Council Camp provided a summer retreat for Jewish teens. It was administered by the Emanuel Cohen Center. Seated at front is Rhoda (Green) Lewin and behind her, Louis Kahn.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of young men in basketball uniforms stand with their coach for this photograph. The programming arm of the J. E. C., known as the Jewish Center Activities Association, oversaw social and recreational activities at the Center.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Young Judea Trailblazers were just one of several teams that participated in Minneapolis community inter-league play. Pictured are: Shel Stryker, Al Vorspan, Bud Helper, Ed Firestone, Irv Pinsky, Rueb Kaplan, Marsh Drucker.
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
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
In Conservative congregations, girls graduating from confirmation classes wore white: in Reform rituals, participants wore secular clothing, suggesting a more "Americanized" approach.
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
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
Swimmers playing in the water at Sophie Wirth Camp in White Bear Lake. Camp Sophie Wirth operated from 1911-1943. It was founded and run by the St. Paul chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women. It offered low cost recreational and rest opportunities for immigrant women and their children.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of young ladies sit at a long table, set with dinnerware at a Sweet Sixteen party for Reva Rosenbloom, which was held at the Rainbow Café in Minneapolis.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing a group of boys wearing baseball uniforms with baseball bats in the foreground. This group of boys probably played for a settlement house team. The uniforms they wear sport the letters "DTC": the scoreboard is in the background to the right. Settlement houses sponsored sports teams to attract boys to supervised activities as an alternative to hanging out on the street.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi Margolis is in the middle row. Students are in secular clothes, rather than white, typical of a more Americanized approach to the ritual celebration.
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
A portrait photograph of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah football team. The Talmud Torah attempted to engage young people not only through studies, but through social activities including sports. This stems in part from the early affiliation of the school with the Jewish Family Welfare Association.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A portrait photograph of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah football team. When plans for the new Talmud Torah building were being formulated in the mid 1910s, there was a groundswell of support for a facility that would include not only classrooms, but social and recreational space for young people in the community. There was a plea for funding for a Talmud Torah gymnasium. Public pressure resulted in several community organizations pledging to fund activities for teenaged boys and girls. The sports programs were overseen by a new administrative unit, the Talmud Torah Social Service department.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing graduates of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah Bet Midrash class, wearing caps and gowns and holding a banner. The Class of 1924 was the first class to hold classes in the new Emanuel Cohen Center building. The Center was purchased through funds donated by Emanuel Cohen, a prominent Minneapolis lawyer. By the mid-1920s, the Minneapolis Talmud Torah was recognized as one of the most modern and effective Hebrew schools in the country. In addition to memorizing Hebrew, students learned to read and speak Hebrew conversationally, and studied Hebrew dramatics and Jewish affairs. The Bet Midrash students shown here had completed the last two years of a ten year curriculum!
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing the young men of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah Bar Mitzvah class. Bar Mitzvahs celebrate the coming of age at 13 of Jewish boys. At this age, young men become obligated to observe scripture. They may also lead prayer services and count towards a minyan. No service is required: however, it is customary to mark the occasion with a service and celebration. In the 20th century, young women were also welcomed into the adult community with a bat mitzvah. Both bar and bat mitzvahs participate in several years of Hebrew and religious study before the public occasion.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the North High men's basketball team. North High had a large Jewish population from the turn of the century through the early 1960s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the Minneapolis, Mars basketball team with Max Winter as coach. Max Winter coached a variety of Minnesota sports teams, and later in his career co-owned the Minnesota Vikings and the Minneapolis Lakers. Winter was born in Austria: his family immigrated in 1913 and settled on the North Side of Minneapolis. Winter is on the left in the back row.
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
Some members of Boy Scout Troop #86 pose outside wearing hats, sweaters and jackets during a fall outing. Scouting, like sports, served as a way for young men to grow up under the attention and scrutiny of adults in addition to their hard-working parents. Beth El Synagogue sponsored Troop #86.Other Minneapolis troops included troop #10 at Temple Israel and Troop #208 at Adath Jeshurun.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of high school ladies and men, in formal wear, pose with chaperones for a picture at the Lammies dance. Phi Alpha Lambda--better known as the "Lammies"-- was a high school sorority for Jewish girls.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives