Teaneck Public Library Online

All interviews were taped and documented. They are available through the Reference Department of the Teaneck Public Library. The Library is not responsible for the accuracy of the statements nor does it necessarily endorse the opinions expressed.

Joy Zacharia Appelbaum

Summary:
Ms. Appelbaum, a graduate of Brandeis University, came to Teaneck with her husband and children in 1968. She is the author of the book "THE HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF TEANECK", which is an outgrowth of the oral history project of the Jewish community, which was first undertaken in honor of Teaneck's bicentennial in the 1970's (p. 6,14-16).

Ms. Appelbaum's civic and community affiliations include the Parent Teachers Association, National Council of Jewish Women, Teaneck Chapter of Hadassah and the Jewish Community Council of Teaneck.

An avid researcher, Ms. Appelbaum developed educational programs for the Hadassah's Institute Day. These program titles include "TEN AND A HALF WOMEN WHOSE GENIUS MADE HISTORY" and "THE EFFECTS OF THE AMERICAN PRESIDENCY ON JUDAISM FROM WASHINGTON THROUGH NIXON". These projects became very well known and attracted a great deal of attention in Teaneck (p.5).

As a result of researching the lives and accomplishments of former Jewish residents of Teaneck, Ms. Appelbaum worked to have a park established for Dr. Bamet S. Bookstaver (p.7).

Ms. Appelbaum discusses the attempt by the Teaneck Women's Club to disassociate themselves from Minna Lippmann as their founder and as president of the club for the first six years of its existence (p. 7-8). The narrator explains that she was very instrumental initiating the ban on Sabbath activities in the public school system (p. 10-13; p. 17-18) and describes the resulting repercussions from the various other groups of the community and the ultimate involvement of the American Civil Liberties Union to fight her group (p.18).

Ms. Appelbaum, who is an officer on its board, discusses the activities of the Jewish Community Council and describes its purpose as an umbrella group stemming acts of anti-Semitism in Teaneck. It exists partly "to help the Jewish members and the rest of Teaneck's community to co-exist happily," and works with the Jewish community "to keep it unified." The narrator gives examples and lists some activities that are undertaken by the Council (p. 19-24).