In 1964, a group of University City Jewish teenagers regularly played softball under the banner of Haganah, AZA (a B’nai B’rith Youth Organization chapter). On Aug. 27, nearly 60 years later, most of that team reunited for a dinner.
The idea for the mini-reunion originated following the 2022 U. City High School class of 1970 50-year reunion, according to the Haganah group’s organizer Sandy Goldstein.
“After last year’s party, we talked about how our next reunion wouldn’t be for another 10 years,” said Goldstein, 71. “Look at the people we’ve already lost—why don’t we not wait but meet again sometime sooner.”
Goldstein and Bob Braun planned the event, which included the get-together for local alumni and out-of-towners (Braun now lives in Silver Springs, Md.), followed by the group attending the Cardinals-San Diego Padres game on Aug. 28.
During the Sunday night gathering, in a nod to growing up in U. City, Velvet Freeze Ice Cream was served. Memories were shared about playing billiards at the old JCC Yalem Building at Olive and Hanley, where the group met weekly. The other topics ranged from recollections of Hebrew school and bar mitzvahs.
Bob Daniel, 71, a member of United Hebrew Congregation, offered commentary on both his own bar mitzvah and an upcoming one for his grandson.
As a Haganah member in the mid-1960s, and a member of the softball team (I was not present for the 1964 photo), I also have fond memories of our awkward dance parties with B’nai B’rith Girls’ chapters, community service projects, and mostly, the camaraderie.
1964 Photo:
Standing: Sam Goldstein, Mick Weltman, Dennis Brodsky, Mitchell Shenker, and Sandy Goldstein
Sitting on bench: Bob Lewis, Jay Disman, and Bob Braun
Sitting on ground: Danny Spitz and Mike Elbein
Aug. 27, 2023 Photo:
Standing: Sam Goldstein, Mick Weltman, Dennis Brodsky, Mitchell Shenker, and Sandy Goldstein
Kneeling: Jay Disman, Bob Braun and Bob Daniel
Sitting on ground: Danny Spitz and Mike Elbein
