Pick of the Archives
Posted by Julie | Filed under Pick of the Archives
Dr. Babe Shragg has donated a fascinating 80th birthday tribute booklet put together in 1980 to honor his father, Moshe (Morris) Shragowitz, the “Noted Chazan from Kletsk.”
Moshe Shragowitz, a tailor, immigrated from Russia to New York in 1923 with his wife, Eva, and their infant daughter, who died there. Morris and Eva came to Minneapolis in 1924, where their first son, Harry, was born. Robert (“Babe”), Esser, and Sam followed.
On Mother’s Day, 1939, Eva died, leaving Morris with four children, ages 7 to 14, to raise. He worked in his tailor shop by day and came home to cook, wash, and clean. In 1945, Morris married Esther Wittles, and her daughter Barbara, age 7, joined the family. Morris then gave up his tailor shop and became a shamas, at the Morgan Street Shul, Sharei Zedeck. He also worked as a chazzan at High Holy Days services in St. Paul, Superior, Wisconsin; and Edmonton, Alberta.
He opened a second tailor shop in Golden Valley but in 1964 moved to Los Angeles, where all his children, except Babe, had settled. The Shragg children have prospered in fields such as medicine, computer science, and library science.
At the time of his 80th birthday in 1975, Morris had 13 grandchildren and was still actively davening and tailoring.
This charming family history, available to researchers at the Kaplan Family History Center in our Lyle Berman Archives, is full of photographs, beginning in 1910 in Russia. A photograph captioned “The handsome soldier” shows Morris in uniform in 1917. There are pictures of family homes in north Minneapolis and family reunions throughout the years. The booklet is not only a tribute to Moshe Shragowitz, but is also the American story of a family that grew and prospered on the north side of Minneapolis.
Judy Sherman, JHSUM Volunteer
Changing Times- President’s Post
Posted by Julie | Filed under President's Post
Our first 27 years have been spent creating one of the finest archives of local Jewish History in the country. We consistently receive accolades from across the country commending our exhibits, programs, research material and web site. You can read about our many activities of just the past 12 months in this newsletter.
The current economic environment has created challenges for many small nonprofit organizations and JHSUM has not been spared. This organization has thrived on the generosity of our members and a small group of very dedicated supporters. It may surprise some to know that we benefit very little from our community Federated giving efforts. What dollars we do receive from the community organizations overall has been declining year after year. At our current level of community support we cannot sustain all our activities. JHSUM’s Board is working hard to create a new vision for our next 25 years focusing on what activities we do best and can’t be done by any other organization.
SO WHAT’S NEXT? – We are working with the University of Minnesota Andersen Library to have our collections permanently housed at the University. JHSUM would be relieved of the costs related to housing our nearly 3000 item collection and making our materials available to users. Securing a permanent home for our archival materials allows JHSUM to focus on interpretation, education and programming along with more public displays of our unique materials.
WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE A JEWISH HISTORY GALLERY? – We are working to turn our location at the Kaplan Family Jewish History Center into an interpretive gallery that will be open to the public. Our new space will showcase many of JHSUM’s artifacts and photos that tell the story of Upper Midwest Jewish life.
WE NEED YOUR HELP TO KEEP US MOVING FORWARD – Our upcoming campaign to raise the funds necessary to achieve our goals and making this museum a reality is a crucial step in keeping our stories alive. Please watch for more information to come regarding the details of this exciting new chapter in the life of your historical society! And take a moment to renew your membership so you continue to receive all our latest news!
Jamie Heilicher
President
Turning the Page- Director’s Dispatch
Posted by Julie | Filed under Director's Dispatch
The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest is on the verge of a major milestone in its 27-year history. Over the next few months, the board of directors will consider the extraordinary opportunity to formally gift the Nathan and Teresa Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives collection to the University of Minnesota Libraries. The invitation by the University to unite our collections in the world-class Elmer L. Andersen Library on the west bank campus is a measure of our maturity as a historical society and the next step in our evolution. Jews make up less than one percent of Minnesota’s population, yet the Jewish community has made a much greater impact than numbers would lead one to believe. To have our story housed shoulder-to-shoulder with other holdings of such a great Minnesota institution as the University is a phenomenal testament to the work of our founders.
Appropriately, a bit of history is in order to understand how this came about. Ten years ago, when JHSUM needed a new home, we were invited to be part of the expanded Barry Family Campus of Minneapolis. Although we were very pleased to be recognized as an important community institution there was room for only half of our collections. Around the same time, through a connection made by Rabbi Bernard Raskas, of blessed memory, former Governor Elmer L. Andersen, of blessed memory, extended an invitation to JHSUM to place the other half of our collections at the library bearing his name. In 2002, JHSUM founders Nathan and Theresa Berman created an endowment for the collections at the Andersen Library, and the archives were named for them as a permanent memorial to their vision. We know our Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archive materials experience continually increasing use daily, by authors, scholars, documentarians, and students from around the world, because they are housed in a state-of-the-art archival space staffed by professional librarians and archivists six days a week, at the University of Minnesota.
Ten years later, along with JHSUM, the University faces funding challenges, leading it to reevaluate how their resources are used. With the passing of Gov. Andersen, our patron, it has become more difficult for the University to justify using scarce resources on a collection they don’t own. Consequently, they have offered JHSUM the opportunity to consolidate the JHSUM holdings now located at the Barry Family Campus with the Berman UMJA at Andersen Library by gifting them to the University Libraries.
The preservation aspect of our three-fold mission—preservation, interpretation, education—takes two-thirds of our budget. To maintain our collections and make them accessible for use we expend funds annually on an archivist salary, archival space rental, equipment and supplies. Like the University and so many other businesses and organizations, the Jewish community faces funding challenges. We have watched our support dwindle year after year. There now are many competing urgent needs. It is financially prudent for our board to consider the University’s offer to steward our history. As trustees of these resources, the board has a responsibility and obligation to create a permanent, safe, accessible place for these materials. If this history is not available, talked about, being used, then the vision of the founders of the JHSUM will be extinguished.
What is the primary advantage to this offer? Precious artifacts and documents, amassed over the past 27 years and representing an investment of hundreds of thousands of community dollars, will be preserved in perpetuity. The University has an infrastructure we could never match, from computers and internet to student archivists who can process in days hundreds of linear feet of new collections that would take months, if not years, for us to accomplish. The collections will have a dedicated archivist connecting our Upper Midwest Jewish stories to users everywhere.
Wendy Pratt Lougee, University Librarian, and Kris Kiesling, head of Andersen Library, know they can’t collect the important story of the Upper Midwest Jewish community alone and are committed to maintaining a close working relationship with JHSUM, relying on our subject matter expertise. We already have rewarding relationships with professors and students at the University, and we only expect them to get stronger.
JHSUM will continue to create exhibits and programming and assist the Berman Upper Midwest Jewish Archives in collecting materials. Consolidating our archives and making them part of the prestigious University Libraries will allow us to concentrate our scarce resources more effectively, extending our reach and continuing our mission.
Brandeis University Professor Dr. Jonathan Sarna has called us “one of America’s best local Jewish historical societies.” He goes on to say “Thanks, to them, all of us have a far greater appreciation for the texture of Jewish life in the Upper Midwest.” This extraordinary offer from the University of Minnesota Andersen Libraries will allow us to maintain our status as one of the best local historical societies in the country and with your support expand our programming and interpretation.
Katherine Tane
Executive Director
Did you know?
Posted by Julie | Filed under Did You Know?, JHSUM in the News-People Are Talking!
World War II weekend at Fort Snelling
More than 20 million Soviet citizens died in what they called The Great Patriot War—about 50 times the number of American deaths—including well over one million Jews. Soviet soldiers contributed to the defeat of fascism, but did not enjoy the freedoms of democracy; victory was soon followed by horrific Stalinist purges and authoritarian rule. Jews, in particular, experienced significant discrimination after the war, and most were unable to leave for decades. Read more about our newest community members in our Russian Veterans Oral History Project.
