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
A group of women and children arranged in and around an automobile. This photograph is notable for the fact that there is a woman in the driver's seat.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Toni Lee Goldish lighting a homemade menorah on a fireplace mantel. Hanging from the mantel are three large Star of David ornaments. The Goldish family lived on Minneapolis' South Side.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This group of neighbors would meet informally at members' houses over the years. Their connection was geographic (North Side) rather than congregational (synagogue-related).
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
Founded in 1911, the Ladies Auxiliary raised money for a variety Talmud Torah related functions by sponsoring dances and food and rummage sales. An early outcome of providing women with a role in Jewish education was a fortification of both Jewish and American identity .
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Sylvia Borken stands at the produce counter of Knox Market, which was located at Knox and Plymouth Avenues in Minneapolis. Many small Jewish family-owned and run grocery stored served the North Side neighborhood. Small business ownership was an avenue to success that was open to the earliest group of Jewish immigrants.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Women seated at a long table set with tablecloths, floral centerpieces and candles. B'nai Brith Women was the women's division of B'nai Brith, the oldest Jewish service organization in existence. The St. Paul B. B. W. O. chapter held its annual luncheon at the Lowry Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of unidentified women standing in front of a bus. The Emanuel Cohen Center provided recreation space and social services to the North Minneapolis Jewish community. The Center was named for Emanuel Cohen, an attorney and the Center's principle benefactor.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Mt. Zion Women's Sisterhood members looking at a Shabbat dinner table setting. The women in the picture were publicizing the concept of the "Jewish Home Beautiful", which emphasized decorating the home, specifically the table settling, for each Jewish holiday. Left to right: Mrs. Max Whitefield, Mrs. Joseph Stein, and Mrs. Allen Firestone.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Ruth Melamond, Dr. Owen Wangensteen, and Luella Maslon at a Mt. Sinai Women's Auxiliary function. Dr. Owen Wangensteen of University Hospitals was a supporter of Mt Sinai. He originally proposed that the hospital be built on University of Minnesota property on the West Bank, but the idea never gained traction with the University Board.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Purim is a time for acting out and speaking up. The women of Kenesseth Israel's auxiliary did just that, appropriating men's garb, including a tallis (prayer shawl) and a cigarette to declare a minute of breaking away from accepted roles and dressing conventions of the day.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of Ida Cook sitting in a chair. The Cook family, headed by Rabbi Isaac Cook and his wife Ida, arrived in Duluth in the 1880s from Lithuania. They organized minyans and their home served as a welcoming center for new immigrants coming to the city. Ida Cook spearheaded the establishment of Duluth's first Hebrew school.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Three women stand at a table with a large model house displayed on it. The Oak Park Home Auxiliary raised money for the Oak Park Home, also known as the Jewish Sheltering Home for Children. The Home was a beneficiary of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, but funds for operations were always tight and fundraising was an ongoing concern.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Women's Auxiliary raised money for service programs at the Talmud Torah. This particular popular program featured at least two generation of women's in their bridal gowns.
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
A woman stands in front of a microphone, while Hurbert Humphrey sits at the table next to her at a Hadassah Supply Shower luncheon. Hadassah promoted health and welfare services to Jewish women and children in Palestine. By the end of WWII, the Minneapolis chapter of Hadassah was 1900 members strong. This photo taken at the Supply Shower luncheon at the Nicollet Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. The luncheons helped collect goods such as layettes and linens to be sent to hospitals and clinics in Palestine. Minnesota dignitaries like Humphrey spoke to show their support for Palestine relief, and by extension, a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A bird's eye view of people attending the Funtennial which was Hadassah's largest fundraising event. Essentially, Funtennial was a large-scale community carnival, with arcade-type games, a queen contest, door prizes, dancing and booths with food and crafts. Hundreds volunteered for the event, and for a decade between 1949 and 1959, thousands attended. Significant funds were raised, all of which went to Israel projects
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Bird's eye view of the Minneapolis Funtennial organized by Minneapolis Hadassah. One of the actions Hadassah supported was Youth Aliyah. Youth Aliyah began as a rescue and relief operation for children of Holocaust victims. These children were brought to Palestine during and after the war and settled in residential care. Over the decades, Youth Aliyah has provided services and homes for children and families from the soviet Union, Ethiopia and North Africa.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing members of the Minneapolis Board of B'nai Brith Women posed outdoors. B'nai Brith Women was an international charitable organization founded in 1909 to give women a voice in B'nai Brith.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives