A Boy Scout, in uniform, stands next to a simply designed and built Ark for the Torah at Boy Scout Camp. The scout in the picture is likely a member of the Beth El troop. The Ark contains the Torah, the scrolls used in worship services. The Torah is always elevated off the ground. This particular Ark has a poignant simplicity and directness.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Sans their bowling shoes, these members of B'nai B'rith women's bowling league proudly display their hardware. Left to right: Sally Orenstein, Mary Effress, Ethel Frank, Rae Davis, Jessie Swatez, Kathy Sigel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Young women in formal dress sitting at long tables during the District 6 convention. B. B. Y. W. was part of the women's division of B'nai Brith, the oldest continuously operating Jewish service organization in the world.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
B'nai Brith Young Women's Organization is the B'nai Brith Young Women's organization. It was the women's division of B'nai Brith, the oldest continuously operating Jewish service organization in the world. The St. Paul B. B. Y. W. O. chapter had offices at the St. Paul Jewish Community Center.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of young men and women sitting and standing on a large sleigh. B'nai Brith Youth Organization was comprised of A. Z. A., a young men's fraternity, and B. B. G., the young women's counterpart to A. Z. A. Both were founded in response to discrimination in admitting Jewish youth to high-school level sororities and fraternities Both groups emphasized social service, leadership education and social activity. Originally affiliated with B'nai Brith, B. B. Y. O. re-structured as an independent organization in 2002.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the Board of Directors for the Workman's Circle Loan Association, posed at a table. Workman's Circle groups loaned money to members cost free. A person paid a small fee to be a member and could then apply for a loan. He or she would then pay the loan back at a scheduled rate.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Board of Directors of the Workman's Circle Loan Association sitting at a table, working and chatting. Both St. Paul and Minneapolis had Workmen's Circle chapters.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Goldishes were one of a small number of Jewish families that lived and worked along the North Shore in the commercial fishing industry. They both fished and processed their catch for market.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of boys and an adult at Sumner Field park. Sumner Field was a large commons area that served as a playing field for North Side neighborhood children. Recreational opportunities for children and young people were funded and organized by the Emanuel Cohen Center.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of boys gather behind their seated instructor at Sumner Field park. Sumner Field was a large commons area on the North Side that served as a playing field for North Side neighborhood children. Recreational opportunities for children and young people were funded and organized by the Emanuel Cohen Center.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of boys playing billiards outside while other boys look on. Camp Sophie Wirth operated from 1911-1943. It was founded and run by the St. Paul chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. It offered low cost recreational and rest opportunities for immigrant women and their children.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
An interior view of the Browning King clothing store with salesmen standing at a long counter. The store was located on the corner of 6th Street and Robert St. in St. Paul.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The men in the picture represent the leadership of one of the most influential congregations in the City of Minneapolis at the time. Rabbi Silber is in the first row, middle.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Mt. Sinai Auxiliary raised significant funds that were used towards patient care. Events included book sales, cookbook publishing and other social events, including the famous annual ball. Shown purchasing the cookbook is Luella Maslon, the book's author.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Two Candy Stripers escort a Mount Sinai Hospital patient wearing a bathrobe down the hall. Mount Sinai Hospital was built in Minneapolis, Minnesota, during the 1950s to address the discrimination Jewish doctors experienced admitting Jewish patients to local hospitals. The Auxiliary members promoted the work of Mount Sinai Hospital and assisted needy members of the community through volunteer service, fundraising and public relations.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Students at the Capitol City Hebrew School portray the Maccabees for a Hanukkah tableau. Hanukkah commemorates the Maccabees victory over the Greek Syrians and the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A view of the front exterior of the Capitol City Hebrew School which was one of the two earliest schools in St. Paul where Jewish children could learn Hebrew. It was located at 137 College Avenue in Saint Paul.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A toddler stands on the sidewalk wearing a snowsuit and mittens. The Sumner Field Homes were constructed by the W. P. A. in 1938. They were the first federally subsidized housing in Minnesota. Sumner Field replaced housing stock constructed in the 1880 and 1890s that were home to a first generation of Minneapolis immigrants.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A celebration held at either Emanuel Cohen Center or the basement of Tifereth B'nai Jacob for Tifereth congregants. Tifereth B'nai Jacob was an Orthodox Shul that was also referred to by Northsider's as the "Elwood Shul." The congregation merged with Mikro Kodesh during the outmigration to the western suburbs, ultimately merging again with members of the Minneapolis south-side Shul, B'nai Abraham, to create B'nai Emet in St. Louis Park. The woman at the front of the procession is Lena Burdman.