In this interview, Manual (Mandy) Ruder (1914 - ) gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan. Special attention is afforded to his family background, including information about his Romanian and Zionist parents farming in Palestine, their settlement in North Dakota, and eventually settling with his mother in Minneapolis after the tragic death of his father. The focus moves to Ruder's childhood in a Romanian Orthodox community near downtown Minneapolis, roughly during the period of 1910 - 1920, to his education at the University of Minnesota in the 1930s, Navy career, career in American National Bank, and copious family details. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Pearl Bankman Sakol (4th from top right) and her family gather around two tables for the Passover Seder. The view of the photograph is from slightly above.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Text for memorial services, including prayers in English and Hebrew for fathers, mothers, and grandfathers and the Mourner's Kaddish in English and Hebrew with the Hebrew transliterated.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Men and women sit at rows of long tables for anniversary celebration of the Duluth Talmud Torah. The Duluth Jewish community at its height in the 1930s numbered about 4,000. Duluth's profile mirrored that of larger cities to the south, including a mix of German and eastern European settlers. The fact that both groups arrived within the same decade helped prevent some of the same identity-based separation that occurred in Minneapolis and St. Paul. The Duluth Talmud Torah is officially named the Ida B. Cook Hebrew school, after the founder and a prominent Duluth citizen.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A contract between the Russian Brotherhood synagogue and Joe Isololen regarding payment for congregation membership. Payment amounts are specified, and the congregant is assigned seat 35A in the synagogue building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A large group of young people sitting at a series of long tables in the Temple of Aaron in Saint Paul. United Synagogue Youth (USY) was founded in 1951 to promote living Jewishly to Jewish-American teens. Part educational and part service oriented, the organization encourages youth involvement in Jewish community service work; travel and service in Israel; and reflection on Jewish identity. USY is associated with Conservative Judaism. The photo was taken at Temple of Aaron in St. Paul
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Confirmants in white robes are seated in two rows with Rabbi Aronson seated in the front middle row. Rabbi Aronson came to Beth El in 1924, and served the congregation for 35 years. Beth El, at the time the photo was taken, was on the North Side of Minneapolis. The congregation is now in St. Louis Park.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Roz Baker (1923 - ) gives an account of her life as a Jewish native of Minneapolis. She relates her family background which includes an immigration story to the United States from Russia through Cypress in 1915. She describes her childhood growing up Jewish in Minneapolis, relating memories of Labor-Zionist meetings, holiday traditions, school experience, working as a teenager during the Depression and various class distinctions among the larger Jewish community. This interview was conducted by Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest volunteer Ann Schulman in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Rabbi Kassel Abelson speaks of his life, times, and views regarding Judaism. Abelson spent over forty years as senior Rabbi at Beth El synagogue in North Minneapolis and later Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, serving as a leader in the community and as a developer of national Judaic programs and policy. Abelson recalls his family background, his childhood in Brooklyn, his education culminating in the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in the 1940s (a focus of discussion), his chaplaincy, his arrival and experience at Beth El, relocating to Saint Louis Park from Minneapolis' North Side and actions in setting Judaic policy. The focus of the interview, in addition to Abelson's personal narrative, is on his vision of American Judaism and how it was enacted through various programs and organizations, such as the United Synagogue Youth, in addition to his social justice principles exemplified by his participation in organizations such as the Urban Coalition 1960s on Minneapolis' North Side. This interview was conducted by Dr. Linda Mack Schloff, former director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest, in effort to document the stories of Jewish immigration to and community leaders in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Sunshine Club of Virginia was a young women's service and social club. The club's Americanized name suggests the second generation's disposition to claim their American identity: first generation organization names would have likely been rendered in Hebrew.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The shofar is a ram's horn used for Jewish religious purposes. It is most frequently associated with the high holidays of Rosh ha-Shana and Yom Kippur.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The wedding took place close on the heels of the outbreak of World War II. The Smiths are standing under a chuppha, the traditional covered tent under which the married couple stand and exchange their vows.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Frontal view of the third Mount Zion Temple in St. Paul, Minnesota, located at Holly Avenue and Avon Street, designed in the classical style. This was the location prior to the fourth and current Mount Zion on Summit Avenue, designed in the modernist Bauhaus style.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Frontal view of the original Temple of Aaron synagogue on the corner of Ashland Avenue and Avon Street in St. Paul, Minnesota. This building was completed in 1916 under Rabbi Arthur Ginzler and was destroyed by fire in 1951.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Frontal view of Temple Israel synagogue. On Sept. 1, 1928, Temple Israel members attended the inaugural service of this new synagogue, designed by architect Jack Liebenberg. The Temple's pillared facade on Emerson Avenue, the site of the former community house, reflects Greek influence on early Judaism. The five doors represent the five books of the Torah: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Frontal view of a new addition to Temple Israel synagogue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The addition was constructed in 1987 and added a new entrance on the parking lot, a 250 seat theater, meeting rooms, offices, and elevators to make the temple handicapped-accessible.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Side view facing West of Mount Zion Temple synagogue at 1300 Summit Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. It is one of the last projects designed by the internationally renowned Bauhaus architect Erich Mendelsohn, who incidentally died during its construction. The building was dedicated in 1954. A previous building was located at Holly Avenue and Avon Street in St. Paul.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of University of Minnesota students look at books in a display case while attending Jewish Book Month, hosted by the University of Minnesota chapter of Hillel. The University of Minnesota chapter of Hillel was founded in 1940 to assist Jewish college students away from home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Five Hillel volunteers unpack food at a food drive. Listed on the back from left to right: unidentified, Jerry Bubis, Theresa Friedland (Hillel Secretary), Rita Mack and Nancy Stein. The University of Minnesota chapter of Hillel was founded in 1940 to assist Jewish college students away from home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A female Hillel volunteer hands a can of food to a male volunteer in front of a sign advertising the Purim Overseas Food Drive, co-chaired by Gerald Bubis and Stevie Frankel. The University of Minnesota chapter of Hillel was founded in 1940 to assist Jewish college students away from home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Five University of Minnesota Hillel students sit and stand around a piano, performing a musical number. The University of Minnesota chapter of Hillel was founded in 1940 to assist Jewish college students away from home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
