Summary(00:55) Family of Hana from Hungary and Belarus, came to the Lower East Side at turn of 20th century. Moved to Bensonhurst where parents of Anna grew up in the 40s and 50s. Her paternal great-grandprents ran an import/export clothing business. Paternal family: grandfather worked for the State. After retirement taught history in Harlem. Father of Hana attended Stuyvesant High School -- (4:40) Maternal family: grandmother was a public school teacher. Grandparents were part of communist party and grandmother was fired from her teaching job in the 1950s. Reinstated afterwards. Grandfather owned a candy store in Bensonhurst, a very Jewish area. Grandparents kept kosher. Great-grandparents were orthodox and great-grandfather started a synagogue in Borough Park -- (07:06) Both parents of Anna left Brooklyn to go to college. Father of Anna was a Yale professor, family settled in Connecticut -- (09:40) Hana considered Brooklyn, where she visited grandparents, home -- (11:45) Hana returned to Brooklyn, a great place to raise her kids. Values Jewish community in Park Slope. Her children have never experienced antisemitism in New York, which is like a bubble.
NoteTitle supplied by cataloger. Audio interview conducted on February 16, 2022 by Ariane Loeb. Collected through the Brooklyn family Jewish History Project of Brooklyn Public Library. This project is funded by the David Berg Foundation.
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TitleHana Schank family. Oral history interview with Hana Schank conducted on February 16, 2022.
Biographical Note(00:55) Family of Hana from Hungaria (paternal), and Belarus (maternal) arrived at turn of 20th century. Started on Lower East Side. Family quickly settled in Bensonhurst where parents of Anna grew up in the 40s and 50s. Her paternal great-grandparents ran an import/export clothing business. Paternal family: grandfather worked for the State, after retirement taught history in Harlem. Father of Hana attended Stuyvesant High School. Maternal family: grandmother was a public school teacher. Grandfather owned a candy store in Bensonhurst, a very Jewish area. Grandparents were members of communist party. Grandmother was fired from teaching in the 1950s, later reinstated. Grandparents kept kosher. Great-grandparents were orthodox and great-grandfather started a synagogue in Borough Park. Both parents of Anna left Brooklyn to go to college. Father of Anna a Yale professor, family settled in Connecticut. Hana returned to Brooklyn to raise her children.