Leon Toubin Explained

Leon Toubin, known locally as "The Last Jew of Brenham", a Jewish Texan civic leader, philanthropist, and historian, was the caretaker of B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Brenham, Texas),[1] which he began attending in the late 1930s as part of the daily minyan.

Family

Leon Toubin is the son of Sam H. Toubin and Rosa (Levin) Toubin.[2] The Blinn College website states that, "Sam Toubin, long-time businessman, owned and operated the New York stores in nine towns in Texas. Rosa Toubin, a Brenham native, attended local schools, Blinn College and Rice University. Both were civic leaders and well respected in the Brenham area for their philanthropic endeavors."[3] Leon Toubin was raised in Brenham.[4]

Religious activities

After his mother's death in 1989, Toubin became the caretaker of B'Nai Abraham Synagogue.[5] The synagogue was formally organized in 1885. Toubin and his wife were the last two members of the congregation.[1]

Toubin was interviewed for several books and a documentary which focused on oral histories of Jews in America, and specifically in Texas. In the book Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas, Toubin discusses the history of the Brenham, Texas Jewhish community and laments the lack of participation at the synagogue.[2] He expounds on the subject in Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History, mentioning that many of the descendants of the Brenham Jewish community "were probably all Jewish once, but we're Lutheran now."[6] In the documentary At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas, Toubin tells a similar story about a Washington County Sheriff. The sheriff once told Toubin that "I was probably Jewish. But the family came here and there weren’t any Jewish girls to marry. Everyone intermarried and I'm Lutheran today. But I was probably Jewish at one time."[7]

Civic leadership

Toubin is involved in a project to restore an historic cistern on Toubin's property on Main Street.[8] He is also on the board of trustees for Blinn College,[9] and on the board of directors of the Economic Development Foundation of Brenham.[10] Toubin is also the caretaker of the B'Nai Abraham Jewish cemetery.[5]

"Main Street Brenham will be able to complete its Toubin Park Project with the help of a $25,000 community development grant. This grant, provided by the Lower Colorado River Authority, will be used to purchase benches, trash receptacles and lampposts for the new park area in downtown Brenham."[11]

Philanthropy

Toubin and his wife have given money to various philanthropic organizations, including the Texas Hillel,[12] the "Julie Rogers 'Gift of Life Program'",[13] the Camp Young Judea program in Texas,[14] and The University of Texas "Longhorn Foundation".[15]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Austin-American Statesman . Brenham synagogue's caretakers guard their memories . MacLaggan, Corrie . December 4, 2007 . December 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080216231142/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/04/1204hanukkah.html . February 16, 2008 . dead .
  2. Book: Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas. Weiner, Hollace A.. 2007. 978-1-58465-622-7. Upne.
  3. Web site: Sam and Rosa Toubin Memorial Scholarship. December 5, 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070612060436/http://www.blinn.edu/finaid/endowedJ_W.htm. June 12, 2007.
  4. Book: Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History. Frommer. Myrna K.. Frommer. Harvey. Harcourt Brace & Co. 1995. 978-0-8032-6900-2. Note: link goes to a more recent edition of the book.
  5. Web site: B'Nai Abraham Synagogue in Brenham, 12.04.07 . Austin-American Statesman . Skelding, Laura . 2007 . February 13, 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607112447/http://www.statesman.com/ap/mediahub/media/slideshow/index.jsp?tId=52791 . June 7, 2011 .
  6. Web site: Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History. October 31, 2007. the website quotes a newspaper article which quotes Toubin
  7. Web site: Apple West Productions. At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas. Cohen, Brian. 1996. October 31, 2007.
  8. Web site: Toubin Pocket Park Project . City of Brenham, Texas . City of Brenham . December 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080123064240/http://www.brenhamtexas.com/mainstreet/html/current_projects.html . January 23, 2008 . dead .
  9. Web site: About Blinn College . Blinn College . December 5, 2007 . December 9, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071209191641/http://www.blinn.edu/about.html . dead .
  10. News: EDF elects two new members to board. Brenham Banner-Press. November 21, 2007. December 5, 2007.
  11. News: Brenham Banner Press. July 11, 2010. LCRA grant to help Toubin Park Project. Brenham Banner Press.
  12. Web site: Capital and Endowment Campaign Contributors . Texas Hillel . Texas Hillel . December 5, 2007 . November 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071105191309/http://texashillel.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=64&Itemid=99 . dead .
  13. Web site: Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program . December 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080216231142/http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/04/1204hanukkah.html . February 16, 2008 . Austin-American Statesman . dead .
  14. News: Camp Young Judea Texas . Camp Young Judea Texas . December 5, 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070815031820/http://www.cyjtexas.org/index.cfm/Fuseaction/News.ViewNewsletter/newsletterID/28.cfm . August 15, 2007 . dead .
  15. Web site: The Longhorn Foundation . December 5, 2007 . June 23, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060623102848/http://www.texassports.com/04.foundation/000_donate.html . dead .

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