『Stories of Our Ancestors』のカバーアート

Stories of Our Ancestors

Stories of Our Ancestors

著者： Simcha Lefton
無料で聴く

Stories of Our Ancestors: Self-Sacrifice Across Generations

Uncover the power of family memory and the untold sacrifices that built your world. This narrative documentary podcast preserves lived memory through true oral histories, interviews, and diaries, focusing on the immigrant experience and the enduring legacy of courage.

Join us on a journey across borders, oceans, languages, and grief to honor the ancestors who endured to secure a home for future generations. We trace the long road of historical immigration, following real people and events—like the frightening border crossings and uncertainty at Ellis Island—to explore themes of ancestry, family lineage, and the generational impact of self-sacrifice.

A must-listen for anyone interested in History, Genealogy, Jewish history, and the immigrant experience.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-our-ancestors--6389368/support.Copyright Simcha Lefton スピリチュアリティ ユダヤ教 世界 社会科学
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  • Lefton Scrap Metal

    Lefton Scrap Metal
    2026/05/19
    # Lefton Scrap Metal in St. Louis: Episode Package ## Short caption From East St. Louis scrap yards to a dining room table startup, this episode traces the human beginnings of the Lefton metal story: Sam Lefton, Morris Lefton, Robert Lefton, Howard "Curly" Estabrook, and the next generation of Metal Exchange. ## Longer caption This episode explores the first half century of the Lefton scrap metal story in St. Louis and East St. Louis, focusing on the people behind the business. We follow Sam Lefton’s early scrap trade roots, Morris Lefton’s 1946 start as a teenage yard worker, the family background that shaped him and his brother Robert, the Aluminum Services and Diversified Industries years, the 1974 founding of Metal Exchange with Howard "Curly" Estabrook, and Mike Lefton’s entry into the trade as a scrap buyer in 1984. ## Chapter breakdown 00:00 - Opening: scrap yards, rail spurs, and the people behind the metal 00:45 - Sam Lefton and the older St. Louis scrap trade 01:45 - Morris and Robert Lefton: childhood in the St. Louis Jewish Children’s Home 03:00 - 1946: Morris starts at Lefton Iron and Metal at age sixteen 04:00 - Around 1958: Aluminum Services and the dross opportunity 05:00 - 1968 to 1974: Diversified Industries and the leap back to independence 06:15 - November 1974: Metal Exchange begins at a dining room table 07:30 - Lefton Iron and Metal’s East St. Louis yards and the industrial timeline 08:45 - First fifty years: Sam, Morris, Robert, Curly, and Mike 10:00 - Closing reflection: from orphanage to yard to global metal trading ## Hashtags #LeftonScrapMetal #StLouisHistory #EastStLouis #ScrapMetal #MetalRecycling #MorrisLefton #SamLefton #MetalExchange #IndustrialHistory #FamilyBusiness #JewishStLouis #StLouisJewishHistory #AluminumIndustry #RecyclingHistory #BusinessHistory #AmericanIndustry #StLouisPodcast #LocalHistory #HiddenHistory #PodcastEpisode ## Research notes and source links - Morris Lefton started in metals in 1946 at age sixteen at Lefton Iron and Metal Company, a St. Louis scrap operation owned by Sam Lefton, according to the Recycled Materials Association profile "Aluminum Aficionado": https://www.isri.org/scrap-articles/aluminum-aficionado - The same profile identifies Sam Lefton as a distant cousin, states that Sam asked Morris to head Aluminum Services around 1958, and says Aluminum Services was sold to Diversified Industries in November 1968: https://www.isri.org/scrap-articles/aluminum-aficionado - Metal Exchange’s company history says Morris’s early life included his father’s departure and time in a children’s home, and describes the founding of Metal Exchange around Morris’s dining room table with Howard "Curly" Estabrook and three original employees: https://www.metalexchange.com/who-we-are/our-history - The Q4 Solutions article on the Lefton family describes Robert and Morris Lefton’s childhood in the St. Louis Jewish Children’s Home, their mother’s weekly visits, Morris’s entry into the scrap metal industry through a relative, and the family’s later Jewish community recognition: https://www.q4solutions.com/insights/lefton-family-honored-by-ajc/ - The St. Louis Jewish Light profile of Robert Lefton gives human details on the Jewish Orphan’s Home near Oakland and Tamm, the brothers’ childhood, Robert’s education, and the achievement drive shared by Robert and Morris: https://stljewishlight.org/arts-entertainment/from-jewish-orphans-home-to-success-as-leader-of-consulting-firm/ - The ATSDR health consultation identifies Lefton Iron and Metal properties at 205 South 17th Street and 1901 Converse Avenue in East St. Louis, states that scrap metal recovery began at the 17th Street property around 1961, and records that operations discontinued in 1997: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/hac/pha/leftonironmetalcompany/leftonironmetalhc052907.pdf - The Recycled Materials Association article "Metal Exchange: Ready to Make a Deal" identifies the November 1974 founding of Metal Exchange by Morris Lefton and Howard A. "Curly" Estabrook, and describes the company’s trading philosophy and growth: https://www.isri.org/scrap-articles/metal-exchange-ready-to-make-a-deal - Metal Exchange’s team page states that Mike Lefton began in 1984 as a scrap buyer at Pennex Aluminum and later served in trading, dross, logistics, CEO, and executive chairman roles: https://www.metalexchange.com/who-we-are/our-team - The St. Louis Jewish Light article on Mike Lefton describes Metal Exchange as a private family-owned nonferrous metals company and notes Mike’s 1984 career start and 2019 executive chairman role: https://stljewishlight.org/news/news-local/mike-lefton-a-vote-away-from-becoming-next-president-of-american-jewish-committee-st-louis/ - A genealogy page for Samuel I. Lefton gives supporting leads on Sam’s birth in St. Louis in 1906, his 1940 ...
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    10 分
  • Tribute : Mordechai'S Mom

