Children sitting at desks in a classroom. A line of children stands at the back of the class with chalk poised in hands, ready to write on the chalkboard. Mr. Elijah Avin was engaged as principal in 1911: he can be seen at the back of the room. The Minneapolis Talmud Torah was located on 818 Bassett Place in North Minneapolis at the time this photograph was taken.
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
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
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
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
Kids from the J. E. C. looked on along with neighborhood kids as participants leapt, threw and ran during sports contests staged at Center Days. The J. E. C. was administered in three parts: one administrative group owned and operated the building; one oversaw the Hebrew School, and one took charge of the community activities program.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
By 1924, when this photograph was taken, the Talmud Torah had moved to a new building space. The old building remained a community center, but the Hebrew school moved to the Emanuel Cohen Center. The school was also gaining national recognition at that time as a place of innovative teaching methods and rigorous curriculum. The Elementary Level lasted for 5 years and was the first level of Hebrew instruction.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of the graduating pre-Kindergarten class standing in caps and gowns in front of the Emanuel Cohen Center. There was a comprehensive curriculum for Jewish children at the Emmanuel Cohen Center.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The children in the picture are displaying their hobbies. Many of the children in the Jewish neighborhood on Minneapolis's North Side attended John Hay Elementary School. The school was located at Penn Avenue North and 10th Avenue North; it closed in 2003 as North Side school enrollments declined.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A class picture of the pre-school students and teachers at George Kaplan Hebrew Seminary. The Seminary was founded in 1944 in St. Paul as a branch of the Hebrew Institute. It was intended to meet the needs of Conservative families on the West Side of St. Paul.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph showing the young men and women of the graduating class from the Saint Paul Talmud Torah. Max Gordon, the director of the Talmud Torah, is seated at the center of the front row.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The George Kaplan Hebrew Seminary was founded in 1944 in St. Paul as a branch of the Hebrew Institute. It was intended to meet the needs of Conservative families on the West Side of St. Paul. The school building was located on Summit Avenue in St. Paul.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph showing members of the graduating class in caps and gowns. St. Paul differed from Minneapolis in that it supported two Hebrew schools rather than one centralized school. The Hebrew Institute and the Capitol City Hebrew School maintained their affiliations with founding synagogues: consequently, enrollments for the schools was smaller and funding for the schools was less robust than in Minneapolis. In 1956, Capitol City Hebrew School and the Hebrew Institute merged to become the St. Paul Talmud Torah.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
"Lammie" high school sorority girls planning for a Halloween party. Jewish high school girls formed their own sororities in the public schools, like North High, where they could plan social activities and take part in service projects.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Exterior view of the Jewish Educational Center in Saint Paul. The Capitol City Hebrew Free School moved to the St. Paul Educational Center/J. C. C. in the 1930s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Women's auxiliaries always played the key role in planning and staffing fundraising events. This publicity photograph shows many of the St. Paul women who had ongoing involvement supporting the J. E. C. programming.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the safety patrol stand arranged in two rows and holding signs. John Hay School was one of two elementary schools on the North Side of Minneapolis that had a substantial Jewish population (the other was Willard School).
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of children pose outside wearing handmade costumes. For families that were not able or didn't choose to send their kids to camp outside of the city, the J. A. C. C. provided Stay At Home Camp during summer months at the J. E. C.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Ladies Auxiliary pose outside of the West Side Hebrew Institute for this photograph. The West Side Hebrew Institute was one of the two earliest schools in St. Paul teaching Hebrew to Jewish children. The building was located at the intersection of Fenton and Kentucky Street, and was dedicated in November 1911.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of members of the Ivria Club standing beneath a pergola at the Como Park Conservatory. Ivria Clubs were social clubs for young people dedicated to promoting Hebrew language and culture. This chapter was sponsored by the Minneapolis Talmud Torah. The idea of binding the "old" that was Hebrew with the "new" that was American--"Ivrit B'Ivrit"-- was introduced by Elijah Arvin. Arvin is on the bottom row, second from the right.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