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The picture includes several generations of Cohens, standing on a porch, including a set of Old-World-looking grandfathers. The mohel wears the tallis and kippa: he performed the ritual circumcision at the bris.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Interior view of a darkened chapel at Beth El Synagogue with visible accent lighting. Ground for the first Beth El Synagogue was broken in 1925 and the building was completed in 1926.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Two young boys concentrate on the chess board while a group of children look on. Children's and young people's programming was held at the J. E. C. Annex.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children gathered outside of the Capitol City Hebrew School, with the school entrance in the background. Capitol City Hebrew Free School was one of two schools in St. Paul where Jewish children could learn Hebrew. It was originally affiliated with the Sons of Jacob congregation, but by the time this building was built in 1912, enrollment was no longer restricted to Sons of Jacob families.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The children in the photograph are dressed up to represent the Royal Court at the St. Paul Winter Carnival. The photograph was taken in the basement of the George Kaplan Hebrew Seminary building at 1464 Summit Avenue in St. Paul.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children dressed in costume, standing outside of Temple Emmanuel. Purim is a religious holiday that celebrates the defeat of Haman, the Persian minister who plotted the annihilation of the Persian Jews. It is a holiday marked by re-enactments of the story and subversive merry-making.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children in front of signage at Temple Israel alerting the public to the plight of Soviet Jews denied the opportunity of migrate to Israel. The local Jewish community sent hundreds of people to Washington D. C. for a rally that drew thousands of people and directed the nation's attention to the issue.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Purim is a holiday celebrating the rescue of the Jews from extermination at the hands of Hayman, the chief minister to the King of Persia. It is day of put-ons, jokes, and theatricality, and children perform plays about how Esther and Mordechi outwit Hayman.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
As part of Sunday School instruction, very young children are taught about and practice the words to the Shabbat blessings over a cup of wine and bread. This group of children were in Bernice Cowl Gordon's class. Left to right: Howard Goldberg, Gerald and Merle Rosenzweig and John Have.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of children attending a child's birthday party. The families represented by the children in this photo where children of the first generation of Jewish settlers that had arrived at the turn of the century, mainly from Lithuania by way of Superior, Wisconsin. The Jewish community in Range towns was relatively tight-knit. Each of the larger towns, including Virginia, Hibbing, Chisholm and Eveleth had a synagogue at one time or another, and much of the community life revolved around activities related to them.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Fannie Cohen and her son Sidney (standing on chair) at Cohen's grocery store at 119 S. Wabasha Street in St. Paul. The store opened in 1920 and stayed in business into the 1940s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of students seated on a stage at North High School, for the commencement ceremony of the Talmud Torah class. The picture was taken in the auditorium at Minneapolis North High school where many, if not most, of the Talmud Torah students went to high school. The high school was half empty on Jewish holidays, and students were not marked absent on those days, even though Jewish holidays were not public holidays on the school calendar.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Saul Upin is standing, reading from the Haggadah, the text for the Seder observance. The Albert Lea Jewish community was relatively small. The 1930 American Jewish Yearbook census put the population at 29 people, which was undoubtedly its peak.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The context of the display is unknown. However, the two women in the photo are Mrs. Arthur Horwitz (left) and Mrs. H. Z. Mendow (right). Note the photos in the background display featuring prominent Minneapolis Jewish leaders, including Rabbi Solomon Silber, Joseph Shandfield and Rabbi Samuel Deinard. Below the portraits are photos of Minneapolis synagogues and the first Jewish Sheltering home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of Congregation B'nai Abraham, which occupied what was originally a Methodist church at the corners of 13th Avenue S. and 9th Street in Minneapolis. The Orthodox congregation was founded by Romanian Jews who settled in neighborhoods on Minneapolis' South Side.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of th Mikro Kodesh Synagogue. One of several North Side Orthodox congregations, Mikro Kodesh was founded as Anshei Russia (Men of Russia), but changed it's name to Mikro Kodesh (Holy Assembly) several years later. The name change reflects a growing away from the congregation's ties to the place where they came from, and towards the America they settled in.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of the Sons of Jacob building was located at College and Wabasha in downtown St. Paul. The Orthodox congregation was organized in 1872 by Polish Jews, and was the second Jewish congregation incorporated in the state.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives