Detail View: Winnipeg Jewish Renewal Oral History Collection: Interview with Pinny (Paul) Switzer, 04 November 2014

Collection Name: 
Winnipeg Jewish Renewal Oral History Collection
Title: 
Interview with Pinny (Paul) Switzer, 04 November 2014
Creator: 
Lewis, Justin Jaron, 1961-
Subject: 
Jewish renewal
Subject: 
Schachter-Shalomi, Zalman, 1924-2014
Description: 
Audio interview of Pinny (Paul) Switzer, born 1939, by Dr. Justin Jaron Lewis via the telephone from the interviewee's home in San Francisco to the interviewer's office. 00:00 Interview begins with an introduction of the interviewer and interviewee, as well as location information; 01:00 Justin asks Paul to share his recollections of Reb Zalman. Paul starts by talking about how he started as a student at the University of Manitoba around 1956 or 1957. Zalman became active at the Hillel house at that time and they both met through the activities at the Hillel house; 03:07 Paul talks about the specific programs and retreats that happened at Hillel house. He talks about a summer job he held in New York City and Zalman contacted Paul to meet with him in Brooklyn for a Lubavitch. He also went to a summer camp in California with Zalman; 06:20 Paul talks about the scandal that occurred with Zalman after Zalman left his first wife for his secretary. Paul had already left Winnipeg by the time that happened; 07:15 Although Paul mentions he lost contact with Zalman over time he did recently see Zalman at Berkley, California and he spoke a lot about spirituality and it was nice seeing him again; 09:10 Justin asks Paul if Zalman was a Lubavitcher at the time they were in New York. Paul confirms that Zalman was; 10:55 Paul talks about his family background. His family was not particularly religious but would celebrate some of the holidays; 12:58 Justin asks Paul if he spoke Yiddish with him. Paul said he did but Zalman did not speak Yiddish very well, so they mostly spoke English; 13:50 Justin asks Paul if Zalman had any religious influence on him. Paul says he felt more engaged in religious practices because of Zalman; 14:30 Justin asks how Paul referred to Zalman. Paul states he referred to him as Rabbi Schachter to his face and when talking about him he would say Zalman; 15:10 Justin asks if Paul remembers any stories of Zalman teaching. Paul does not remember because he did not take any classes with Zalman; 16:20 Justin lists some the names of people he has spoken with for the oral history project to see if Paul remembers any of the people in the community; 19:00 Justin thanks Paul for his interview.
Contributor: 
Switzer, Paul (Pinney)
Date: 
2014-11-04
Type: 
Sound
Identifier: 
WinnipegPinnySwitzer_04Nov2014.mp3
Identifier ARK: 
https://ark.colorado.edu/ark:/47540/jx728r917903
Source: 
Rabbi Zalman Schachter's Years in Winnipeg
Language: 
English
Coverage: 
San Francisco
Rights: 
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