Sam Azeez Museum
Highlights Little-Known
New Jersey Jewish History
JON MARKS | JE STAFF
W OODBINE, N.J. —
success he had, he never
Welcome to the land
forgot about Woodbine.”
that time forgot.

At the time of Sam
Nestled among the Pine
Azeez’s passing, the Ortho-
Barrens, some 10 miles
dox synagogue built in 1893
from Sea Isle City, sits the
had fallen into disrepair.

proverbial all-American
There had long been talk of
town from a bygone era.

the building being torn down
Here, there’s no racial
or sold to a non-Jewish organi-
discrimination. No religious
zation, which horrified neighbors.

persecution. No political backbiting.

“It was closed for years,” recalled
And, for the most part nowadays,
Katie Rink, gazing at the totally refur-
no Jews.

bished sanctuary, where women sat
That’s kind of ironic because when the
upstairs until 1979 — when they literally
town was created in 1891, thanks to a
dug in their heels to the point you can still
grant from the Baron Maurice de Hirsch
see the marks on the floor and refused to
fund, Woodbine was comprised entirely
be ostracized any longer. “People were talk-
of Jews who’d been rescued from Russia
ing about selling it, which was blasphemy.

and parts of Eastern Europe and relo- The Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine Heritage
“I grew up in Sea Isle. I have friends
cated here.

who came to this synagogue. I know the
in Woodbine, N.J.

“The idea was to make them ‘of the
names on these walls. I am filled with
land,’” explained Jane Stark, executive director of the Sam Azeez
emotion to see this. They cleaned these bricks with love. It was
Museum of Woodbine Heritage, which combines local history
standing here for years before they decided to restore the building
with Jewish history and Holocaust education, while serving as a
to its glory.”
satellite campus for Stockton University. “Jews were so persecuted
Services are now held there during the High Holidays,
in Russia they weren’t allowed to own land.

conducted by a local rabbi. And within the past few years, both
“The fund sent a soil chemist named Hirsch Loeb Sabsovich to
Bar and Bat Mitzvahs have taken place.

teach them how to make the ground productive. That led to the
It’s all part of the tour when you enter the museum. The story
Baron de Hirsch Agricultural School.

of Woodbine is told through a series of panels, taking you from its
“So the Jews in Woodbine were able to sustain themselves,
incarnation when the only inhabitants were 92 Jews, to today, with
resettle without encountering the kind of difficulties they faced
only a handful of Jews among its 1,900 or so residents.

elsewhere — like anti-Semitism — and still practice Judaism. And
While those numbers have radically changed, one thing hasn’t.

then they brought factories here. At the height, there were 19
“I told Michael Azeez, ‘You can’t call it a Jewish museum,’” said
factories, which meant employment.”
Stark, who’s been running things here since 2001. “‘Call it the Sam
It also meant the end of a totally Jewish community. Stark said
Azeez Heritage Museum instead.’
it has been historically verified to be the first such community
“This town is famous for its harmonious environment. There’s
since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E.

no racism, no prejudice, no anti-Semitism — still.”
But even though Woodbine began to mix cultures, the town
The panels in the refurbished basement of what was called
never lost its innocence.

Woodbine Brotherhood Synagogue tell that part of the story.

That made quite an impression on Brooklyn-born Sam Azeez,
The other part is told through the Holocaust education
whose family moved there when he was a boy. Azeez would
program the museum offers in conjunction with Stockton
become one of the pioneers in the cellphone industry, making a
University; the Sara & Sam Schoffer Holocaust Resource Center (a
fortune with his company Ultronics. Yet he always held a soft spot
joint venture between the university and the local Jewish
for the town where he grew up.

Federation) is considered among the finest Holocaust teaching
That’s why, following Azeez’s 2000 death, his son, Michael,
centers in the world, according to Stark.

decided those memories needed to be preserved.

For those who can’t make it to the university, though, there’s
“My father came here when he was 4 years old,” said 60-year-
plenty to learn about the Holocaust in Woodbine. And to make
old Michael Azeez (pronounced Ay-zeez), who lived in Woodbine
sure the story continues to be told, Stark regularly has survivors
until he was 10, then moved to nearby Tuckahoe. “He always felt
speak to students.

like the town raised him as much as his family did. With the
Those include I. Betty Grebenschikoff, who went from
Photos by Lauren Marks
18 JUNE 8, 2017
THIS SUMMER
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM



Germany to the Shanghai Ghetto.

ones. There are all sorts
“It’s very important I speak to children
of interactive games and
and tell them my story,” said the 87-year-
even an arts and crafts
old Grebenschikoff, who wrote a book
area to keep them occu-
Once My Name was Sara, and has
pied — and maybe even
appeared in two documentaries, “because
learn a bit.

my generation is dying out.

Michael Azeez, who
“There aren’t many who can speak
still spends a few
about these things. Shanghai was an open
months a year in
port, so 20,000 Jews came there in 1939. I
Tuckahoe, knows his
was 9 years old. We came from Germany,
father would be proud.

where they made all the Jewish females
“It’s nice to preserve the building and
‘Sara’ and all the males ‘Israel.’
history,” said Azeez, who indicated that he
“It was the only place you could go
put around $2.5 million into the project,
without papers. The rest of my extended
“but it also had to have some relevance.

Jane Stark, the museum’s executive director, removes
family was murdered in the camps.”
“Education was one thing my father
the cover from a Torah.

Such chilling tales can’t help but make
always pounded home to myself and my
an impression on young and old alike.

three sisters growing up. So we’ve created
Inset: Panel showing the population breakdown of
“Of the 1,500 students we get a year, 99 Woodbine in 1891
a program and classroom space that can
percent are not Jewish,” Stark said. “We
be used by the community at large.

like to take them into a classroom and meet with a survivor.

“I did this out of love for my father and also in appreciation for
“Then we take them upstairs to the sanctuary. They’re fascinated
what the town meant to so many people who came through there
because they know nothing about the spiritual aspect of Judaism.

getting a start on life. To a large extent, Woodbine is a microcosm
They’re amazed at the similarities between Christianity and Judaism.

of a lot of towns across the U.S. It wasn’t necessarily that it was
“And remember, this is in the Pine Barrens. How many people
Jewish, but that it was a community.

know there was once a vibrant Jewish community here and that
“You were a Woodbiner first and then whatever nationality you
vibrant community became a source of great employment and
were, religious background came second.” l
industry during the height of the Depression through the end of
Contact: jmarks@jewishexponent.com; 215-832-0729
World War II?”
They will when they walk through the museum, which is free
Photos by Lauren Marks
and open four days a week. And don’t be afraid to bring the little
Name: Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine He
Width: 7.5"
Depth: 4.75"
Color: Black plus one
Comment: 6/8 This Summer Magazine
Ad Number: 00073074
JEWISHEXPONENT.COM THIS SUMMER
JUNE 8, 2017
19