Saving World War II Memories: The Upper MidwestJewish Story
Explore JHSUM’s newest exhibit "Saving World War II Memories: the Upper Midwest Jewish Story."
This online exhibit showcases photos, journals, letters, uniforms and memorabilia from the war period.
Too Short? Jews and Sports in Minnesota
Sports have always been important to Jewish Minnesotans whatever their physiques and height limitations. Explore JHSUM’s lighthearted exhibit "Too Short? Jews and Sports in Minnesota." (Note: It might take a while to load but it's worth the wait)!
Be sure to check out The First Basket part of the Sabes Foundation Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival. This film observes the immigrant experience and discusses the role sports still play in weaving the fabric of the U.S. as we know it.
Nearly 150 Jews have played major league baseball. As Martin Abramowitz, the president of Jewish Major Leaguers, Inc., points out, these Jewish big leaguers have combined for 22,000 hits, compiled a batting average of .265, hit more than 2000 home runs, and driven in over 10,000 runs.
As of 2002, Jewish pitchers had a record of 1,134-1,114 record with 11,600 strikeouts and 810 complete games. All in all, Jewish ball players have performed at or slightly better than that statistical average for all big leaguers.
Rabbis in Top Hats: JHSUM Exhibit Showcases an Early 20th Century Cultural Phenomenon
Using photographs and artifacts from its permanent collection, the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest’s newest exhibit highlights one example of how Orthodox men from the Old Country assimilated into new American culture—donning top hats.
In the early 1900s, Orthodox rabbis and temple members wore top hats to signal that they understood and were comfortable with American clothing styles. What’s more, the hat signified that the wearer had achieved great status.
The display teaches about this phenomenon and invites young people to see how they would look in a top hat. The exhibit will be on view through the end of January, 2007 in the JHSUM display case at the entrance to the Sabes JCC in Minneapolis.
Rabbi S. M. Silber, who led Kenesseth Israel during the first part of the century.
The Building Committee of Kenesseth Israel celebrating the completion of their synagogue on 6th and Lyndale. Rabbi Silber is in the front, middle.
The Shanedling Family of Virginia, Minnesota
Julius Shanedling was a pioneer of Virginia, Minnesota. He settled in Virginia in 1892. Shanedling was the founder of Virginia's B’nai Abraham synagogue, a clothing store owner and a father of five children. His wife Annie was from Minneapolis, and Julius moved there several years after Annie’s death. Three surviving grandchildren remain in the Minneapolis area: Anne Ribnick Wolf, John Ribnick, and Ann Shanedling Phillips.
Julius Shanedling in his clothing store.
Click below to see more photos of the Shanedling Family.
We Couldn’t Live at Home Exhibit Opening May 3, 2008 Minnesota Historical Society
The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest and the Minnesota Historical Society combine forces in a powerful collaboration that brings to life the stories of residents, past and present, of a singular building on Minneapolis’ North Side. Once hosting the Jewish Sheltering Home for Children, and now housing Avenues for Homeless Youth, this site has sheltered more than 3500 young Minnesotans when they could not live at home.
The History Center’s new exhibit, featuring photos by Wing Young Huie, raises awareness of the still persistent problems and stigmas that are attached to such children and their families. The exhibit also gives voice to the many generations and traditions of young people in Minnesota who have the shared experience of living away from family. Compelling stories and images of Jewish elders who formerly lived in the home will be featured in the exhibit as well as the insights, poems, narratives and objects of the young residents who currently reside there.
It’s the hope of guest curator Kate Searls, developer JHSUM Director of Collections, Exhibits and Publications, Linda Mack Schloff, and the MHS exhibits team that this installation will be a catalyst to better meet the needs of Minnesota’s vulnerable children and their families as well as connect yesterday with today, children with adults, and people of many different heritages and traditions, reminding us we are all connected to and responsible for each other.
Hear more about the North Side community where the Sheltering Home is located in We Knew Who We Were: Memories of the Minneapolis Jewish North Side. Available for the first time on DVD June 1, 2008. Pre-order your copy today .
Jewish Historical Society Welcomes New Project: the Sheltering Home Chronicles
The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest proudly announces a new project under its aegis: the Sheltering Home Chronicles, an art and history initiative illuminating the experiences of homeless youth over the past century. The project traces the history of the former Jewish Sheltering Home for Children on Minneapolis ’ North Side and shares art and stories of the building’s current residents at Avenues for Homeless Youth.
The JHSUM board of directors welcomed Kate Searls, director of the Sheltering Home Chronicles, as a new board member this fall. The Sheltering Home Chronicles has produced several different programs to date. A panel discussion and exhibit at Beth El Synagogue celebrated the lives of residents and volunteers of the former Jewish Sheltering Home.
