Southwest Jewish History

 

Volume 1, Number 2, Fall 1993

Jewish Graffiti At the Mission San Xavier del Bac?

No, there is nothing wrong with the headline; there is graffiti with a Jewish twist to the old Mission San Xavier del Bac south of Tucson.

Dr. Bernard L. (Bunny) Fontana, who has spent a lifetime in researching the Tohono O'Odham tribe and has been a moving force in the restoration of the old mission, introduced us to the graffiti. Hundreds of names have been scrawled on the interior walls on the hallway and mezzanine of the mission. Aaron Zeckendorf wrote his name on the wall in 1871. The Zeckendorf brothers, Aaron, Louis and William, made history in New Mexico and Arizona. The Zeckendorfs operated a great mercantile store that later was taken over by their nephew Albert Steinfeld.

Albert inscribed his name on the mission wall in 1890. The Zeckendorfs and the Steinfelds helped develop the Arizona territory, the state and the Jewish community as well.

One of the greatest of entrepreneurs in Tucson was the Jewish pioneer Alexander Levin. He operated Levin's brewery, Levin's Park, Levin's Hall in addition to an ice house, bath house, beer parlor and a magnificent garden open to the public. His family visited the mission, perhaps for a picnic along the tree-shaded Santa Cruz River, and all wrote their names on the mission wall. Zenona, his wife, was of Mexican origin. A grandson of Alexander Levin operates the Papagayo restaurants in Tucson today. The Bloom Archives also has two photos of Albert Seinfeld's name etched in the walls at the Mission San Xavier