The picture includes several generations of Cohens, standing on a porch, including a set of Old-World-looking grandfathers. The mohel wears the tallis and kippa: he performed the ritual circumcision at the bris.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph showing members of the Miller, Gordon, Orenstein, Naftalin and Davis families gathered around the dining table. The Davis family lived in Minneapolis. 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
In this interview, Manual (Mandy) Ruder (1914 - ) gives an account of his life as a Jewish Minnesotan. Special attention is afforded to his family background, including information about his Romanian and Zionist parents farming in Palestine, their settlement in North Dakota, and eventually settling with his mother in Minneapolis after the tragic death of his father. The focus moves to Ruder's childhood in a Romanian Orthodox community near downtown Minneapolis, roughly during the period of 1910 - 1920, to his education at the University of Minnesota in the 1930s, Navy career, career in American National Bank, and copious family details. 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
In this interview, Rabbi Kassel Abelson speaks of his life, times, and views regarding Judaism. Abelson spent over forty years as senior Rabbi at Beth El synagogue in North Minneapolis and later Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, serving as a leader in the community and as a developer of national Judaic programs and policy. Abelson recalls his family background, his childhood in Brooklyn, his education culminating in the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York in the 1940s (a focus of discussion), his chaplaincy, his arrival and experience at Beth El, relocating to Saint Louis Park from Minneapolis' North Side and actions in setting Judaic policy. The focus of the interview, in addition to Abelson's personal narrative, is on his vision of American Judaism and how it was enacted through various programs and organizations, such as the United Synagogue Youth, in addition to his social justice principles exemplified by his participation in organizations such as the Urban Coalition 1960s on Minneapolis' North Side. 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
In this interview, Roz Baker (1923 - ) gives an account of her life as a Jewish native of Minneapolis. She relates her family background which includes an immigration story to the United States from Russia through Cypress in 1915. She describes her childhood growing up Jewish in Minneapolis, relating memories of Labor-Zionist meetings, holiday traditions, school experience, working as a teenager during the Depression and various class distinctions among the larger Jewish community. This interview was conducted by Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest volunteer Ann Schulman 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
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
Around the table are members of the Kaner, Shapiro, Milavitz, Hosen and Dorfman families. The Passover Seder celebrates the Jews passage to freedom from slavery in Egypt.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of attendees of the Oreck family Seder. The hosts of this Seder were Ida and Arthur Oreck. Arthur Oreck is to the far right of the picture. The Oreck family settled in the Duluth area.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of the Plitman family sitting at a dining table. 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 Plitman family lived in Minneapolis.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A reprint of a photograph of the Popkin family sitting at a dining table set with plates and glasses. 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 Popkin family lived in Duluth.
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
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
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
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
50th Anniversary Celebration for Rose and Simon Joseph Weisberg at the home of Dr. Louis and Florence Weisberg. Far left, white shirt, black tie-Dr. Edward Litin. Over his left shoulder is Frank Weisberg, son of Rose and Simon. To his left is Sam Weisberg, son of Rose and Simon.To his left tall with glasses is Arthur Weisberg son of Louis Weisberg and Florence. At his left shoulder is Dr. Louis Weisberg husband of Florence Levine Weisberg. To his left is Lee Krelitz Weisberg married to Frank Weisberg. Just behind her is Donald Litin brother to Dr. Ed and son of Ann and Abe Litinsky. At Lee’s left is Florence Levine Weisberg, wife to Louis Weisberg. To her left is Jean Schlessinger Weisberg married to Nate Weisberg. To her left is Abe Litin (changed from Litinsky) married to Ann Weisberg Litin standing in front of him. To Abe Litin’s left is Nate Weisberg son of Rose and Simon Joseph. Standing to Nate’s left on the far right in dark suit and white shirt is Jack Shink married to Sylvia Litin. To Jack’s right is his mother-in-law, Ann Weisberg Litin and to her right is her daughter, Sylvia who married Jack Shink. Over Sylvia’s right shoulder is Gabriel Borken who married Idelle Weisberg who is standing to his immediate right. She is a daughter of Rose and Simon Joseph as is Ann. In front of Idelle is Sarah Lipshultz Weisberg who married Sam Weisberg a son of Rose and Simon. To Sarah’s right is Morton Weisberg a son of Louis and Florence Weisberg. To Sarah’s right is Burton Weisberg, a son of Frank and Lee Weisberg. To his left in front of Sarah’s left arm is Willard Weisberg son of Louis and Florence Weisberg. In the front row the young boy with the grey sweater is Harold Weisberg, son of Sam and Sara Weisberg. Standing at the left in the front, the elderly man withwhite beard is Simon Joseph Weisberg. The boy with the horizontal stripped shirt is Dr. Martin Weisberg son of Frank and Lee Weisberg.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The wedding took place close on the heels of the outbreak of World War II. The Smiths are standing under a chuppha, the traditional covered tent under which the married couple stand and exchange their vows.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
