Series V: Geller/Leff Family, 1910 - 1980

Donor of the materials, Devora Geller Rubin is from a self-proclaimed “Rice Family.” She attended Rice her freshman year at 16 before going on to complete her schooling at UT Austin in 1948. Devora’s father, Abram Lewis Geller, graduated in the fourth class of the Rice Institute in 1920. Her husband and Dallas native, Louis Rubin, graduated from Rice in 1948, the same year as her cousin, Henry Geller. In addition, Rubin’s aunts Florence Kless Yellen and Beulah Axelrod Yellen, uncle Milton Yellen, and brother Jacob Geller all attended Rice.

In addition to its Rice connections, Rubin's family also has close ties to the Houston Jewish community. Her Grandfather, Rabbi Jacob Geller was rabbi of the Adath Israel congregation from 1910 until his passing, while her uncle, Rabbi Max Geller was the head of congregation Beth Jacob for a number of years. Rubin herself spent much of her youth in and around Beth Jacob, attending school across the street at Albert Sidney Johnson Junior High School.

Rabbi Jacob Geller was born in Galicia and received his rabbinical training there, becoming rabbi of the orthodox community of Galveston in 1892. While there he organized the Hebrew Orthodox Benevolent Association and dedicated a synagogue built by the Young Men's Hebrew Association. He served there for eighteen years, coming to Houston in 1910 to serve as rabbi of the Adath Israel congregation. He was elected for life tenure in November of 1929. He died February 10, 1930 at 67 years of age, survived by his wife Mrs. Sara Geller, eight children: Harry Geller, Samuel Geller, Abram L. Geller, Rabbi Max Geller, Mrs. Jacob Leff and Miss Esther Geller, Mrs. Goldie Minkes, and Mrs. Leah Gordon.

Rabbi Max Geller was born May 27, 1896 in Galveston County, Texas and served as the rabbi of congregation Beth Jacob for a number of years. In 1934, he was unanimously re-elected by the Congregation Adath Israel to serve as spiritual leader for a period of ten years. The first native Texan to become an orthodox Jewish minister, Rabbi Geller was also active in civic and philanthropic affairs of the community. He died on July 11, 1966 at 70 years of age.