Friday, August 7, 194
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Six
The History of the Jews in Michiga
Growth of Coinmunities in Our State, Dating Back to the
Trading Posts in Eighteenth Century
M
ICHIGAN, one of the east north central states
of the United States, with a population of
5,256,106 (census of 1940), includes about 95,000 Jews
(1942). Most of these, about 85,000, live in Detroit and
about 1,800 in Flint and 1,700 in Grand Rapids (the
three cities are the subjects of special articles in the
Universal Jewish Encyclopedio); the rest, about 6,500
live in the other cities and elsewhere in the state.
Jewish traders were probably among the first ar-
rivals at the trading posts along the Great Lakes. AL
the time of Pontiac's conspiracy (1763), two Jews,
Levy and Chapman, were captured by the Indians.
Ezekiel Solomon of Montreal is listed among the trad-
ers at Fort Michilimackinac (Mackinac) from 1763
until 1816. He was one of the few who escaped the
massacre of the British garrison by the Indians in 1763.
The jurat to his affidavit for use before the military
court of inquiry into the massacre omits the phrase
"sworn before me on the Holy Evangelist,"- used in
the other affidavits taken before the same officer; it
reads merely "Sworn, etc." Although he did not sign
the two petitions to the governor of Canada asking
that a Roman Catholic missionary be sent to the post,
his name is among those who volunteered to contribute
to the support of the missionary. Levy Solomons of
Montreal, who may have been related to Ezekiel Solo-
mon, was also a trader at Mackinac. William Solomons,
supposed to have been the son of Ezekiel Solomon by
an Indian woman, is listed as an official interpreter
at the post until 1816.
During the War of 1812, Jacob Franks, one of the
Franks of Montreal, was a resident of Mackinac. With
three others, he was appointed in 1814 to inventory
two captured schooners. When the English surrendered
Mackinac, after the war. his house was among several
pillaged. His nephew John Lave, was a lieutenant in
the force that had defended the fort against the
Americans.
Jews began to settle in Michigan during the late
1840's together with other immigrants from Germany,
Austria, and Hungary. Washtenaw County was then
the best county of the state for farm stock, wool and
hides. Many of the farmers, also recent immigrants,
were German, and here the German and Austrian Jews
found the language of their native land and a place
where they could earn a living as peddlers or crafts-
men until they could establish themselves as merchants
and manufacturers. Many of the Jews who settled later
in Detroit came from Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti in
Washtenaw County. In the 1870's, Jewish communities
were established in Grand Rapids and Bay City, and,
in the next decade, in Alpena, Benton Itarbor, and
Traverse City. All five cities were flourishing centers of
the lumbering business.
•
• •
T THE END of the 19th century and the beginning
of the 20th, most of the Jewish immigrants to
the United States were from Eastern Europe. Not all
of these turned to trade or manufacture on the eastern
border. Several attempts were made to organize
agricultural colonies in Michigan. The first, called the
Palestine Colony, was established at Bad Axe in 1891.
The colony, although assisted by the Hebrew Relief
Society of Detroit and other organizations, disbanded
after four years. In 1933 Sunrise Colony was estab-
lished in Alicia near Saginaw but after three years
this, too, was disbanded. Many of the later immigrants
were Orthodox (as indeed most of the earlier immi-
grants had been at first) and established Orthodox
congregations. In 1939, the Michigan Synagogue Con-
ference of Orthodox Congregations was formed at
Detroit. •
The Bad Axe Palestine Colony project, although it
did not survive a decade, was a most interesting experi-
ment: It was encouraged by a group of Detroiters under
the leadership of the late Martin Butzel, father of Leo
and Emma Butzel and uncle of State Supreme Court
Justice Henry M. Butzel and Fred M. Butzel.
About seventy of the cities or townships of Michi-
gan had more than 10 Jews in 1942 and about 90 places
less than 10.
Adrian (population 14,230, census of 1940), with the
present population of about 25 Jews, had two Jewish
residents before 1850, Solomon and Andrew Freedman.
They removed afterwards to Detroit.
Alpena (population 12,808, census of 1940) with
about 35 Jews, has a Reform congregation, Temple
Beth El, organized in 1884. The synagogue was dedi-
cated in 1888 and remodeled in 1926. The first resident
rabbi was J. Buchalter (1888).
Ann Arbor (population 29,815, census of 1940), with
about 300 Jews, had a number of Jewish residents
before 1850. Among the first were five brothers, Solo-
mon, Moses, Leopold, Marcus, and Jacob Weil from
Bohemia. Solomon settled in Ann Arbor in 1843 and
the others afterwards. Leopold Weil and Judah Sittig
tried farming and so did Moses Weil and another
Bohemian Jew, Woodel, but all gave it up after a
A
year or so. Charles Fantle came to Ann Arbor from
EDITOR'S NOTE: This history of the Jews in
Michigan is one of the feature articles in the
seventh volume of the Universal Jewish Encyclo-
pedia, which came off the press last week. It was
written by Philip Slomovitz, editor of The Jewish
News.
This history does not include the historical
articles on Detroit, Flint and Grand Rapids, which
appear in other volumes of Universal Jewish
Encyclopedia.
'
Bohemia in 1848. Other Jewish residents in Ann Arbor
or the neighboring city of Ypsilanti (population 12,121,
census of 1940, including about 50 Jews) before 1850
were: Isaac Altman, Solomon Bendit, Charles, Adolph,
and Louis Bresler, with their father, Leo Bresler, the
Fantes brothers, one Feder, one Hayman, Adam Hersch,
and Moses Rindskopf. Goodkind, the Guiterman
brothers, and Solomon Sondheim probably came after
1850. Charles Bresler lived in Ypsilanti where he
bought horses for shipment east. Like many others of
the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti community, he later settled
in Detroit.
The Weil brothers were Orthodox Jews and con-
ducted religious services-said to be the first Minyanim
held in Michigan'-from 1845 on. A burial ground was
acquired in 1848 or 1849. But it was not until 1920
that a congregation was organized. In that year Beth
Israel (Orthodox) was formed. A synagogue was
dedicated in 1927. The first resident rabbi was Pincus
Gropstein (1915-18). In 1940 the rabbi was Isaac J.
Goldman.
The University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, has
a number of Jewish members on the faculty, among
others: Moses Gomberg, professor emeritus of chemis-
try; Isaiah L. Sharfman, chairman of the department
of economics; Samuel A. Goudsmit, physicist; Reuben
L. Kahn, bacteriologist; and Nathan Sinai, professor of
hygiene and public health.
Dr. William Haber of Ann Arbor was state emer-
gency relief administrator in 1936. In 1939 he became
executive director of the National Refugee Service
and served until 1941. He was special assistant to the
United States Director of the Budget in 1942, on leave
from the University of Michigan, where he had been
professor of economics.
Rabbi Jehuda Cohen is the director of the Hillel
Foundation of Bnai Brith at the University of Michi-
gan.
Osias Zwerdling is one of the outstanding figures in
Ann Arbor Jewry, having been prominent in local
and national Jewish affairs for more than two decades.
Au Sable township (population 309, census of 1940)
had an Orthodox congregation from 1874 on. A Presby-
terian church was bought and remodeled in 1885 for
a synagogue. But a fire which destroyed the syna-
gogue caused the congregation to disband in 1911.
Selig Solomon (d. 1935) was mayor of Au Sable city
(annexed to Au Sable township in 1931).
Battle Creek (population 43,453, census of 1940),
with about 250 Jews, has two congregations, the Jewish
Center of Battle Creek (Orthodox) and Congregation
Beth-El (Reform). The Jewish Center was organized
in 1935. The first resident rabbi was Manuel Green-
stein (1935-38); the rabbi now is William B. Silverman.
Memorial Park Cemetery for the Jewish community
was organized in 1939.
Bay City (population 47,956, census of 1940) has
about 800 Jews (1942). Congregation Anshe Chesed
(Reform) was organized in the 1870's. Its synagogue ;
dedicated in 1892, was remodeled in 1922. The first
resident rabbi was Wolf Landau who served from
1878 until 1903. Congregation Shaary Zedek (Orth
dox) was organized in 1899. Its synagogue, dedicat
in 1899, was remodeled in 1915 and again in 1934.
first rabbi was Joseph Taub who served from 18
until 1914. The present rabbi is Mendel Glan
Another Orthodox congregation, Temple Abraham, w
organized in 1914. The first resident rabbi was Samu
Lite (1914-15). The rabbi in 1940 was Pierce Ames. T
present spiritual leader is Rabbi Leon W. Rosenber
Bay City has several Jewish cemeteries: Bnai Brit
organized in 1878 by Anshe Chesed Congregatio
Shaary Zedek, organized in 1884; and Chevra Kadish
organized in 1890. The Northeastern Michigan Jewi
Welfare Federation (including Alpena and other co
munities), organized in 1940, has its offices in B
City. William Hellerman was attorney of Bay Coun
in 1936.
