The Jewish Community of St. Joseph, MO
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Description
A tour of some of the sites associated with the once thriving Jewish community of St. Joseph
1. Shaare Sholem Cemetery
Shaare Sholem is a Jewish cemetery primarily serving the Jewish community of eastern european descent. The oldest burials date back to the late 1890’s.In the late 1880s St. Joseph had a large influx of Jewish immigrants from Russia who were fleeing the anti-Semitic violence that was washing across Eastern Europe at that time. This conservative community quickly founded Shaare Sholem temple, and in the 1890s they established the Shaare Sholem cemetery. In 1919, the congregation purchased an additional tract of land with plans to expand the size of the cemetery; however, neighboring residents objected to the expansion and the debate became quite heated. In 1949, architect Eugene Meier released the sketches for the chapel which was dedicated as the David Friedman Chapel in 1963. This community flourished and grew in St. Joseph for several decades and as one walks through the well-kept grounds you see many familiar names on the stones. Though most of the members of St. Joseph’s once large Jewish community have left the city, some come back in death and many are buried at Shaare Sholem.
2. Shaare Sholem Synagogue
When Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe began to arrive in St. Joseph in the 1880s they found a thriving Jewish community whose roots went back to Germany. From the beginning, the world-view of the two communities clashed. The Eastern European immigrants, primarily from Russia, tended to be more conservative and less economically successful than those from Germany. This difference prompted those with more conservative views to form their own congregation – Shaare Sholem.
3. Temple B’nai Yaakov/B’nai Sholem
The congregation at B’nai Yaakov was comprised largely of people with Eastern European, especially Russian, backgrounds. These immigrants and their families brought a more conservative approach to Judaism with them when they came to St. Joseph. This was in contrast to the more liberal, reformed congregation at Temple Adath Joseph where most of the congregants were of German background.
4. Temple B’nai Yaakov/B’nai Sholem
The congregation at B’nai Yaakov was comprised largely of people with Eastern European, especially Russian, backgrounds. These immigrants and their families brought a more conservative approach to Judaism with them when they came to St. Joseph. This was in contrast to the more liberal, reformed congregation at Temple Adath Joseph where most of the congregants were of German background.
5. Adath Joseph Cemetery
In 1848, St. Joseph began to grow rapidly as a jumping off point for those heading west to find gold and broader horizons. The influx of people created a diverse and rather cosmopolitan community in what had been little more than a backwater trading post. A relatively large community of Jewish immigrants from Germany arose. Before long they established the Jewish Burial Society which opened Adath Joseph Cemetery at 3155 Beck Road (the cemetery predated the synagogue by the same name). This cemetery served as the primary burial place for members of the German Jewish community of St. Joseph and so many of the most prosperous members of the St. Joseph Jewish community were buried here. It is currently the least used of the three Jewish cemeteries and is suffering from the effects of deferred maintenance.It is said that Adath Joseph cemetery is the oldest Jewish cemetery west of the Mississippi, with its first burial taking place in 1843. The cemetery served Temple Adath Joseph and the German Jewish population.
6. Temple Adath Joseph
The earliest Jewish settlers to St. Joseph came primarily from the German areas of Europe. Arriving in about 1849, nearly immediately they established the Adath Joseph congregation. Initially the small congregation comprised of between 15 to 20 men and their families held its services in a hall on Felix Street. This earliest group did not have a Rabbi, so M. Lehman served as lay leader. In 1857 the group purchased the former Cumberland Presbyterian Church at 6th and Edmond Streets and renovated it for their use. Unfortunately, that structure burned not long after. One of the congregation, Mr. Harburger, rescued the scrolls. The congregation then built on the southeast corner of 6th and Jules, dedicating the new synagogue in the fall of 1868. The size of the congregation reflected the growth of the community: forty-two men and their families worshipped there. It was at this time that a division in the Jewish community of St. Joseph began to emerge; Adath Joseph was becoming increasingly reformed in character (more liberal) while the congregation at B’Nai Yakov (comprised largely of immigrants from imperial Russia) remained resolutely orthodox (more conservative). The Adath Joseph congregation continued to thrive economically prompting them to engage the services of renowned St. Joseph architect Rudolph Meier and commission