The Jewish National Workers Alliance, or Farband, was the mutual aid component of the political party Poale Zion. Farband organized cooperative insurance and medical services and Yiddish language adult education for its worker members. Farband was active all over the U. S., primarily in the East. The greatest Twin Cities involvement in the Farband was among children of the first wave of Eastern European immigrants.
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
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
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
The Oreckovsky family migrated to the United States from Russia the 1880s. The first-generation pioneers of the family--Joseph and Israel-- undertook the journey to Minnesota across Canada by foot, peddling clothes to rail- and mine-workers as they moved westward. The picture features the second generation, Israel's children, later in life. "Big Joe" Oreckovsky, seated in the middle on the couch, ran the First Street Store, a well-known Duluth department store. He was best known for his support of the Duluth Children's Home, and for hiring newly arrived Russian immigrants, both Jews and gentiles. "Big Joe" is surrounded by his sisters, clock-wise from left; Sarah, Channa, Pearl, Ida and Riva.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of young men and women stand and sit outside of a building at Christmas Lake. Sigma Alpha Mu (also known as "Sammy") fraternity was founded at City College in New York in 1909. Originally a Jewish fraternity, it remained so until the mid-1950s, when members from all backgrounds were accepted.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Temple of Aaron synagogue Women's League cook dinner to raise money for the United Synagogue Youth. Written on the back in no particular order: Tone Spizman, Rae Robinson, Celia Marofsky, Mae Gross, Edna Gordon, Nina Blizin, Sima Seigal.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of members of the Workmen's Circle, which was created in the late 1800s by Jewish immigrants as a mutual aid society. The Circle was secular, practical and leftist, and many members were involved in support for Palestine.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of some men affiliated with Central Community House. Central Community House and its West Side counterpart, Neighborhood House, were created to assist immigrants newly arrived to the community. Although the settlement house roots were in the Jewish community, the curriculum and activities offered emphasized Americanization and secularization. The group of young Jewish men in the photo may be members of Coming Men of America, a fraternal order with Masonic roots who met at the House.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph showing men associated with the Mercury Athletic Club. The Mercury Club was founded in 1930 as the Wells Mercurys, a boy's and girl's athletic club affiliated with the North Side Well Settlement House.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the Mercury basketball team in uniform. The Mercurys were the city and state basketball champs in the settlement house league in 1923. Max Winter is in the back row on the far left.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing fathers and sons sitting at long tables which are set with dinnerware. Mikro Kodesh was organized as Anshei Russia (Men of Russia) in 1901, and later changed it's name to Mikra'e Kodesh, or Holy Assembly. The name change bore the suggestion that national distinctions among North Side congregants where becoming less important to membership. By the time this photo was taken, Mikro Kodesh boasted a membership of several hundred families.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Two photographs, combined to make one finished picture, showing members of the Mikro Kodesh Men's Club. Mikro Kodesh was an Orthodox synagogue located on Oliver Avenue on the North Side of Minneapolis. It was built in 1926.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Front exterior view of Mikro Kodesh synagogue. Mikro Kodesh was one of the largest congregations in the Midwest during the 1950s. The building was designed by Samuel Bowler and completed in 1926. It features two prominent Byzantine domes and rounded Romanesque windows, as well as the three-door motif and five second-story windows.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph showing members of the Minneapolis Board of B'nai Brith Women posed outdoors. B'nai Brith Women was an international charitable organization founded in 1909 to give women a voice in B'nai Brith.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A bird's eye view of people attending the Funtennial which was Hadassah's largest fundraising event. Essentially, Funtennial was a large-scale community carnival, with arcade-type games, a queen contest, door prizes, dancing and booths with food and crafts. Hundreds volunteered for the event, and for a decade between 1949 and 1959, thousands attended. Significant funds were raised, all of which went to Israel projects
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Bird's eye view of the Minneapolis Funtennial organized by Minneapolis Hadassah. One of the actions Hadassah supported was Youth Aliyah. Youth Aliyah began as a rescue and relief operation for children of Holocaust victims. These children were brought to Palestine during and after the war and settled in residential care. Over the decades, Youth Aliyah has provided services and homes for children and families from the soviet Union, Ethiopia and North Africa.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A woman stands in front of a microphone, while Hurbert Humphrey sits at the table next to her at a Hadassah Supply Shower luncheon. Hadassah promoted health and welfare services to Jewish women and children in Palestine. By the end of WWII, the Minneapolis chapter of Hadassah was 1900 members strong. This photo taken at the Supply Shower luncheon at the Nicollet Hotel in downtown Minneapolis. The luncheons helped collect goods such as layettes and linens to be sent to hospitals and clinics in Palestine. Minnesota dignitaries like Humphrey spoke to show their support for Palestine relief, and by extension, a Jewish homeland in Palestine.
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
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 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
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
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
Photograph of the Minneapolis North High School men's tennis team which went on to win the state high school tennis championship in 1949. Many of the team members were Jewish: one of the team members, Eddie Kantor (pictured front row on far right) went on to become a championship-caliber U. S. table tennis player.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives