Photograph of students seated on a stage at North High School, for the commencement ceremony of the Talmud Torah class. The picture was taken in the auditorium at Minneapolis North High school where many, if not most, of the Talmud Torah students went to high school. The high school was half empty on Jewish holidays, and students were not marked absent on those days, even though Jewish holidays were not public holidays on the school calendar.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
"Lammie" high school sorority girls planning for a Halloween party. Jewish high school girls formed their own sororities in the public schools, like North High, where they could plan social activities and take part in service projects.
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
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
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
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