Portrait of Rabbi S. I. Levin, who served the congregations Sharei Tzedek Synagogue and Sharei Chesed Synagogue of Minneapolis, Minnesota for more than 63 years. He was the highly respected dean of Minneapolis Orthodox rabbis until his death in 1984. A prolific writer in scholarly Hebrew journals, he was one of the founders of the Minneapolis Federation and the Jewish Family and Children�s Service.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait of Rabbi Dr. Nahum Schulman, rabbi of Mikro Kodesh Synagogue. In 1949, Mikro Kodesh of Minneapolis, Minnesota was the largest orthodox synagogue in the Twin Cities. By the late 1960, due to Jewish families emigrating to the neighboring Saint Louis Park, the synagogue merged with a conservative synagogue and later became B'nai Emet Synagogue of Saint Louis Park, Minnesota.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Purim is a time for acting out and speaking up. The women of Kenesseth Israel's auxiliary did just that, appropriating men's garb, including a tallis (prayer shawl) and a cigarette to declare a minute of breaking away from accepted roles and dressing conventions of the day.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi is standing beside Mrs Ettedgui who is covering her eyes for the Sabbath blessing over the candles. There are four children seated at the table. From Minnesota Jewish Life magazine.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi David Aronson, Senator Hubert Humphrey and Rabbi Kassel Abelson pose standing for the camera. Rabbis Kassel Abelson and David Aronson led the Beth El Synagogue congregation during the years it was located on Penn Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The photo with Senator Humphrey was taken at the Penn Avenue building. Aronson especially worked closely with Humphrey during Humphrey's tenure as Minneapolis mayor to improve North side inter-community relations during the late 1940s and early 50s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of Rabbi Joseph Hurvitz and his wife, Rebbetzin Rae Hurvitz. Known in his St. Paul Lowertown community as "Der Roiter Rov" (the Red Rabbi), Rabbi Hurvitz lead the Sons of Jacob and Adath Yeshurun congregations from the 1910s through the 1950s. Though he was a traditionalist, he consciously used both English and Yiddish in worship and congregational gatherings to help validate his immigrant congregants sense that both languages and the cultures they represented were of equal importance in their new home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi Milgrom stands at the head of tables set for Seder while young men and women stand as well. The University of Minnesota Hillel Society was founded in 1940, with Rabbi Milgrom its first director. By 1941 the membership of more than 500 enjoyed a full agenda of programs including classes, discussion groups, debate, drama and social activities. The lack of a permanent home was an issue as early as 1943, and the U. J. F. C. sanctioned a fund drive in 1945. A permanent building (the current one) was purchased in 1956. Even without a home, activities included a model Seder, Friday night services and dinners, and activities, such as vocational guidance, for returning veteran students.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi Silber was the leader of Kenesseth Israel, the most influential synagogue in North Minneapolis at the turn of the century. He is speaking at the dedication of the "new" Talmud Torah, which housed classrooms, social services, and recreational facilities for the community. Rabbi Silber is flanked by A. N. Bearman and Nathan Weisberg.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A portrait photograph of Rabbi Solomon Silber. Rabbi Silber served as Kenesseth Israel's rabbi from 1902 to 1925. He, and members of his congregation, were instrumental in funding and building the Jewish Family Welfare Board and the Jewish Sheltering Home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Men are seated on one side of a long table for the Passover Seder meal. From the back of the photograph: "Head Table: reading from right to left: Rabbi Nathan Kohler; Rabbi Karl Richter; Chaplain Saul Kraft; Col. N. L. Cote, Commanding Officer; Lt. Col. C. R. Walters, Exec. Officer; Chaplain R. H. P. Ross, Post Chaplain; Chaplain C. W. McGeehon; Chaplain H. T. Bernthal; Chaplain Lowell Thompson."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Rockler Family sits around two long dining tables during Seder. The National Jewish Workers Alliance, also known as the Farband, was an early North American Zionist group. It was the mutual aid society of the political party Poale Zion. Farband members organized cooperative insurance and medical plans, adult education classes in Yiddish, and funded cooperative housing. The Minneapolis Farband house was located at 10th Street and Knox Avenue.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Friends and family raise a glass, at Sam Weiner's Bar Mitzvah. Bar Mitzvah literally means "Son of the Commandments." It refers to the boy (or with a Bat Mitzvah, girl) who comes of age at 13. it also refers to the ceremony celebrating the young persons call to read Torah. Participation at synagogues services is, and was, often followed by a celebration attended by family and friends.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Programming for the J. E. C. was conducted by the J. C. A. A.--Jewish Center Activities Association, and funded by the Community Chest. J. C. A. A. was a programming powerhouse, quickly developing junior and senior orchestra's boy and girl scout troops, a theater company, adult classes and a newspaper. Summer Center Days showcased classes and cultural activities at the Center, and brought in new participants.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Rabbi Silber, presiding at the head of the table, led Congregation Kenesseth Israel during its early years. Silber's family surrounds him, with the Silber son and daughters seated on the right. Passover Seders begin with a retelling of the story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage. It includes foods symbolic of the years of slavery and flight from Egypt. Seders are family and community observances, held primarily in the home.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Kronicks were close-knit family from the Iron Range. Several other Jewish Range families are represented in this photograph, including the Grais', Gordons, Garbers, and Londons.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Mt. Zion Women's Sisterhood members looking at a Shabbat dinner table setting. The women in the picture were publicizing the concept of the "Jewish Home Beautiful", which emphasized decorating the home, specifically the table settling, for each Jewish holiday. Left to right: Mrs. Max Whitefield, Mrs. Joseph Stein, and Mrs. Allen Firestone.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Passover Seders begin with a retelling of the story of the deliverance of the Jewish people from Egyptian bondage. It includes foods symbolic of the years of slavery and flight from Egypt. Seders are family and community observances, held primarily in the home. The Smith family lived in St. Paul on Dayton Avenue. Jennie Smith, the family matriarch, presides at the end of the table.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Student being counseled by B'nai B'rith synagogue Vocational Guidance Service at the Hillel Foundation (University of Minnesota). Listed on the back in no particular order, (blank) Wasserman and Gerhard Neuback.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A large gathering of students, sit on benched in a hall in Moses Montefiore Hebrew School. The Hebrew School was formally organized in 1905 and incorporated in 1908. The driving force behind the school was Mrs. Ida Cook, a Lithuanian immigrant. The school, according to the articles of incorporation, was to "…furnish persons of Hebrew parentage with religious instruction in harmony with the Hebrew religion; to teach the Hebrew and English languages...and to promote religious principles and devotion." The school later became the Duluth Talmud Torah.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of four boys sitting at a desk while a fifth stands behind a podium. Orthodox synagogues on the west side of St. Paul jointly founded the St. Paul Hebrew Institute in 1911.
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