S.A.C. formal pajama dance photograph

In a communal effort to meet the needs of the Charleston Jewish community, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) was formed in 1922, was housed in a three-story brick building on George Street near St. Philip Street, and had as its first president, Sam Rittenberg. Financial problems in the 1930s brought the organization to an end. The present Jewish Community Center dates from 1945, again growing out of community efforts, in cooperation with the Jewish Welfare Board, to serve Jewish servicemen and women during World War II. Housed in a two-story yellow-brick faced building at 58 St. Philip Street, the center shared the building with the Charleston Hebrew Institute, which deeded the building to the JCC in 1952. In 1959, the center purchased twenty-five acres of land on Millbrook Drive, later renamed Wallenberg Boulevard. In June of 1963 the JCC opened its outdoor facilities, and in February of 1966, after selling the St. Philip Street building to the College Prepatory School in 1964, moved into its new building on Millbrook Drive. By the time it had celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1995, it had increased greatly in size and function, becoming the site of the Addlestone Hebrew Academy, formerly the Charleston Hebrew Academy, and the Sherman House for low income senior citizens.

Karl Karesh (1912-1997) was born in Charleston, South Carolina. In 1946, after serving in the air force in World War II, Karesh, with Max Krawchek, opened Karl Karesh Men's Apparel on 371 King Street. The store would move twice, once in 1955, three doors up the street to a larger store, and finally, in 1970, to 301 King Street. In addition to the store on King Street, Karesh opened Karl Karesh Limited in West Ashley. Karesh retired from the clothing business in 1982.