In this interview, Judge Lawrence Cohen, mayor of St. Paul during the 1970s, gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan, politician and legal practitioner. Cohen recounts that he was born in St. Paul and has always lived in the western part of the city. He continues talking about how his father was a merchant who sold general wares. Cohen mentions that he belonged to Temple of Aaron, Talmud Torah, St. Paul Central, and the University of Minnesota and University of Minnesota School of Law, where he also belong to a Jewish fraternity. Cohen continues giving an account of his life, giving details about his law practice, his involvement in the Young Democratic Family Labor Party, his association with Hubert H. Humphrey and work as county commissioner. A discussion follows about Jews and politics in Minnesota. They discuss the differences between St. Paul and Minneapolis from a religious and Jewish perspective. Finally, the two discuss how Judaism affected Cohen's work throughout the years. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Ken Tilsen gives a brief account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan and lawyer, touching also on Minnesota politics. He was born in Leipzig, North Dakota, to parents of eastern European heritage. An account is given as to why Jews immigrated to rural North Dakota. He gives family history and early memories of growing up in the predominately Jewish Selby-Dale neighborhood. The discussion turns to a variety of topics, including Ken's political activism in the 1960s before and after law school and his connections with a number of notable people and organizations. The interview amounts to a narrative about Minnesota's legal and political history during this time from his perspective and that of his associates. Further discussions involve HUAC, Jewish legal practice, and community activism. This interview was conducted by Helen Rubenstein as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In this interview, Arthur Weisberg gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan and legal practitioner. He recalls grew up on the North Side of Minneapolis and how his father was a dentist who ended up as an investor. Weisberg goes on to describe his time at North High, becoming a journalist in central Minnesota, working in the film industry in Minneapolis, and finally attending Minneapolis Law School (now William Mitchell) during the late 1940s. Weisberg tells about how he subsequently worked for Dorsey law firm and how he was active in community service. The two talk about notable people at virtually every stage of his life, with particular attention to Jewish culture in law and business in Minnesota. This interview was conducted by Linda Schloff as a part of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest Jewish Judges and Lawyers History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Double -sided brochure by the Governor's Interacial Commission discussing Minnesota's Equal Rights Law which prohibits exclusion on the basis of race, color, national origin or religion.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This tri-fold pamphlet highlights Wisconsin law 340.75, Denial of Rights. It includes the rights you have inside your own home, and what the law does not do.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Vice-President of the United States Walter Mondale and friends pose at Temple Israel synagogue. Standing: Elliot Kaplan, Rabbi Stephan Barack, David Lieberman. Seated: Vice-President Walter Mondale, Rabbi Max A. Shapiro of Temple Israel. Vice-President Mondale was at the temple for a speaking engagement.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Senator Walter Mondale, Rabbi Robert Shapiro, Rabbi Max Shapiro and Mayor Naftalin (Minneapolis' only Jewish mayor) attending Rabbi Max Shapiro's 10th Anniversary at Temple Israel synagogue in 1973. Rabbi Max Shapiro was vocal on the issues of the day, including desegregation, civil rights, civil liberty, Vietnam, anti-Semitism and more.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
President Eisenhower replying to a letter sent by Mr. Pink concerning Brotherhood Week, a public awareness campaign promoting religious tolerance sponsored by the National Conference of Christians and Jews.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Minnesota-Dakota Action Committee was organized by the Jewish Community Relations Council to help educate the public about the plight of Soviet Jews; to support efforts of Soviet Jews to immigrate to Israel; and to help sustain Jewish life in the Soviet Union. The organization was active in the national movement from the mid-1960s to the late 1980s, and highly successful in its efforts.
