Members of the Adath Jeshurun Young People's League posing for a cast photo of their production, "Headin' South." Youth organizations in synagogues offered opportunities for socializing and other types of group activities. Adath Jeshurun's youth group organized theatricals and model Seders.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi Herman Cohen's response to Mrs. P. Braufman's request to read her letter and advise as to its tone and content. (See local identifiers MHS-D-593 and MHS-D-594)
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The first of a series of three letters concerning the denial of an insurance policy to a Jewish family in Perham, Minnesota. The letter was mailed to the insurance agent, who then submitted it to the Braufman family. (See local identifiers MHS-D-594 and MHS-D-595.)
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Letter written to Harry Goldie, principle developer of the Calhoun Beach Club building. Goldie was a Minnesota native and U of MN graduate. At the time this letter was written, Minneapolis was being referred to in the national press as the "Capitol of American Anti-Semitism." Jews in Minneapolis were denied membership in various associations, hospital admissions and were legally prohibited from purchasing homes in "covenanted" areas. Goldie's complex was eventually built, and Hubert Humphrey and Walter Mondale were among the guests at the club's opening.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Golden Age Club meet at the Emanuel Cohen Center. The judges here included, left to right, Rabbi Schulman, William Liebo, Sam Finkelestein, Lena Berdman. The baby beauty is Roberta Wilensky, aged 2.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A Boy Scout, in uniform, stands next to a simply designed and built Ark for the Torah at Boy Scout Camp. The scout in the picture is likely a member of the Beth El troop. The Ark contains the Torah, the scrolls used in worship services. The Torah is always elevated off the ground. This particular Ark has a poignant simplicity and directness.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the Board of Directors for the Workman's Circle Loan Association, posed at a table. Workman's Circle groups loaned money to members cost free. A person paid a small fee to be a member and could then apply for a loan. He or she would then pay the loan back at a scheduled rate.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Board of Directors of the Workman's Circle Loan Association sitting at a table, working and chatting. Both St. Paul and Minneapolis had Workmen's Circle chapters.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Mt. Sinai Auxiliary raised significant funds that were used towards patient care. Events included book sales, cookbook publishing and other social events, including the famous annual ball. Shown purchasing the cookbook is Luella Maslon, the book's author.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Jewish organizations worked within the larger community to promote and educate about democratic values. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) focused on civil rights discrimination in the South, but also raised a national campaign to expose resort discrimination against Jews and Blacks. The ADL's "Crack the Quota" campaign reached its peak in Minnesota during the late 1950s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of the Emanuel Cohen Center. The Center's primary role was to provide the North Side Jewish youth with an alternative to being on the street. The E. C. C. had a pool and a gymnasium, and sponsored sports teams for both young men and women. It also housed a dental clinic, well-baby and children's clinic for young mothers. The building still stands on Elwood Avenue in Minneapolis, across from the former Jewish Sheltering Home building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Girls between the ages of 10 and 14 were in this Junior-level troop which met at the Emanuel Cohen Center on the North Side. This photo was taken as a promotional shot for a play the troop put on at the Center called "the Seven Stages of Life."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
N. C. J. W. was founded in 1893 under the leadership of Hannah Greenebaum Solomon. It has a progressive legacy of providing vocational training, medical and educational services, judicial advocacy for minors and international aid. Minnesotan Fanny Brin served as president from 1932 to 1938. Pictured in photo (left to right): Fanny Brin, Jane Addams, Hannah Solomon, Mrs. Gershon Levi.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Florence Kunian Schoff was a Hadassah leader for the Minneapolis Hadassah chapter, and an avid Zionist. Schoff made multiple trips to Israel on fact-finding tours related to Hadassah projects, which feature support for public health and hospital projects. The other two people in the photo are unidentified.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
From left to right: Louis Greene, recently elected president of B'nai Brith Lodge 271; Joseph Schanfeld, center, the oldest living president at the time of the photo; former president Sam Dott.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Girls, some holding dolls or teddy bears, in this group photograph of the Girl's Club at Neighborhood House. Neighborhood House was founded by the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society. Neighborhood House was founded primarily to provide recreational, educational and social activities to residents of the West Side neighborhood. It maintained an active recreational program for girls in the neighborhood, teaching sewing, cooking and other domestic arts.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of four unidentified girls standing in front of Central Community House, holding hands. Central Community House in St. Paul was established in 1921. It offered recreational and social activities for children, as well as baby clinics and day care for mothers working factory jobs during World War II.