November 26, 2008
Susan Hoffman
952-381-3360  
history@jhsum.org

JHSUM Makes Significant Acquisition

Rabbi Offner’s Papers and Congregation Shir Tikvah Records Added to Collections

Minneapolis—November 13, 2008—The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest has gratefully received and begun to process the papers of Rabbi Stacy Offner and the congregational records of Shir Tikvah. This acquisition represents a major expansion in JHSUM’s contemporary collections and a noteworthy opportunity for writers, researchers, students and the community to study the history of Reform Judaism in Minnesota.

Rabbi Offer is Founding Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Shir Tikvah. She was the first woman rabbi in Minnesota and the first rabbi ever to serve as the officially elected chaplain of the Minnesota State Senate. Nationally recognized as an advocate for inclusion and diversity in Reform Judaism, she has also been a leader for social action in Minnesota.  In her current position, Rabbi Offner continues to make history as the first woman to serve as Vice President for the Union for Reformed Judaism.

Twenty years ago, the Shir Tikvah (Song of Hope) congregation formed as a new kind of synagogue that would actively welcome people of varying Jewish lifestyles and encourage the participation of all in worship, Torah study, and social action. Since that time, with the guidance of Rabbi Offner, the synagogue has grown to more than 380 families and remains a caring community of Jewish worship, learning, and assembly.

JHSUM believes the Offner collection along with the Shir Tikvah records provides a distinctive perspective on the Jewish community in the upper Midwest. “The Offner Papers offer access and insight to a groundbreaking leader’s work and thinking, as well as perspective on Shir Tikvah’s growth and development,” said Susan Hoffman, archivist at JHSUM. “Researchers will have a unique opportunity to explore an interconnected body of documentation produced by a diverse, dynamic and spirited community.”

The Shir Tikvah Collection and the Rabbi Stacy Offner Papers are available at the Upper Midwest Jewish Archives in Andersen Library, University of Minnesota.

About the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest

For nearly 25 years, JHSUM has been gathering and presenting the stories of the Jewish people of the Upper Midwest. Everyone is an important part of the story. The Society encourages individuals to donate personal stories, documents, photographs and artifacts to its collections.  JHSUM collections are housed in two prominent locations: the Eloise and Elliot Kaplan Family Jewish History Center on the Barry Family Campus in Minneapolis and the Nathan and Theresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives in the Andersen Library at the University of Minnesota. JHSUM is a partner agency of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation and the United Jewish Fund and Council of St. Paul.