    Tribute : Mordechai'S Mom
    2026/05/19
    00:00 - Introduction to the podcast and the tribute.

    01:10 - Discussion of hosting Mishnah classes for children

    02:11 - her hospitality

    . 03:19 - guests.

    04:20 -kindness and inclusion

    . 05:18 - Descriptions of the magnificent Shabbos table

    . 06:20 - dedication

    07:25 - A story about a Purim exhibit project with Mordechai, demonstrating the parents' support for the children's hobbies, interests


    08:29 - The detailed work involved in the Purim project, including using an electric saw

    08:59 - The story of getting into Camp Morasha

    11:23 - A memorable Purim experience involving a huge "shalach manos" delivery from the Raskas family.

    12:24 - contents of the shalach manos

    13:28 - maternal care

    14:42 - children's education, ensuring the "perfect fit class.

    15:52 - The importance of parents actively participating in their children's religious education.


    16:33 - Her Hebrew name - conclusion

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-our-ancestors--6389368/support.
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    17 分
  • Title: From Kovno to St. Louis: The Founding Story of Raskas Dairy-

    Title: From Kovno to St. Louis: The Founding Story of Raskas Dairy-
    2026/05/18
    Title: From Kovno to St. Louis: The Founding Story of Raskas Dairy
    Chapter breakdown:
    Opening: Before Raskas became a dairy name
    Isaac and Shifra Rivka Raskas leave Kovno, Lithuania
    The likely immigrant journey across Europe and the Atlantic
    Arrival in St. Louis and the Jewish community near the Mississippi River
    Isaac begins selling milk to neighbors
    Door-to-door milk delivery by horse-drawn wagon
    The move to North Newstead and the early dairy operation
    The Raskas family’s Orthodox Jewish values and Torah education
    Louis Raskas and his years of yeshiva study in Europe
    The 1914 return to St. Louis and the impact of World War I
    Ruth Raskas joins Louis and helps build the company
    Smetina, cream cheese, kashrus, and the growth of Raskas Dairy
    The legacy of family, faith, work, and St. Louis beginnings
    Hashtags:
    #RaskasDairy
    #JewishHistory
    #StLouisHistory
    #Kovno
    #LithuanianJewishHistory
    #AmericanJewishHistory
    #KosherFoodHistory
    #DairyHistory
    #JewishImmigrants
    #ImmigrantStories
    #StLouisMissouri
    #FamilyLegacy
    #OrthodoxJewishHistory
    #CholovYisroel
    #RaskasFamily
    #JewishPodcast
    #HistoryPodcast
    #FoodHistory
    #MississippiRiverHistory
    #FromKovnoToStLouis

    Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/stories-of-our-ancestors--6389368/support.

    This episode includes AI-generated content.
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    17 分
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