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Governor Freeman and two Hadassah members holding a flag that is to be taken to Israel by Hadassah Women. From left to right: Mildred Rosen, Governor Orville Freeman, Mrs. I.E. Greenberg of Duluth. Rosen was a vice president of the Upper Midwest Region. Greenberg was the regional president. The state flag was used in dedication ceremonies at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of members of the Hadassah Camp Association group. Pictured from left to right are: Gary Cohn, Evelyn Rosen, George Pacanowski, and Etta Fae Kozberg.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of a display window with women's clothing and informational materials. The clothing in the window (probably the Miller Vocational High School in Minneapolis) was all hand sewn by members, and sold at the Funtennial, Hadassah's annual fundraiser at the Minneapolis Armory. Hadassah's membership between the end of WWII and the 1970s swelled. By the mid-1960s, more than 1,000 women were meeting in 80 minyans, socializing and fundraising for children's and healthcare causes in Israel. One of the popular activities was providing clothing to send to Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Hadassah members met in small and large groups to socialize and to raise money for Israel. The pushke, or canister, in the picture, could be found in many, if not most Jewish homes in the 1950s and 1960s. The blue and white canisters with the outline of Israel were used to collect money for land purchases and reforestation efforts, and were a direct reminder of the bond between Israel and the American Jews.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This photo features, from left to right: Mrs. Hy Berkman, Mrs. Joseph Stern and Wendy Heller gathering sheets and clothing to be sent to clinics and schools in Palestine. Founded in 1912, Hadassah is the second-oldest independent Jewish women's organization in the United States. Hadassah draws on both the ideology of Zionism and on women's sense of social responsibility to elicit support for Israel, youth activities and educational services. National programs that were implemented in Minnesota included "linen showers" for medical units, money collections for school lunch programs in Palestine, and providing Jewish-German children foster-homes in Palestine during WWII.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of women belonging to Hadassah standing in front of an airplane. The women leading Hadassah groups learned and exercised leadership skills as the result of their work fundraising and participating in Jewish and Zionist education. Hadassah was involved in teaching adult Hebrew classes to better promote understanding and communication between Jewish Americans and Israelis
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the chairwomen for the Hadassah rummage sales. The rummage sales were part of the fundraising efforts the Minneapolis Hadassah chapter. Money collected from fundraising efforts helped build the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and fund the Youth Aliyah.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of women standing around a table set with cookies, cake and tea. An unidentified woman is sitting at the head of the table. The Hadassah Supply showers were popular events: members collected and contributed towels, sheets and other essentials en mass and sent them to hospitals and clinics in Isael. Members would come together at sewing parties, forming friendships as well as solidarity in support of the young Israeli state.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
From left to right: NA, Florence Kunin, NA, Sis Marks, Mary Lebedoff, NA, Fanny Brudney, Sadie Shapiro. Hadassah is the Women's Zionist organization of America. It was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold. Hadassah is dedicated to supporting Israel through fundraising for healthcare, youth education and land reclamation. Minnesota has always had an active chapter, and provided national leadership throughout the organization's history. The women pictured above are from the Minneapolis chapter.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This fundraiser was held in 1946, and featured a discussion of "Blueprints for the Future", the organization's planned expansion of medical services in Israel. Pictured left to right: Mrs. George Stillman, Mrs. Edward Sokol; and Mrs. Marshall Beaubaire. Hadassah is the Women's Zionist organization of America. It was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold. Hadassah is dedicated to supporting Israel through fundraising for healthcare, youth education and land reclamation. Minnesota has always had an active chapter, and provided national leadership throughout the organization's history. The women pictured above are from the Minneapolis chapter.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The photograph depicts sewing instruction for young girls and women that Hadassah sponsored. Items sewed in-home were sent to Palestine. Pictured (left to right): Florence Kunin, Jacqueline Kunin, Myra Joy Golden, Betty Golden.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Marking the beginning of Hanukkah, Harry Lerner of Minneapolis, lights a candle in Jerusalem. Lerner spent time in Israel during the early years of the country's existence, one of thousands of Americans who lent time, professional expertise and resources to insure Israel's survival. American Jews were encouraged to purchase Israel Bonds to support Israel's economic stability, and did so in record numbers.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Hey and Vav Club sit at two long tables which are set with coffee cups and saucers. A social club for members of the Jewish community in Duluth. Because Jews were excluded from gentile clubs, the community formed its own, which helped forge social and business connections among members. Membership in clubs also enforced an American, rather than an exclusively ethnic identity. Several years after its founding, the Hay Vav club Americanized it's name to the Covenant Club.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Ada Rubenstein (1917 - ) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota; became involved with Jewish organizations at an early age and later took on several leadership positions. In this interview, the women discuss Rubenstein's career in community service and the community's needs at the time, with detailed discussion about various organizations such as Hadassah, the Council of Jewish Women, Sholom Residence, and the United Jewish Fund. 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
Marion Herman (1912 - ), native Russian and immigrant to St. Paul, Minnesota, begins this interview with a description of St. Paul Jewish neighborhoods and synagogues during the Depression years. The focus turns to Herman's involvement in various community organizations and fundraising initiatives, with discussion relating to the Capitol Fund Drive, Parent Teacher Association, Talmud Torah schools, area Hebrew schools and synagogues. This interview was conducted by Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest volunteer Harriet Kohen for the United Jewish Fund and Council Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Edward Bronstein (1903 - ) was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, into a family of recent Jewish settlers from Prussia who were operating a local mattress factory. In this interview, Bronstein recalls the story of his family settling in St. Paul, describes the city with particular attention to different religious groups and their relations, as well as differences between various Jewish groups. The focus of the interview shifts to Bronstein's career fundraising for various civic and Jewish organizations starting in the 1920s and 30s. Special attention is afforded to Mount Zion synagogue, National Conference of Christians and Jews, United Jewish Fund (early history), United Charities, Jewish Charities and the Federation, as well as Zionism vs. non-Zionism in St. Paul. This interview was conducted by Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest volunteer Lois Devitt for the United Jewish Fund and Council Oral History Project.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Jenny Smith sits on a couch surrounded by her grandchildren. Jenny Smith was born in Russia and lived on the West Side of St. Paul. Her husband, a peddler, died at a young age and she raised nine children. She died in 1956 at the age of 94.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This photo may reflect a gathering of boys from several different groups, suggested by the different numbers on the sleeves of several of the scouts. Many of the troops that Jewish boys and girls belonged to were synagogue-sponsored. That allowed for the adaptation of scouting themes and activities to incorporate Jewish values.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Jewish Home for the Aged was established in St. Paul in 1908 as a care facility for the elderly poor. The building in the picture was the second home, opening in 1923. It provided room and care for indigent Jewish elders from throughout the state.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Jewish Mothers Club was organized through the Central Community Center in St. Paul. It provided an opportunity for Jewish women, many of them immigrants, to socialize together.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Front exterior view of the Jewish Sheltering Home, also known as the Oak Park Home. Founded as a safe harbor for Jewish children unable to live with their families, the Minneapolis Jewish community paid for the structure and all of the care offered by staff. Children at the home attended nearby public schools and the Talmud Torah. Most stays at the Home were of relatively short duration.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of Julian Freeman standing behind a podium and giving a speech for United Jewish Appeal. The United Jewish Appeal was founded in 1934 to help provide financial and political relief to Jews in Europe. It unified fundraising efforts for European relief for an increasingly diverse American Jewish community. In 1947, U. J. A. shifted its focus from collecting funds for refugees to providing support for the proposed independent state of Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Kokie Goldenberg standing at a podium and addressing attendants of a rally for the U. J. F. C.The United Jewish Fund and Council was founded in 1935 as the fundraising arm of the St. Paul Jewish community.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Atlas Club was one of several Jewish social clubs in the Twin Cities operating during the early 1900s to the 1920s. The clubs were a response to the fact that "downtown" social clubs such as the Athletic Clubs would not admit Jews. The Atlas Club was absorbed into Gymea Doled in 1919. Unfortunately, there is no additional information on Rhoda and Harry Hirsch, the "World's Greatest Entertainers."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
In addition to activities for children, the St. Paul JCC undertook programming for the increasing number of seniors at the end of the war. These seniors are part of the Golden Circle Group, which provided a place for older adults to socialize and learn together.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph showing members of the Minneapolis Workmen's Circle. Workman's Circle members were non-religious, politically active Jews, many of whom were Socialists. They espoused a classless society, favored the use of Yiddish for cultural expression, and created a variety of services for members, including medical and insurance benefits.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
