Title
AGOODAS ACHIM CONGREGATION
Creator
Herbert Aaron Mackoff Submitted By Ruth Mackoff Shapiro
Coverage
TOWNSHIP 139N RANGE 96W
Text
AGOODAS ACHIM CONGREGATION
During the late 80's and the 90's, there were very few Jews settled in that part of North Dakota known as the Slope Area, which consists of some 12 counties in the southwestern corner of the State. There were hardly enough in that area to make a minyon (at least 10 people). As their number increased it was only natural that they would be thinking of congregating at some central point for the observance of the services for the High Holidays. Dickinson, being centrally located, was the most logical point for them to congregate.
We have no definite records, but we learn that sometime during the late 90's, or early in 1900, the Jews from the surrounding towns began to gather at Dickinson during the High Holidays for the holding of services. At first, such were held in the homes of individuals. Services were at times held in the homes of Naphtali Bran, Osias Schwartz, Harry Singer, and others. Later, as the Jewish population increased and the homes became insufficient to accommodate the people who congregated during such holidays, it became the custom to rent a hall of some sort where the services were conducted. At first, one of their own number would conduct the services, but as the membership in the congregation increased and prospered a cantor would be imported, usually from the Twin Cities, to conduct the services. The evenings of the closing of the holidays were generally celebrated with a party and dance.
By 1916 the Jewish community had prospered sufficiently in numbers and wealth to where it was deemed advisable to acquire a site and to erect a synagogue. Consequently a committee was appointed to bring about the incorporation of the congregation, to select a site, and to erect a temple. A charter was issued by the State of North Dakota on June 1st, 1916 to this congregation, under the name of Dickinson Agoodas Achim Congregation (Dickinson, Stark County, N.D.). Twenty persons were named as the charter members in such charter issued by the State. Soon a site was selected and the Synagogue erected at a cost of about $5,000 and was sufficient to accommodate between 150 to 200 persons. The building was constructed by Herman Kapelowitz, a member of the congregation, engaged in the contracting business at Dickinson.
Mr. Nathan Mininberg was most active in bringing about the organization and incorporation of the temple. He and Jacob Halpern, Naphtali Bram, and Osias Schwartz, were among its first officers.
From the time of the incorporation in 1916 until about 1920, the attendance gradually increased to a point where about 125 persons would attend during the High Holiday services. From about 1920 the financial condition of many of the Jews residing in the Slope Area became poorer, and as a result many of them gradually moved away, so that in 1930 the attendance had fallen off to the point where there were not very many more than enough to make a minyon, or slightly more. This number gradually decreased, so that in 1935 services were discontinued because of the lack of enough people to conduct the services. Many of them that had heretofore attended the Dickinson Synagogue found it more convenient to go to Bismarck, where a new temple had been erected and a much larger congregation existed.
There being an insufficient number of Jews in Dickinson and the surrounding territory at the present time to be able to hold services, it was felt by the few remaining Jews that it would be advisable to dispose of the property before it becomes deteriorated by disuse. The few remaining Jews now contemplate a sale of the synagogue and to distribute the proceeds by giving a substantial portion to the temple at Bismarck and the balance to be divided among the various charitable and relief organizations. The furniture, seats and Torahs have already been delivered to the congregation at Bismarck.
By Herbert Aaron Mackoff Submitted By Ruth Mackoff Shapiro
During the late 80's and the 90's, there were very few Jews settled in that part of North Dakota known as the Slope Area, which consists of some 12 counties in the southwestern corner of the State. There were hardly enough in that area to make a minyon (at least 10 people). As their number increased it was only natural that they would be thinking of congregating at some central point for the observance of the services for the High Holidays. Dickinson, being centrally located, was the most logical point for them to congregate.
We have no definite records, but we learn that sometime during the late 90's, or early in 1900, the Jews from the surrounding towns began to gather at Dickinson during the High Holidays for the holding of services. At first, such were held in the homes of individuals. Services were at times held in the homes of Naphtali Bran, Osias Schwartz, Harry Singer, and others. Later, as the Jewish population increased and the homes became insufficient to accommodate the people who congregated during such holidays, it became the custom to rent a hall of some sort where the services were conducted. At first, one of their own number would conduct the services, but as the membership in the congregation increased and prospered a cantor would be imported, usually from the Twin Cities, to conduct the services. The evenings of the closing of the holidays were generally celebrated with a party and dance.
By 1916 the Jewish community had prospered sufficiently in numbers and wealth to where it was deemed advisable to acquire a site and to erect a synagogue. Consequently a committee was appointed to bring about the incorporation of the congregation, to select a site, and to erect a temple. A charter was issued by the State of North Dakota on June 1st, 1916 to this congregation, under the name of Dickinson Agoodas Achim Congregation (Dickinson, Stark County, N.D.). Twenty persons were named as the charter members in such charter issued by the State. Soon a site was selected and the Synagogue erected at a cost of about $5,000 and was sufficient to accommodate between 150 to 200 persons. The building was constructed by Herman Kapelowitz, a member of the congregation, engaged in the contracting business at Dickinson.
Mr. Nathan Mininberg was most active in bringing about the organization and incorporation of the temple. He and Jacob Halpern, Naphtali Bram, and Osias Schwartz, were among its first officers.
From the time of the incorporation in 1916 until about 1920, the attendance gradually increased to a point where about 125 persons would attend during the High Holiday services. From about 1920 the financial condition of many of the Jews residing in the Slope Area became poorer, and as a result many of them gradually moved away, so that in 1930 the attendance had fallen off to the point where there were not very many more than enough to make a minyon, or slightly more. This number gradually decreased, so that in 1935 services were discontinued because of the lack of enough people to conduct the services. Many of them that had heretofore attended the Dickinson Synagogue found it more convenient to go to Bismarck, where a new temple had been erected and a much larger congregation existed.
There being an insufficient number of Jews in Dickinson and the surrounding territory at the present time to be able to hold services, it was felt by the few remaining Jews that it would be advisable to dispose of the property before it becomes deteriorated by disuse. The few remaining Jews now contemplate a sale of the synagogue and to distribute the proceeds by giving a substantial portion to the temple at Bismarck and the balance to be divided among the various charitable and relief organizations. The furniture, seats and Torahs have already been delivered to the congregation at Bismarck.
By Herbert Aaron Mackoff Submitted By Ruth Mackoff Shapiro