him to design an imposing synagogue at 102 N. 17th St., Temple Adath Joseph. Meier was given a substantial budget ($32,000) and did not fail in his commission to create an imposing structure. The Temple was dedicated in September 1910 with a week of elaborate ceremony. Prominent Rabbis from across the country participated. The Torah scrolls were installed and the perpetual light kindled. In 1923, the annex was built to serve as a social center. The substantial structure contained a banquet room, parlors, a kitchen, and a gymnasium. The architect for the annex was Eugene Meier, the younger brother of Rudolph Meier who designed the Temple. Following World War Two, the Jewish population of St. Joseph declined sharply as did the congregation of Temple Adath Joseph. By the mid-2010s it was clear that the there were not enough active members to sustain both Adath Joseph and the Conservative synagogue, B’Nai Sholem and the difficult decision was made to merge. Since the merger, services have been held at Adath Joseph while B’Nai Sholem was closed and eventually sold. The members of the Adath Joseph congregation were largely of German ethnicity and considered relatively liberal. For much of its history, its congregants were buried at the Adath Joseph Cemetery (site on tour). Rabbis for the Adath Joseph Congregation:· M. Kaufman, earliest days until 1875· S. Gerstman, 1875-1879· Isaac Schwab, (born in 1841) 1879-1906. Rabbi Schwab, born in Bavaria, was known as a great scholar. In 1906, the congregation did not re-elect him to his post, prompting him to sell most of his property in St. Joseph and move to Chicago to take up a career in religious journalism. When he retired the congregation awarded him a pension of $1,000 (per year). He died soon after in Chicago.· Louis Bernstein, (1882-1921). 1906-1921. Born in New Albany, Indiana to a Russian father and a German Mother. During the tenure of Rabbi Bernstein, the congregation grew substantially and the Temple was constructed. Bernstein played a prominent part in the civic life of St. Joseph, serving on the board of the Associated Charities and on the Public Library Board. He left in 1921 to take over a congregation in Baltimore, MD.· Gary August, 1921-1926. Rabbi August came to St. Joseph from a post in Joplin, MO. It was during his time that the annex was constructed. In 1926, he moved to Gary, ID.· Myron M. Myer, (1896-1974) 1927- 1968. Rabbi Myer, born in Dallas and educated at the University of Cincinnati and the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, came to St. Joseph from Alexandria, LA. .Rabbi Meyer was a prominent voice in St. Joseph’s religious, educational, and cultural life. He had been a director of the St. Joseph symphony society. He was professor emeritus at Missouri Western State College at the time of his death, teaching philosophy and comparative religion. · John Rosenblatt, 1968-· Stephen A. Arnold, 1974· Wolfgang Hamburger, 1983· Jeffrey Glickman, 1989-1995· Matt Friedman, 1997 - 1999Rabbis after this point were part-time and served one-year terms.· Lynn Koshner, 1999-2000· Eileen Kollins, 2003· Debbie Stiel, 2005· Amy Bigman, 2006· Audrey Korotkin Among the prominent congregants were David Siegal (link to the S. 10th); the Westheimers
7. 600 Block of S. 10th St.
At the turn of the 20th century, the 600 block of S. 10th street was a thriving Jewish neighborhood, which is why the B’nai Yaakov congregation chose to build their synagogue here in 1924. As you walk down the sidewalks of this once bustling neighborhood it is possible to see the remnants of that era. The neighborhood is now dominated by the former synagogue (now home to Robidoux Resident Theater), which takes up the whole of the west side of the street; but in 1910 the block was entirely residential. Taking a large step backwards in time is a terrific way to get the feel for this neighborhood and the Jewish community that called it home. It would have had a very different feel and sound than it does today. Likely the primary language you would have heard was Russian and the residents were much more densely packed than is currently the case.Taking a big step back in time to 1910 provides a rich insight into what the life of the immigrant community was like: Starting on the east side of the street:602-608: Three of these four attached residences were occupied by Jewish families in 1910. On the corner in 602 lived the Agronsky family. Orlich (aged about 45 in 1910) and his wife Rebecca (aged 35) and their five children between the ages of 15 and 4 called this home. Both Orlich and Rebecca were born in Russia and had immigrated to the United States only five years earlier. Orlich worked as a butcher to support his family. Sharing the home were Harry and Lena Agron, Orlich’s nephew and niece [They had shortened their last name in an attempt to Americanize it] who both worked as clerks in clothing stores. Next door in 604 lived Abraham and Gertrude Abgenman and their two very small children. Abraham and Gertrude had immigrated from Russia in 1906 and they were a bit younger than the Agronskys – Abraham was 35 in 1910 and his wife was 28. Abraham worked as a tailor. Rose Farrell and her son James lived in 606 – they were Irish Catholics; one wonders if they felt very different from their neighbors or if the experience of being immigrants was enough common ground. In 608 were Frank (aged 23) and Frieda (aged 23) Agron; again, both were Russian immigrants; Frank came to this country in 1905 while Frieda had come over in 1903. Frank was a machine operator. In order to supplement their income, they had Samuel Kahingsky boarding with them. He had immigrated from Russia in 1906 and was working as a shoemaker in a factory.610: In 1910 this house (minus its distinctive decorations – see below in background and context to learn more) was home to the Siegel family. The Siegels were of German background, though they all had been born in the United States. In 1910 the head of the family was Henrietta, the widow of David, and she shared the house with her adult son Lewis and the family servant Katie Reck. The family made their living in the clothing business. The Siegels played an important role in the Jewish community.620: The extended family of Ben (aged 24) and Sarah (aged 23) Zurosky lived in 620 in 1910. Like many of their neighbors, the family had come from Russia, immigrating in 1906. Ben worked as a clerk at handler Brothers Distilling while Sarah took care of their three children all aged three and under. Sharing the home was Ben’s brother Dave (aged 21) who was a laborer in a shoe factory and Ben’s nephew Max Medoff, a clerk in a furniture store.Next door to the Zuroskys was the duplex at 624/626 (no longer standing). These two residences had rather a staggering number of people living in them. Meyer Dolginoff (aged 47) and his wife Louise Agronsky Dolginoff (aged 46) had their large family in 624. Myer immigrated from Russia in 1904; in 1910 he was the proprietor of Silvar Ladies Fine Tailoring at 509 Francis Street. Louise came to the United States the year after her husband, bringing with her their seven children (four of whom lived with their parents in 624). Their eldest son Jake (aged 19) worked at the Johnston-Woodbury Hat Co. at 112-118 N. 4th Street. Sharing the home with Meyer and Louise were Louise’s parents, Jake and Hoda Agronsky. They also had two boarders living with them, Ida Ruskin a Russian-born seamstress at the Wheeler & Motter Mercantile Company and Julius Seleznoff, a laborer in a packing house who had come from Russia just the year before. On the other side of the common wall lived the Borofsky family at 626. Hyman and Hannah were both born in Russia and had immigrated in 1891 and 1892. Hyman was a Rabbi. Their 21-year old daughter Jennie, who had immigrated with her mother, was working as a clerk. The younger four children, between the ages of 10 and 15 were all students.In 628 another family named Zurosky lived (it is unclear if they are related to their neighbors). Nathan (aged 32) immigrated from Russia in 1905 and was working as a tinner for H. Ehrlich & Sons, and his wife Eva (aged 27) followed him the next year. They had two very small daughters. The 1911 City Directory lists an Anna Zurosky at this address as well, she was a seamstress for Meyer Dolginoff in his shop on Francis St.South from 630 the rest of the block had non-Jewish residents in 1910. 630 was home to the Theisen family: Joseph was a German-born bartender; his wife Pheba and their three teen-aged children as well as Pheba’s mother lived here. The family of George P. Swearingen, a streetcar conductor, lived at 632. 634 housed the all-female blended household of Annie Schmidt and Meta Sharpe. Anna, who was born in Germany, was a widow whose only surviving child, also named Anna lived with her. The younger Anna was a clerk in an insurance office. Meta Sharpe immigrated from England and made her living as a music teacher. Her daughter Selena, a school teacher, shared the house as did another teacher, Mary E. Raines.The east side of the street bears no resemblance to what it was in 1910; when the B’nai Yaakov synagogue was built, the residential structures were demolished. But in 1910, this side of the street was residential in nature. Crossing the street from the now empty corner where 632 and 634 stood and walking to the north:The single-family brick residence at 631 was home of William A. Scott, a paper hanger for the Henry Voss Wall paper company, and Walter Lanham who worked as a clerk at the Union News and Railway Company.The duplex at 625/623 had a lot of people living there. Isaac and Mamie Gordon lived at 625 with their six children and two servants. Both Isaac and Mamie, as well as their son Joseph, had been born in Russia. Isaac was the proprietor of Gordon & Rosen, a millinery store located at 325 Felix Street; Mamie and their daughter Gussie both worked as clerks in the store. The two oldest sons, Joseph and Meyer were both travelling salesmen. The two servants, Tina Seymoicek and Katie Ratch were recent German immigrants. In 1910, two employees of National Life and Accident Insurance were living in 623. James T. Horn and John L. Stark were among the few residents of the block who were not part of the Russian Jewish community there.The double house at 621/619 had some of the most colorful characters on the block. Samuel Weinberg, a 29-year-old clothing merchant lived at 621 with his wife Pauline’s family, the Plotells. Samuel and Pauline had a small daughter, Calin. Pauline’s mother Hannah Plotell and her brothers Samuel and Harry as well as her sister Bertha [Rositzky] and Bertha’s husband Samuel Rositzky all shared the small brick dwelling. All of the adults except for Samuel Rositzky had been born in Russia and most had come to the United States in 1892. Samuel Plotell became known as a particularly aggressive bantam-weight boxer. Later the Plotell brothers became involved in corrupt politics and gambling with men they met on this block – members of the Gordon family. Members of the extended Rositzky family lived at 619. Isaac Rositzky and his wife Minnie, along with their two small children shared the residence with Minnie’s mother Pearl. Isaac and Pearl had been born in Russia. Isaac was in the wholesale dry goods business in 1910; he went on to be one of the most prominent figures in the retail clothing business in St. Joseph, operating the United Department Store (for further information see the entry under the Felix Street Businesses on this tour].The single-family houses on large lots at 609 and 601 were not occupied by members of the Jewish community in 1910. The brick house at 609 was occupied by the widowed dressmaker, Hattie Wylie Gallup, whose father had been sheriff of Buchanan County. Another widow, Mary Zumwalt, lived at 601.
8. Felix Street Commercial Corridor
For well over a century, the 500 to 700 blocks of Felix Street have been a center of commercial activity in St. Joseph. Today, it is a center for the revitalized historic downtown district. From the late 19th to the mid-20th century, many of the businesses on this street were owned by members of the Jewish community. Beginning on the southwest corner of Felix and S. 8th Street:722-720 – during the 1950s, this was home to Millenary Retailers, the former Lowenberg and Bergman Millinery Co. By the 1950s, there were not many millenary stores remaining; though they had been a staple along Felix St. through the first quarter of the 20th century. The name change appears to have been a last-ditch effort to save the business which went bankrupt in 1954.718 – (sometimes referred to as 121 S. 8th St.) In 1909, Bernhard Newburger moved his millinery enterprise from 711 to this site. Bernhard immigrated to the United States in 1857. He married Carried in 1889. He later moved to 701-703 Edmond St. where he employed 100 women. He died in Lexington, KY in 1927.The Leibowitzs were a prominent commercial family in St. Joseph. They are best known for their clothing store (which is still in operation at the East Hills Mall). In the 1930s, one branch of the family operated a jewelry store at this location. The proprietor was Abe Leibowitz. He was born in Austria714 – In 1900 Aaron J. Straus had his clothing store here. Aaron was born in St. Louis, but spent the majority of his life in St. Joseph. He died in 1941 and is buried at Adath Joseph Cemetery.708 – If one family deserved the title “Kings of Felix St.” it would be the Rositzkys. In 1900 Jacob Rositzky operated a dry goods and notions store at this address. Jacob was a Russian immigrant; he came to the United States at the age of 15 in 1897. He went bankrupt in 1916 and died at his home in 1921 of “general paralysis of the insane.” He is buried at Shaare Sholem Cemetery. 702 – From 1961, this was the final location of Joe Optican’s Jewelry Co. Beginning in the 1930s, it had occupied several sites across the street (see below for more information). In 1965, they added a location at East Hills Mall. Joseph Optican was a diamond salesman from New York, who relocated to St. Joseph when he married Lillian Rosenthal. Joe Optican died in 1958 and his wife Lillian took over the company. When she died in 1971, their son Dick took the reigns (Joe and Lillian are buried at Shaare Sholem). Optican’s closed in 1991. 606-608 – Carl Lohr operated a saloon here, “Lohr’s Place” in around the turn of the 20th century. The Gazette described it in 1897: “Mr. Lohr in short conducts one of the best and most pleasant resorts in St. Joseph. He makes a specialty of fine goods and his wines and liquors are the best which money can purchase. When it comes to beer he is famed from one part of the city to the other, for his beer is always just right. He only disposes the famous Schlitz beer, and it is always in prime condition. He handles the best of imported and domestic cigars and no one who once patronizes him fails to return a second time. In addition, he serves the finest lunch in the city and in a style to please the most fastidious. One reason that his place is so popular is that nothing but the best of everything is served and the service and treatment is of the class that gentlemen appreciate.” Lohr committed suicide in 1911 by drinking carbolic acid (though the press stated that he died of apoplexy). He is buried in Kansas City.604 – Many of the Jewish community undertook businesses associated with the clothing industry. From the late 1880s to the 1890s, Harry Cohn had his tailor shop here until he moved to 708 Edmond in 1895. Cohn was naturalized at the Buchanan County Courthouse in 1888. In 1910, an article appeared in the News-Press detailing the search by Cohn’s brother-in-law (who lived in New York City) for Cohn.600-602 – United Department Store leased this building that had previously been the Townsend Ueberrhein Clothing Company in 1932. Isaac Rositzky was president of the new company that was a staple for grand shopping in St. Joseph for 56 years, closing in 1987. The business was a family affair, Isaac’s son Simon was Vice-President when it opened and took over leadership when his father died in 1948 and continued in that role until the closing of the store. Simon was a much beloved figure in the city for his civic engagement and philanthropy. He died in 1999Located in the United Department Store was the optometry practice of Dr. Jacob Saferstein. Nate and Adele Saferstein operated the jewelry counter in the store.522- Isaac and Lena Lowenberg operated a fairly nomadic millinery enterprise: between 1890 and 1921 they were located here (1921), 418 Felix (1890), 718 Francis, and in 503-505 Felix. Isaac immigrated to the United States in 1876. Settling first in New York where he married, in 1880 he and his wife moved to St. Joseph. He died in 1924.502—Einbender’s was one of the grand clothing stores that graced downtown. The store was founded by A.J. (Abraham) Einbender and his wife Sylvia. They began their retail career with a grocery store after J.J. returned from the First World War. In order to increase business Sylvia suggested that they add dresses to the inventory. It was not until after their store at 8th and Locust burned in 1957 that the store moved to this location. They acquired the Orpheum Theater and razed it in order to provide parking. They put the metal cladding on the outside of the building in order to give it a more modern appearance. A.J. died unexpectedly in 1959, never living to see the grand reopening in this location. In 1988, Einbender’s closed its doors.Cross Felix Street503 – In 1900 this was one of the sites of the Lowenberg Millinery enterprise (see 522 for more information)513 – In 1909 Samuel Kahn sold hats here. Kahn was born in St. Joseph in 1871 (his father was from Germany and his mother from Baltimore). He died in 1934 and is buried at Adath Joseph. While here, Kahn became embroiled in a nasty dispute over the erection of a “bridge” over the sidewalk on the northwest corner of 6th and Felix where the Block Brothers were building their store (521-525).515-517 – From 1895 until the 1920s, this was the site of Lehman Brothers Dry Goods store. The brothers were William, Julius, and Maurice Lehman who came to St. Joseph in 1898; William was born in Memphis but educated in Germany before initially going into business in New York. William died in 1905 and is buried at Adath Joseph. After William’s death, the business continued under the leadership of Maurice who eventually sold out in 1925.521-525 – Block Building. Built in 1909 to house the large Block Brothers Clothing Store. The construction of this structure caused a bit of a sensation as it was of steel and advertised as being fireproof. The Block Brothers were Harry, Ellsworth, Samuel, and Nathan. The Blocks came to St. Joseph in 1890 and the father of the family, Jacob, purchased a clothing store on the northwest corner of 5th and Felix and changed the name to Block Brothers. Samuel and Nathan eventually left the business and it was carried on by Harry and Ellsworth. The Block Brothers continued at this site until 1932 when it was taken over by the Plymouth Clothing Co. Ellsworth died in 1933; Harry died in 1953. The family is buried in the Block Mausoleum at Adath Joseph.701-711 is now Coleman Hawkins/Felix St. Park. In 1902 F.W. Woolworth Co. purchased a small building on the northeast corner of 7th and Felix (it was located at the Felix St. entrance for the Y.W.C.A. building). In 1904, Woolworth’s agreed to erect a building on the site 40 feet wide and 118 feet deep. In 1907 they expanded to a frontage of approximately 60 feet and the Pennant cafeteria was opened on the second floor.709 – In the early 1930s this was home to Joe Optican Jewelers. They opened their jewelry store here in 1929, but business increased so much that they relocated to 721 Felix. Business continued to boom and they moved again to 725 Felix and in 1961 they opened their final downtown location at 702 (see 702 above for more information).711 – In 1909 this storefront was occupied by Bernhard Newburger’s millinery shop before he moved to 718 Felix that year.715 – In 1884, this was the location of Harry Cohen’s tailor shop (see 604 above for more information.725—This was one of the locations of Joe Optican’s Jewelry Co. (see 702 and 709 above for more information.
