The Story Booth at the Stroum Jewish Community Center
The oral history program was invited to participate in the Seattle Jewish Film Festival in March, 2025. WSJHS staff and volnuteers traveled to Mercer Island to collect interviews from participants who were attending a screening of "Carla the Rescuer" at the Stroum Jewish Community Center. Participants discussed their relationship to the film itself, to the Festival (celebrating their 30th anniversary!) and to the Community Center as well.
Paulette Becker
Paulette shares stories from her deep friendship with Jewish community members Robert and Sonia Hemberger. She explores the importance of embracing diversity and understanding that differences among people are natural.
EJ Bergevin
EJ shares their long-standing connection with "Fiddler On The Roof" and their joy at playing in the show at present. EJ Bergevin shares about their family's lifelong tradition of music.
Bonnie Bishop
Bonnie describes her connection to the Jewish community through her family, and the importance she recognized in celebrating her family's Jewish heritage and overcoming prejudice. She shares her appreciation for Passover and the tradition of adding items to the seder plate.
Jim Carroll
Jim played Lazar Wolf in the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts' production of "Fiddler On The Roof". He explores the themes of tradition and change in his own life and family, and shares his experiences working with the cast and crew on this production.
Dov Matthews
Dov shares his Jewish heritage and fond childhood memories of "Fiddler On The Roof". He explores the meaning of representing his personal heritage onstage. Dov Matthews also shares some details about growing up in Washington and his family traditions.
Todd Menenberg
Todd shares the story of his family's migration from Kiev to the United States in 1905, fleeing pogroms. He explores the relationship of his family's story to the narrative of "Fiddler On The Roof", and finally shares his experiences as a Jew living on Whidbey Island.
Carol Viebrock
Carol Raised in an Orthodox household in New York, Carole Viebrock moved to Whidbey Island in recent years and describes her special few encounters with fellow Jews in a rural area. She reflects on the themes of "Fiddler On The Roof", particularly the tradition of arranged marriages.
Marina Pierce
Marina shares about her upbringing in a Jewish, musical-theater family. Following in her mother's footsteps as an actor, Marina Pierce played Hodel in the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts' production of "Fiddler On The Roof". She shares details about Seattle's Jewish theater scene.
Hannah Votel
Hannah played a younger villager in a production of "Fiddler On The Roof" as a child and is proud to once again act in this Jewish classic as a young adult. She describes her connection to cultural rather than religious Judaism and shares some details from her family's traditions.