November 12, 2013

Gail Bruker

Gail's family roots trace to Lithuania and Britain. Her maternal grandfather came from a Lithuanian city, escaped anti-Semitism through Germany, and traveled by boat to South Africa, later bringing his brother and father and opening a shop near the mines. Her father's mother arrived from London as a young woman with her sister. Gail grew up in a Jewish neighborhood in Johannesburg that she remembers as idyllic, with children riding bicycles and neighbors sharing open gates. She attended a Jewish day school throughout her education and recalls how easy it was to live a Jewish life there, surrounded by community, Shabbat preparations, and people walking to synagogue.

Troubled by the political situation and the injustices of apartheid, Gail and her fiance Neal came to the United States in December 1985, visiting cities where they knew someone, including New York, Orlando, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Detroit. Dallas was their last stop. A meeting with Rabbi Feinstein at Solomon Schechter Academy changed their lives; recognizing the South African Jewish community, he offered to help sponsor them within minutes. They married and settled in Dallas. Gail found the city reminiscent of Johannesburg in some ways but had to learn a new culture, including different customs, foods, and idioms, from the outside in.

Trained as a teacher in Jewish education, Gail became deeply involved in Jewish educational and social life in Dallas. She and her family belonged to several synagogues over the years, moving toward the traditional and Modern Orthodox community that felt closest to their South African roots, encouraged in part by her daughters. She preserved South African Jewish traditions, especially foods like Lithuanian-style chopped herring, and cherished strong family ties. Over the years her parents, sisters, and their families moved to Dallas, allowing the family to gather every Friday night and celebrate holidays together. Gail maintained a strong allegiance to Israel and, though grateful and blessed by her life in America, still identified with her South African heritage. At the time of the interview she had recently married again and relocated to Boston.

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