Benton Harbor (population 16,668, census of 194
has about 900 Jews (1942). Congregation Bnai Isra
(Conservative) was organized in 1882. Its third s
gogue was dedicated in 1923. The first resident ra
was Abraham Schmidt (1889-92). The rabbi in 1
was Moses A. Schwab. Congregation Ahavath Sh
(Orthodox) was organized in 1912. The first resid
rabbi was Simon Hyman who served from 1912
1919. The rabbi in 1940 was Abraham J. Tuckm
Bnai Israel Cemetery was organized in 1900. Shaar
Shalom Cemetery was organized in 1919.
Hancock (population 5,554, census of 1940), wi
about 40 Jews (1942), has an Orthodox body, Co
gregation of Israel, organized in 1913. The synago
was dedicated that year.
Iron Mountain (population 11,080, census of 194
with about 90 Jews (1942), also has an Orthod
congregation, Anshai Knesseth, organized in 1908. 1
synagogue was dedicated in 1910. The first rabbi w
J. Pasten who served from 1907 until 1915. The rab
in 1940 was Lawrence DaM.
Jackson (population 49,656, census of 1940), has
Jewish community of about 200. Temple Beth El
form) was originally an Orthodox congregation, o
ganized in, 1859 as Beth Israel. It was reorganized as
Reform congregation under its present name in I
Services of the old Orthodox congregation were
held in the homes of Jacob Hirsch and Henry La
Both, and perhaps Joseph Hanau, were residents
Jackson before 1850. The first synagogue, a chur
purchased from the Congregationalists, was dedicat
in 1864. In 1905 a Lutheran church was purchas
moved to the present site and dedicated as a sy
gogue. The first resident rabbi was M. Wetterh
(1864). The present rabbi of Beth El is Berna
Zeiger, native Detroiter. Temple Beth Israel Cemete
was organized in 1860. The first interment, howcve
had taken place the year before. The. Jewish Feder
Lion in Jackson, supporting local social services as we
as national and overseas welfare programs, was o
ganized in 1937.
Harry Hirschman was city treasurer of Jacks
in 1933.
Kalamazoo (population of 54,097, census of - 194
has a Jewish community of about 400. Mannes Isra
who had been born in Pyrmont, Germany, settled •
Kalamazoo about 1846. Another early Jewish reside
of Kalamazoo was Emil Friedman from Bavar'
Israel's son, Edward, lost his life as a member
Lieutenant Adolphus W. Greely's polar expeditio
(1881-84) of which he was mathematician and astro
omer. Congregation Bene Israel (Reform) w
organized in 1865. The first services were held in
home of a Mr. Rosenberg. The first synagogue w
dedicated in 1872, and a second in 1911. The
resident rabbi of Bene Israel was Jacob Epstein w
served from 1872 to 1875; the rabbi in 1942 w
Philip F. Waterman.
Congregation of Moses (Orthodox) was organiz
in 1886. Services were held at first in the home of
Goldstein. Its synagogue was dedicated in 1906 a
enlarged in 1939. The first resident religious lead
was Rabbi Rosnick who served from 1886 until 1
the rabbi in 1940 was Herman Price. Congregation
Moses Cemetery was organized in 1891.
Samuel Folz was mayor of Kalamazoo in 1903.
was afterwards appointed postmaster (1916).
Lansing (population of 78,753, census of 1940), ca
tal of the state, has a Jewish community of ab
500. Henry and Emanuel Lederer, who came fro
Bohemia and had first settled at Ann Arbor in 184
moved to Lansing after two years and established
general store, a tannery, and a soap factory. Con:
gation Shaarey Zedek (Conservative) was organ'
in 1918. Its synagogue, the second belonging to
congregation, was dedicated in 1932. The first reside
rabbi was Herman Price (1932-34); the rabbi in 1
was Arthur Zuckerman. Rabbi Morris Applebaum
the present spiritual leader. In 1898 Mount Ho
Cemetery was organized. The Federated Jewish Ch
ities of Lansing was organized in 1939.
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