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
A group of local activists gathered in Minneapolis to plant a tree "in tribute to Soviet Refusniks," the term applied in the West to Russian Jews who were refused the right to immigrate by the Soviet government.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Hillel Israeli folk dance group gathered in front of Northrop Auditorium on the University of Minnesota Campus to celebrate the 34th anniversary of the creation of the state of Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Ben Berger was a successful Minneapolis businessman and philanthropist, and an original co-owner of the Minneapolis Lakers. He was also a prodigious funds raiser. He is shown speaking at a Jewish National Fund dinner at Minneapolis' Pick-Nicollet Hotel. The Jewish National Fund raised money throughout the world to support tree planting and infrastructure projects in Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This piece of signage urges citizens both to understand how much material it takes to fight the enemy, and to donate as much as possible to the war effort.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Ira Jeffrey standing at attention in his Navy dress uniform. Ira Jeffery joined the Navy in or about 1940. After training, he was stationed at Pearl Harbor, serving on the battleship California. During the attack on Pearl Harbor, the California was hit by aircraft fire and sank at berth. Ira Jeffery was killed in the attack, the first Jewish soldier to die in World War II. Wiel was posthumously awarded a commendation from the Secretary of the Navy.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The first conference was held in Washington in 1951. On the dais, left to right, are Mrs. Elias Amdur; Leo Gross; Mrs. Theodore Bronstein; Harry Rosenthal; Henry Montor; Israeli Minister of Finance David Horowitz; Ben Berger; Mrs. David Horowitz, and Mrs. Harry Rosenthal.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Israel Bonds Committee photographed at a table with a mural in the background. In May 1951, David ben-Gurion launched the sale of Israel Bonds in the U. S. at a rally in New York. Touring the U. S., calling on American Jews to purchase bonds to aid the financially strapped country, ben-Gurion met with overwhelming success. Over $52 million was loaned to Israel by Americans in the first year of the drive. Bonds helped with infrastructure building and the settlement of Jewish refugees. Prominent Minnesotans in the leadership group included Ben Berger and Dr. Moses Barron
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Julius and Jack Bankman grew up in Virginia, Minnesota. They both served in the Army during the World War II. More than 3000 Jewish men and women served in the military during that war.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The founders of Pioneer Women, posed outdoors for this photograph. Pioneer Women was an international group of Labor-Zionist women who made Aaliyah to Palestine during the 1920s. They came with a feminist agenda, to be full partners in the political and economic work of building a Jewish state. A women's group formed in Minnesota to raise funds to support their counterparts in Palestine. Included in the picture, back, left to right: Sara Rosenblatt, Helen (Wiener) Pogoler, Mrs. Jake Berman; front: Mrs. Schwartz, Brucha Wiener. Photograph taken in August of 1938 at Minnehaha Park, Minneapolis.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the Poalie Zion group wearing sashes which show support for the striking New York garment workers. Poale Zion was a Zionist-Socialist-Laborite group founded in Russia. Chapters of the organization were established in the United States, where they helped raised funds for Jewish immigration to Palestine.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Women of the Young Judea Auxiliary gathered around a table. Young Judea was founded in the United States in 1909 to generate support for Zionism among young American Jews.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
ICOR, founded in 1926 in Philadelphia, stood for the "The Association for Jewish Colonization in the Soviet Union." ICOR promoted the success and survival of Biro-Bijan, a Jewish autonomous region in the Siberia. The inscription at the bottom of the third panel of the photo triptych reads" Minneapolis ICOR greets the Pioneers in Biro-Bijan at the 5th Annual Picnic, Aug.10-1930." The Minneapolis North Side was home to many Jews whose families had immigrated from Russia.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
ICOR, founded in 1926 in Philadelphia, stood for the "The Association for Jewish Colonization in the Soviet Union." ICOR promoted the survival and success of Biro-Bijan, a Jewish autonomous region in the Soviet Union. The inscription at the bottom of the third panel of the photo triptych reads" Minneapolis ICOR greets the Pioneers in Biro-Bijan at the 5th Annual Picnic, Aug.10-1930." The Minneapolis Jewish North Side contained a large number of Jews whose families had immigrated from Russia.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