These young women were Midwest Talmud Torah chapter presidents at the annual convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey. From left to right, Lila Labovitz, Fanny Miller, Sarah Levitman; Beryl Bearman, Sarah Ritzner, and Libby Kramer.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of young boys and girls in a classroom. Some children are sitting at desks and some are standing at the chalkboard with chalk in hand. The first Talmud Torah building was located on Fremont Avenue North and Eighth Street. The president, Nathan Weisbren, spoke to Thomas Lowry, president of the Minneapolis Street Car Company, and arranged for a charter street car to carry students to class. For even the youngest students at the new school, the first day of class began with the expectation that classes would be conducted in Hebrew. Memorization was supplemented by reading, acting, conversation and playing games.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of a placard detailing different activities taking place at the Jewish Education Center on Center Day. Center Day showcased the facilities and services at the J. E. C., and allowed the community to observe a cross-section of the activities that took place there.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Young students stand on the steps of the school. The instructors stand in the back right. Temple of Aaron organized it's own Hebrew school in 1916. The multiplicity of Hebrew Schools in St. Paul was a marked difference from the centralized Hebrew instruction in Minneapolis, reflecting the diversity of the St. Paul community and it's lengthier history.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children lay on individual mats on the floor during rest time in this pre-kindergarten class. The Jewish Educational Center was the precursor to the current St. Paul Jewish Community Center. It was built in 1930 at the corner of Holly and Grotto. Programming combined recreation and education, and by the time this picture was taken, over 100 community groups used the building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Sigma Alpha Mu basketball team are posed in uniform. Sigma Alpha Mu was founded in 1909 at City College in New York as a Jewish fraternity. The University of Minnesota had an active chapter.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of members of the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority in caps and gowns. Sigma Delta Tau sorority was founded by seven young women at Cornell University in 1917. The seven had had been denied membership into other Greek organizations because they were Jewish.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of servicemen stand outside the Sigma Delta Tau Sorority house. In the back is a young member of the sorority. The Sigma Delta Tau sorority was founded by seven young women at Cornell University in 1917. The seven had had been denied membership into other Greek organizations because they were Jewish. The Minneapolis chapter hosted Jewish soldiers stationed at Fort Snelling in St. Paul during World War II.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Group arranged outside the front of the Saint Paul Talmud Torah school for the first year preschool graduation at the new George Kaplan Talmud Torah building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Three boys, wearing caps and capes, hold a microphone on stage, during the commencement ceremony of the nursery school graduation. The St. Paul Talmud Torah was created in 1956 through the merger of several different Jewish education institutions as a beneficiary of the United Jewish Fund and Council. Oversight for Jewish education was centered in the Jewish Education Association, which planned and developed all forms of local Jewish learning, including weekday school and Sunday schools.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Children of the graduating class of the Saint Paul Talmud Torah nursery school, wearing caps and hand-made costume. The St. Paul Talmud Torah was created in 1956 through the merger of several different Jewish education institutions as a beneficiary of the United Jewish Fund and Council. Oversight for Jewish education was centered in the Jewish Education Association, which planned and developed all forms of local Jewish learning, including weekday school and Sunday schools.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Hillel Center at the University of Minnesota provides a central campus location for Jewish students to meet and hold cultural, religious and social events. Hillel was preceded by the Menorah Club, founded in 1920. Hillel met in various locations until the mid-1940s when a permanent home was built on the campus. Hillel sponsored (and still sponsors) Friday evening services, lectures and social events. The building in the picture preceeded the current building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This ribbon cutting at the first Hillel House took place in 1944. Hillel House serves Jewish students attending the University of Minnesota. From the turn of the century through the early 1940s, Jewish student organizations did not have a permanent place to meet. Hillel was constructed with support from the national B'nai Brith organization and the Jewish community in the Twin Cities.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Student award winners (left to right): Arnold Lifson, Joseph Brooks Memorial Award; Lorraine Phillips, Hannah Goldblum Prize; Harriet Lifson, Nathan Weisberg Prize.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Dr. George Gordon, founder and driving force behind the Minneapolis Talmud Torah is in the center, front row. Dr. Gordon introduced modern teaching methods, grades, and a rigorous curriculum to Hebrew instruction, and remained administratively independent of any religious congregation. High school classes were the second level of instruction: students graduated after 3 years.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Talmud Torah schools offer primary and advanced education to Jewish students in Hebrew language and scripture; religious practices; and Talmudic commentaries. Talmud Torahs date back to the Renaissance, and were established in the United States in the 1880s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Group photograph of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah Women's Auxilliary Presidents. While most of the faculty involved in actual teaching at the early Hebrew schools was done by men, women were important to the ongoing success of religious education. The Talmud Torah Women's Auxiliary in Minneapolis was founded in 1911 as a club, and by the mid-1920s had grown to more than 500 members. In addition to raising funds for the school, the Auxiliary was committed to furthering Jewish civic pride and Jewish consciousness in the home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Three young men pose for a photograph on the steps of North High School. North High School serves the North Side neighborhood in Minneapolis. The high school is located at 1500 James Avenue North.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives