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
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 photograph showing the front exterior of Adath Jeshurun Synagogue. Adath Jeshurun was founded 1884. It joined together two groups of Jews--immigrants from Russia and Romania--that had settled on Minneapolis's South Side. The building in the picture was, like Temple Israel, designed by Jack Liebenberg in the Neoclassical Revival style. The number three--corresponding to the number of doors--has several symbolic references, including to the three patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A view showing the front exterior of the Beth El Synagogue. The congregation was created in 1921 by younger members of the North Side community who were interested in establishing a Conservative presence on the North Side. They conducted Torah study in English and held Friday evening Shabbat services. The building was located on 1349 Penn Avenue N. and designed by Jack Leibenberg. It was demolished in the 1980s.
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
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
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
Mt. Zion became the first Jewish congregation in Minnesota Territory, receiving its charter in 1857. The building in the photograph at 1300 Summit Avenue in St. Paul is the current home of the congregation. Designed by Eric Mendelsohn, the building is in the Modernist Style, one of four Jewish community buildings designed by Mendelssohn during the post-war period. Groundbreaking occurred in 1950, and the building was dedicated in 1954.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Five gentleman hold shovels to the ground at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Temple of Aaron synagogue on September 20th, 1970. Listed on the back from left to right: Allen Freeman, Dick Smith, Louis Lipschutz, Max Bearman and Alan Levey. The groundbreaking included a stone from Jericho in the Holy Land. In 1972, construction was completed that doubled the square footage of the building, allowing for more space devoted to educational, social and aesthetic purposes.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Interior view of the third Mount Zion Temple (Holly Avenue and Avon Street location) taken from the center aisle facing the sanctuary during a ceremony that is possibly a wedding, with congregants and guests seated on both sides of the aisle. The rabbi officiating during the time was Rabbi Walter Plaut.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Interior view of fourth Mount Zion Temple synagogue, with several empty chairs and people standing and socializing. This photograph was taken during the construction of the building in the 1950s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Interior view of fourth Mount Zion Temple synagogue, with several empty chairs and people standing and socializing. This photograph was taken during the construction of the building in the 1950s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Front exterior view of Mikro Kodesh synagogue. Mikro Kodesh was one of the largest congregations in the Midwest during the 1950s. The building was designed by Samuel Bowler and completed in 1926. It features two prominent Byzantine domes and rounded Romanesque windows, as well as the three-door motif and five second-story windows.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Kafka became Sexton (custodian) of Temple Mount Zion in 1874. He was responsible for the care of the Temple, keeping the heat on, collecting contributions, and carrying out the directives of the congregation president. Whether the pay for his service was insufficient can only be conjectured, but Kafka left his job for a post on the St. Paul Police Force.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View showing the front exterior of the Synagogue Kenesseth Israel. Kenesseth Israel was formed sometime in the late 19th century from the combined congregations of Ohel Jacob and Beth Midrash Hagodol on Minneapolis's North Side. The congregation was Orthodox, active, and engaging of newly arrived immigrants, providing them with medical care and free shelter. The culturally and religiously important Minneapolis Talmud Torah grew out of Kenesseth Israel's Hebrew School. The building shown here was located in the middle of the block on 6th Avenue North and Lyndale Avenue North.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Teenagers gather outside a bus while attending a Mount Zion Temple synagogue teen outing. At the time, Mount Zion was on the corner of Holly Avenue and Avon Street in St. Paul, Minnesota, which is likely the area this photograph was shot.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Temple Emanuel was the first Jewish congregation in Duluth. Founded in 1891, it was a Reform Congregation. Temple Emanuel merged with Tifereth Israel to form Temple Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of the front exterior of the Temple Israel synagogue. The Temple Israel Congregation was incorporated as Congregation Shaarei Tov in 1879. This building occupied 501-503 10th Street South in Minneapolis.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph showing the front exterior of Temple Israel. Temple Israel was founded as congregation Shaari Tov ("Gates of Goodness") in 1878. The building in the picture was designed by architect Jack Liebenberg, dedicated in 1929. The Temple's pillared facade reflects Greek influence on early Judaism. The five doors represent 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