An exhibit at Homewood Studios showcased the work of current Avenues for Homeless Youth residents who participated in a Sheltering Home Chronicles-sponsored workshop with award-winning photographer Wing Young Huie and the Minnesota Spoken Word Association. And photographer Erica Orton exhibited at the Sabes JCC her photographs of North Side buildings frequented by the former Jewish Sheltering Home’s residents.
“Kate’s project is a wonderful, community-wide endeavor that connects yesterday with today, children with adults, and Jews with non-Jews, reminding us that we are all connected to each other and all responsible for each other,” said JHSUM executive director Katherine Tane. “We are thrilled to have Kate on our board and to give the Sheltering Home Chronicles a home-base at the Jewish Historical Society.”
The project seeks period photos and film footage of children and adults associated with the Jewish Sheltering Home for Children, later known as the Oak Park Home, as well as toys, awards and report cards that belonged to residents there. If you have any of these items, would like to share personal stories or other memorabilia, or wish to make a tax-deductible contribution to the project, please contact the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest (history@jhsum.org or 952-381-3360). The Sheltering Home Chronicles has been funded, in part, by a grant from the Willis C. Helm Family Fund of the Minneapolis Foundation.
JHSUM has two exciting programs to offer local community organizations. In the Beginning: Early Jewish History in Minnesota uses photos and the writings of Amelia Ullman to tell the story of Jewish settlement and religious and civic life in the Minnesota Territory. A Treasured Past presents selected artifacts from the Society's collection and invites your group to bring your own treasures for sharing.
Both programs have been highly successful at engaging individuals with the region's vibrant and dynamic Jewish history. Call 952-381-3360 or e-mail Susan Hoffman at shoffman@jhsum.org to get more information or schedule a program for your group.
Jewish Roots in Hurley, Wisconsin JHSUM presents an exhibit chronicling early 20th century Jewish life in a northern Wisconsin mining town. Created by Dr. Steven Heifetz, the display tells the story of his exciting and heartwarming search for information about his great-grandparents of Hurley, Wisconsin. A collection of artifacts and photographs reveals an active Jewish presence in the early 1900s. View exhibit preview.
A plaque identifying the Sharey Zedek synagogue building was dedicated at a ceremony on July 24, 2005 as part of Iron County Heritage Days.
303 Iron Street, Hurley, WI. For more information, call (715) 381-3360.
North Side Exhibit at Sumner Library
The Jewish Historical Society maintains a rotating exhibit at the Sumner Library as part of the library's efforts to showcase the diversity of the Minneapolis North Side. Currently on display are photos, documents and memorabilia highlighting Jewish North Side Jewish businesses.
Minneapolis Public Library Sumner Branch 611 Van White Memorial Boulevard Minneapolis
Click here to check the Minneapolis Public Library web site for regular Sumner library hours.
Unpacking on the Prairie The Society’s most ambitious undertaking in the 1990’s was an exhibit in partnership with the Minnesota Historical Society focused on Jewish women in the Upper Midwest. Unpacking on the Prairie opened 1996 at the Minnesota History Center to great acclaim. Lectures, a Jewish women’s art exhibit and other programs throughout the year rounded out the experience. A traveling version of the main exhibit toured for seven years and the award-winning Web exhibit – Unpacking on the Prairie – remains an important resource today. Unpacking on the Prairie co-chairs were Bobby Cohen and Shirley Rosenblum.
To see a clip from Unpacking on the Prairie and experience a traditional Passover cooking lesson: View video of Etheldoris Stein Grais in her kitchen teaching the art of making gefilte fish.
Minneapolis North Side JHSUM produced a televised documentary video about a large Jewish neighborhood, We Knew Who We Were: Memories of the Minneapolis Jewish North Side , in 2000. Reva Rosenbloom chaired the Northside Steering Committee. View video clip. Video (VHS) version no longer available. Look for new reformatted DVD version coming soon (2007).
Jewish Teen Life In 2003, the Society mounted the exhibit Belonging: Jewish Teen Life in the Twin Cities, 1945-1970 in collaboration with the Minnesota Historical Society. The exhibit was on display for one year at the Minnesota History Center in St. Paul. Satellite exhibits were mounted at the Minneapolis and St. Paul JCCs in spring 2004. View Jewish Teen Life video clip
Jewish Teen Life steering committee included (back row left to right) Barbara Friedman, Bobby Cohen, Lisa Heilicher, chair. (Front row) Beryl Berke and Sharyn Effress Pesses.
Jewish Roots in Hurley, Wisconsin
Unpacking on the Prairie 
Jewish Teen Life 