Saint Paul’s Jewish Neighborhood – We Built Community
Many Former North Siders returned for summer walking tours
JHSUM debuts on Independence Mall
The Great Turkey Giveaway
Posted by Julie | Filed under Did You Know?
Guest Contributor: Jodi Elowitz
Everyone has Thanksgiving traditions and if we are to be of a cynical disposition one would believe that the holiday is no longer about family and friends and giving thanks but more about shopping, football and movies. But of course if we were to look to history (and being a historical society we tend to do this on a daily basis) we would discover that there were stores open on the holiday, the annual Thanksgiving football games were played as early as 1920, and even though vampires did not sparkle in the twilight they certainly were already an important part of pop culture and cinema history, and the art of promotion and marketing was very much alive and well.
Recently I came across some film footage from the JHSUM’s We Knew Who We Were that dealt with an infamous marketing scheme promoted by the Homewood Theater, which was located on Plymouth Avenue, Minneapolis. The Homewood Theater was opened in 1924 by S.G. Lebedoff and is remembered fondly by former residents of the Northside. It was more than just a movie palace, it was a great communal center, where on Saturdays a nickel bought you a day of entertainment and there were so many kids you could not hear the film from all the excitement.
Like other theaters during the Great Depression, the Homewood came up with various promotions in order to entice people to come to the movies. They filled seats with special double features, live acts and raffles. The Homewood held its famous dish raffle on Wednesdays and if you went to enough of the mid-week raffles you could set a nice table.
But it was one special evening in November (year unknown) in which it was decided that the theater would hold a drawing for turkeys. Those with a lucky ticket would take home a beautiful bird. But these were not the white, wrapped Butterballs in a freezer case we have all come to love. Back then most of the patrons would have been Orthodox and the birds, needing to be Kosher, would have to be alive.
The great escape started in the basement when some of the cleverer Tom’s managed to break out of their crates. Without any warning the roving band of birds flew up the stairs and into the aisles of the theater causing an enormous amount of chaos and hilarity. Patrons chased the wayward birds up and down the aisles, through concessions and the lobby and finally out on to Plymouth Avenue where they continued their quest for freedom.
One resident remembered the scene as absolute pandemonium and likened the aftermath to a scene from Death Valley as birds hung from wires and trees the next day.
Needless to say this was the last of the live turkey raffles and as one of the Lebedoff decedents noted, the only turkey in a theater now- is a bad film!
Photo: Copyright Knight Scenes Photography. Used with permission.
A picture is worth…
Posted by Julie | Filed under JHSUM in the News-People Are Talking!
About 500 words! Click here to see one of JHSUM’s photos and read A Manifesto for the Seventh Day.
Junior Hadassah “Manless” Cabaret, Beth El Synagogue, 1930s
Posted by Julie | Filed under Did You Know?, Director's Dispatch
First Row L-R:
Guest Contributor Jodi Elowitz
Posted by Julie | Filed under News
When you speak to anyone who grew up on the North side immediately a smile comes to their face as they begin to reminisce about the neighborhood.
“It was a community, a truly special place that gave us all a sense of well being. We knew everyone and everyone knew us. It was a place you could be night and day and you knew you would be taken care of.”
The Jewish North side is gone, yet remnants remain in the bricks and mortar of a few buildings, but it truly exists in the heart and minds of those former residents.
On a recent historic tour, being someone who is not originally from Minnesota or grew up on that side of town; I was treated to just how special this neighborhood was; as each former resident would surprise us with a story about a significant place which would trigger a fond memory. “The hospital where I was born was over where that empty lot sits now. Over there was a gas station, there was a hardware store where the funeral home is now and there was also pharmacy and a doctor and dentist office.” Others pointed to the spots and joined in the walk down memory lane.
“My parents owned the Homewood Theater.” Someone else then said. “I was an usher at the Homewood.” Then there was laughter and another participant laughed and yelled out, “Ha who wasn’t.” Another conversation ensued. “Your parents owned the theater? I was just telling my friend about how we would sneak in there without paying; I think I might owe you 10-15 cents?” The child of the owners laughed and said, “I am thinking that might be 15 cents with 50 years of interest.”
Former residents pointed to their younger selves in photographs printed for the tour. “Yes that was me, and my friends waiting to get into a matinee.” We loved that theater and spent many a Saturday watching the double features.”
New residents of the area sitting on the steps of their house of worship across from the crumbling remains of a former synagogue questioned some of the tourists about what they were looking for. “We used to live here. This used to be the main street filled with shops, restaurants, and the building across the street was one of the first synagogues.” The residents replied that they had no idea there was so much history here. “Thank you for sharing with us.”
Of course not everyone is happy to see large crowds of people walking the neighborhood but for those who take the time to stop and ask the tourists what they are doing, all get a cheerful reply of “I used to live here, I grew up in the house down the street and have so many fond memories-I just wanted to relive it again.”
The North side story is one of survival and opportunity. The great grandparents of the North side Jews escaped Eastern Europe with nothing more but the clothes on their back. They sold chickens from their front yards, collected and sold scrap from push carts and horse drawn wagons. They sewed clothing, repaired shoes in small apartments, and baked bread, made pastries and candy that they sold out of their homes. The next generation moved into store fronts and worked 24 hours a day six days a week, sometimes seven. They were always on call which was not hard to do since they lived above or behind their stores. Every member of the family helped out in some way, stocking shelves, keeping books, delivering the goods.
Every need was catered to; there were tailors, dry cleaners, shoe makers, dry goods and grocers. Butchers, bakers, so many that Plymouth Avenue smelled like bread. There was a street car that ran down the main street, you could go to downtown Minneapolis but there was no real need. Barber shops, candy stores, bars and pool halls and of course the movie theater were whole afternoons would be spent watching double features, with cartoons and newsreels. There were give-aways, and special performances. In the summer the theater provided a place to cool off from the heat and hardly anyone cared what was playing as they paid their dime.
There were parks, and a library. It was a place not just for Jews but also for many other new immigrants who were not welcomed in other parts of Minneapolis. There were social services and houses of worship that kept the community centered, holding it together in hard times. No one went without. The North side was a place you could live and feel a sense of pride.
That spirit of community has not changed as new residents work just as hard to provide opportunities for their families. The buildings that once sheltered and catered to Jewish families now cater to the new residents. On our tours we saw neighbors tending community gardens, filling houses of worship for Sunday services, or sitting outside catching up on the latest neighborhood news and gossip.
As someone who loves and lives history, nothing captivates me more than walking down streets and imagining who walked them before. I love hearing the stories and think of my own childhood memories about the community I grew up in Detroit. I often wonder what will happen when the people who have these memories of the lost communities are gone.
The Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest asked that question and they answered with their new initiative Placeography. Placeogaphy is an online, interactive wiki that allows those who log on an opportunity to view photos of buildings and neighborhoods throughout Minnesota. Users are able to easily upload their memories and share their stories.
Placeography is about keeping memories of the once thriving Jewish communities alive for future generations but it also allows the current residents to see how their neighborhoods developed and that once there were others just like them who overcame the challenges they faced to provide good lives for their families.
The North side story is just one of the many that will be on Placeography. All areas of Minnesota that were home to vibrant Jewish Communities will be represented. From the Iron Range to St. Paul and all points in between. The first phase of the project has been completed as photos and informational content has been uploaded. The next phase is for people to provide their memories and stories to bring the places to life. The ultimate goal is for one day someone like me can take a walking tour armed with nothing but my iPhone (or whatever other devices we invent) with Placeography as my guide. Although I will always prefer the interaction of the people who lived in these places; at least we will forever be able to access their stories and share in their memories any time we choose. It is up to future generations to take these stories and make them their own.
View photos of our North Side Tour on Facebook.
JHSUM’s VOICE Co-Sponsored Event in the News
Posted by Julie | Filed under JHSUM in the News-People Are Talking!
Click here to view AJW’s article “Soviet Jews film to premiere June 8″.
JHSUM’s Judges and Lawyers Exhibit in the News
Posted by Julie | Filed under JHSUM in the News-People Are Talking!
Click here to read AJW’s article “Jewish lawyers from the Twin Cities recount their experiences over recent decades”.
