta
Great Depression, 1929
Hickey Freeman
High holy days
Israel
Israeli-Lebanese Conflict, 1982-1985
Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta—Atlanta, Georgia
Jewish-Jewish Relations
Judaism, Conservative
Judaism, Orthodox
Judaism, Reform
Judaism—Fasts and Feasts
Judaism—Rites and ceremonies
Marx, David (Rabbi)
Meir, Golda (Prime Minister)
National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW)
Nemo, Carol Breman
New York City—New York
Passover
Pesach
Pig'N Whistle—Atlanta, Georgia
Public schools
Pressly, William L. (Dr.)
Religious education, Jewish
Rochester, New York
Rochester Business Institute—Rochester, New York
Rosh Ha-Shanah
Rothschild, Jacob (Rabbi)
Sabbath
Seder
Shabbat
Sisterhoods
Temple—Atlanta, Georgia
Temple B'rith Kodesh—Rochester, New York
Thousand Islands
Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC)
United Jewish Appeal (UJA)
United Way
University of Rochester—Rochester, New York
Westminster School—Atlanta, Georgia
Youth—Societies and clubs