PICK OF THE ARCHIVES (reprinted from Fall 2003 Generations ) by Judy Sherman
Nahum Kipnis recently delivered a remarkable collection of audio and video tapes, letters and transcripts recounting the histories and resettlement experiences of Russian immigrants to Minneapolis. Many of these people do not speak English well, and their interviews have been translated, or at least the summaries translated, so that we can share their journeys and their reactions to life in the United States.
As one can imagine, some of their stories are heartrending accounts of escape from Gestapo executioners and the murder of family members. Some are less dramatic but still unnerving. Interviewees tell of being denied job opportunities or learning that their children were not accepted at universities because, no matter how hard they tried to "pass" as ordinary Russians, their passports identified them as Jews. Many endured years of harassment and discrimination before attempting to leave Russia. Usually, the final impetus to emigrate was to give their children better opportunities to be educated and to prosper.
Supporting our troops is, alas, news once again.
All of the subjects are senior citizens who immigrated between 1978 and 1995. Some first went to Israel or initially landed in other cities in the United States. Some have been able to support themselves, although often in menial jobs unlike their previous professional occupations. Since many emigrated as older adults they speak little English and feel somewhat isolated. Several have become quite proficient, however, and one elderly woman proudly wrote an essay in excellent English. With pride they extol the educational achievements, financial success and status of their children and grandchildren. A few have become active in Jewish life, while some bemoan the distancing of their children from Judaism. Their comments about the local community and American life are varied and revealing.
Immigrant from the former Soviet Union at a welcome party, mid 1980s.
One of the great values of this collection is the preservation of the stories of people who lived through the Holocaust, the death of Stalin and the struggles of being Jewish in Russia. These are precious recollections of those who fought to start over again in America. We have heard similar stories before but not in the first person and not from this group of immigrants to our community. American-born Jewish readers of these transcripts can't help but wonder if these would not have been our stories if our parents or grandparents had not come when they did.
We are grateful to Nahum Kipnis for undertaking this project while he was a board member of the JHSUM. It is a particularly valuable addition to our oral history collection.
PICK OF THE ARCHIVES (reprinted from Spring 2003 Generations ) by Judy Sherman
In recent months we have received three large collections which are particularly revealing of facets of our community and how concerns change over time.
Rabbi Theodore Gordon, the son of Dr. George Gordon, the first Director of the Minneapolis Talmud Torah, sent us a collection of Talmud Torah memorabilia including Education Committee reports from 1920-1936, correspondence and student lists from that period, programs, and yearbooks. Among the fascinating items is information on why students in the 1920s did not re-enroll ("frail child," "left school to go to work," "demoted"), lists of early Board members, and maps showing where students lived on the North Side. Included, as well is an interesting testimonial from the twenties: A student had been tempted by a bully to commit petty crimes but thanks to the influence of his Talmud Torah teacher his behavior improved, and he stuck to the straight and narrow. How this institution has changed and grown!
Rabbi Max Shapiro, Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel, has sent us much important memorabilia in the past. Recently he added to his collection with a box of letters, clippings, and writings including sermons and eulogies, and a scrap-book of photos and programs celebrating his twenty-fifth year at Temple Israel. There are letters to and from Hubert Humphrey and Humphrey's funeral program from 1978. There are programs and proceedings from the Jay Phillips Center for Jewish Christian Learning at St Thomas, articles on marital counseling from the 60s and active aging from the late 80s. Most interesting are letters and publicity reflecting public concerns such as race relations, advertisements for "saunas" and "massage parlors" in the paper, and the necessity for treating the aged with dignity and respect by addressing them formally. These are concerns of our recent history, reflecting the role of a modern rabbi involved in his community.
Pope John Paul, Monsignor Terrence Murphy, President of the University of St. Thomas, Rabbi Max Shapiro and wife, Bernice.
From Shir Tikvah
Congregation we received several boxes of papers which reflect the nature of
this relatively new and liberal congregation. There are letters about
fundraising, dues in arrears, ushers at services and other practicalities. There
are song sheets and prayer sheets for children's services. There are some
beautiful certificates for Brit Milah, for naming baby girls, and a particularly
moving conversion document. The congregational list contains many families of
different composition from the traditional "Mr. and Mrs." Of particular interest
are mailings reaching out to post-confirmation congregants and recent
high-school graduates away at college. This is the face of a Reform synagogue
looking to the future.
