Irwin Lachoff
Irwin Lachoff was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he lived for most of his life. He attended public schools in the city. After graduating from Louisiana State University, Irwin worked as a salesman and then decided to go back to school. He earned his master's degree from the University of New Orleans and worked as an archivist and Jewish historian specializing in the Orthodox community of New Orleans. At the time of the interview, Irwin was working as an archivist for Xavier University of Louisiana.
Irwin spent most of his life in his hometown, uptown New Orleans and attended public school and college within the state. His family attended services at Beth Israel, an Orthodox Synagogue in New Orleans, where his father served as a gabbai for thirty-five years. Irwin recalls surprising his ill father by reading the Haftorah on Rosh Hashanah. As a child, most of his friends were not Jewish. Irwin did not feel connected to the Jewish community beyond Beth Israel. Irwin describes the book he wrote with Cathy Kahn about the Jewish community in New Orleans. Irwin discusses his experience during Hurricane Katrina and evacuating the city. He reflects on the impact of Hurricane Katrina, returning after the storm, and the "unbelievable" devastation to the city. Irwin remembers dealing with FEMA and his insurance company. He talks about his work as an archivist at Xavier University, the Orthodox population in New Orleans, and his concern for the future of the Jewish community in the area.
