Natalie Charach
Interviewed by Sharon Alterman
October 10, 2013
Home of Manny and Natalie Charach
Natalie Charach
Video 00:41:28
Natalie Charach
Audio 00:41:28
Abstract
In this interview, Natalie Charach talks about her parents, and her memories of growing up in a German neighborhood in Pittsburgh. Her mother was widowed and owned a small a cafe which she explains was boycotted, causing them to move to Detroit where her mother worked at a bridal shop. She speaks about some of the issues that her mother, as a single widowed woman had in getting an apartment.
Charach then talks about working jobs while she was still in high school, then graduating. She explains the story of meeting her husband, Manny, and their short courtship. She talks briefly about their early years of marriage, and speaks about her impressions of Detroit at the time, compared to Pittsburg.
Charach speaks about her involvement with the Pioneer Women (now known as Na’Amat), where she had traveled to Israel and was involved in building nurseries in her children’s names. She also speaks about her involvement with the Jewish National Fund, and the Janice Charach Gallery at the Jewish Community Center.
History of Narrator
Natalie Charach was born in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. She is the daughter of Joseph and Rose Miller, both of whom were born in Lithuania. Natalie came to Detroit in 1941 with her mother and her twin sisters, Doris and Esther. Her mother was widowed when Natalie was six years old. While Rose worked in a defense factory during World War II, the three girls also worked to help support the family.
Natalie and her husband, Manny dedicated themselves to charitable causes. In 1991, they opened the Janice Charach Gallery in memory of their daughter. They’ve funded multiple buildings in Michigan and Israel, a children’s playground in Denver, ambulances for Israel, equipment for children’s hospital, and the Clara and Irvin Charach Tamarack Museum.
Transcript
Important Subjects
Important Names
Credit as: Leonard N. Simons Jewish Community Archives. Natalie Charach Oral History Interview, October 10, 2013.