Jenny Smith sits on a couch surrounded by her grandchildren. Jenny Smith was born in Russia and lived on the West Side of St. Paul. Her husband, a peddler, died at a young age and she raised nine children. She died in 1956 at the age of 94.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Members of the Hey and Vav Club sit at two long tables which are set with coffee cups and saucers. A social club for members of the Jewish community in Duluth. Because Jews were excluded from gentile clubs, the community formed its own, which helped forge social and business connections among members. Membership in clubs also enforced an American, rather than an exclusively ethnic identity. Several years after its founding, the Hay Vav club Americanized it's name to the Covenant Club.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Marking the beginning of Hanukkah, Harry Lerner of Minneapolis, lights a candle in Jerusalem. Lerner spent time in Israel during the early years of the country's existence, one of thousands of Americans who lent time, professional expertise and resources to insure Israel's survival. American Jews were encouraged to purchase Israel Bonds to support Israel's economic stability, and did so in record numbers.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The photograph depicts sewing instruction for young girls and women that Hadassah sponsored. Items sewed in-home were sent to Palestine. Pictured (left to right): Florence Kunin, Jacqueline Kunin, Myra Joy Golden, Betty Golden.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This fundraiser was held in 1946, and featured a discussion of "Blueprints for the Future", the organization's planned expansion of medical services in Israel. Pictured left to right: Mrs. George Stillman, Mrs. Edward Sokol; and Mrs. Marshall Beaubaire. Hadassah is the Women's Zionist organization of America. It was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold. Hadassah is dedicated to supporting Israel through fundraising for healthcare, youth education and land reclamation. Minnesota has always had an active chapter, and provided national leadership throughout the organization's history. The women pictured above are from the Minneapolis chapter.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
From left to right: NA, Florence Kunin, NA, Sis Marks, Mary Lebedoff, NA, Fanny Brudney, Sadie Shapiro. Hadassah is the Women's Zionist organization of America. It was founded in 1912 by Henrietta Szold. Hadassah is dedicated to supporting Israel through fundraising for healthcare, youth education and land reclamation. Minnesota has always had an active chapter, and provided national leadership throughout the organization's history. The women pictured above are from the Minneapolis chapter.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of women standing around a table set with cookies, cake and tea. An unidentified woman is sitting at the head of the table. The Hadassah Supply showers were popular events: members collected and contributed towels, sheets and other essentials en mass and sent them to hospitals and clinics in Isael. Members would come together at sewing parties, forming friendships as well as solidarity in support of the young Israeli state.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Portrait photograph of the chairwomen for the Hadassah rummage sales. The rummage sales were part of the fundraising efforts the Minneapolis Hadassah chapter. Money collected from fundraising efforts helped build the Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and fund the Youth Aliyah.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A group of women belonging to Hadassah standing in front of an airplane. The women leading Hadassah groups learned and exercised leadership skills as the result of their work fundraising and participating in Jewish and Zionist education. Hadassah was involved in teaching adult Hebrew classes to better promote understanding and communication between Jewish Americans and Israelis
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
This photo features, from left to right: Mrs. Hy Berkman, Mrs. Joseph Stern and Wendy Heller gathering sheets and clothing to be sent to clinics and schools in Palestine. Founded in 1912, Hadassah is the second-oldest independent Jewish women's organization in the United States. Hadassah draws on both the ideology of Zionism and on women's sense of social responsibility to elicit support for Israel, youth activities and educational services. National programs that were implemented in Minnesota included "linen showers" for medical units, money collections for school lunch programs in Palestine, and providing Jewish-German children foster-homes in Palestine during WWII.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of a display window with women's clothing and informational materials. The clothing in the window (probably the Miller Vocational High School in Minneapolis) was all hand sewn by members, and sold at the Funtennial, Hadassah's annual fundraiser at the Minneapolis Armory. Hadassah's membership between the end of WWII and the 1970s swelled. By the mid-1960s, more than 1,000 women were meeting in 80 minyans, socializing and fundraising for children's and healthcare causes in Israel. One of the popular activities was providing clothing to send to Israel.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Photograph of members of the Hadassah Camp Association group. Pictured from left to right are: Gary Cohn, Evelyn Rosen, George Pacanowski, and Etta Fae Kozberg.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Governor Freeman and two Hadassah members holding a flag that is to be taken to Israel by Hadassah Women. From left to right: Mildred Rosen, Governor Orville Freeman, Mrs. I.E. Greenberg of Duluth. Rosen was a vice president of the Upper Midwest Region. Greenberg was the regional president. The state flag was used in dedication ceremonies at the Hadassah Hebrew University Medical Center in Jerusalem.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
A photograph of four unidentified girls standing in front of Central Community House, holding hands. Central Community House in St. Paul was established in 1921. It offered recreational and social activities for children, as well as baby clinics and day care for mothers working factory jobs during World War II.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Girls, some holding dolls or teddy bears, in this group photograph of the Girl's Club at Neighborhood House. Neighborhood House was founded by the Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society. Neighborhood House was founded primarily to provide recreational, educational and social activities to residents of the West Side neighborhood. It maintained an active recreational program for girls in the neighborhood, teaching sewing, cooking and other domestic arts.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
From left to right: Louis Greene, recently elected president of B'nai Brith Lodge 271; Joseph Schanfeld, center, the oldest living president at the time of the photo; former president Sam Dott.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Florence Kunian Schoff was a Hadassah leader for the Minneapolis Hadassah chapter, and an avid Zionist. Schoff made multiple trips to Israel on fact-finding tours related to Hadassah projects, which feature support for public health and hospital projects. The other two people in the photo are unidentified.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
N. C. J. W. was founded in 1893 under the leadership of Hannah Greenebaum Solomon. It has a progressive legacy of providing vocational training, medical and educational services, judicial advocacy for minors and international aid. Minnesotan Fanny Brin served as president from 1932 to 1938. Pictured in photo (left to right): Fanny Brin, Jane Addams, Hannah Solomon, Mrs. Gershon Levi.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Girls between the ages of 10 and 14 were in this Junior-level troop which met at the Emanuel Cohen Center on the North Side. This photo was taken as a promotional shot for a play the troop put on at the Center called "the Seven Stages of Life."
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
View of the front exterior of the Emanuel Cohen Center. The Center's primary role was to provide the North Side Jewish youth with an alternative to being on the street. The E. C. C. had a pool and a gymnasium, and sponsored sports teams for both young men and women. It also housed a dental clinic, well-baby and children's clinic for young mothers. The building still stands on Elwood Avenue in Minneapolis, across from the former Jewish Sheltering Home building.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
Jewish organizations worked within the larger community to promote and educate about democratic values. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) focused on civil rights discrimination in the South, but also raised a national campaign to expose resort discrimination against Jews and Blacks. The ADL's "Crack the Quota" campaign reached its peak in Minnesota during the late 1950s.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives
The Mt. Sinai Auxiliary raised significant funds that were used towards patient care. Events included book sales, cookbook publishing and other social events, including the famous annual ball. Shown purchasing the cookbook is Luella Maslon, the book's author.
Contributing Institution:
University of Minnesota Libraries, Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives