Jews in Minnesota

Although they have never made up more than a small percentage of Minnesota's population, Jews have made a remarkable contribution to the state in business, politics, and education. German Jews arriving in St. Paul in the 1850s helped build the new territory. Jews from eastern Europe joined them in the 1880s, establishing stores and other retail businesses in the Twin Cities and many small towns. As they founded synagogues, schools, and community organizations and sought to create Jewish homes, they also sponsored a variety of philanthropic ventures and gained political office, including the U.S. Senate. Recent Jewish immigrants from Russia are building on this tradition. Authors Hyman Berman and Linda Mack Schloff discuss the group's organizations and leaders, showing how Minnesota's Jews reacted to local and international challenges.