10 Friday, August 26, 1977

THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

Alpena Jews Celebrate 100 Years as an Organized Community

Alpena's Jewish commu-
nity celebrated its 100th an-
niversary as an organized
community at the end of
July with a special service
of re-dedication at Alpena's
Temple Beth-El, a commu-
nity-wide open house and a
congregational dinner.
• According • to the north-

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23125 Coolidge, Oak Park

eastern Michigan commu-
nity's records, Jews were
among the earliest Alpena
residents. Many arrived
after the Civil War and es-
tablished stores in the com-
munity.
Emil Malsh was the first
Jew to come to Alpena, and
opened a saloon. A strong
temperance movement less-
ened his enthusiasm, how-
ever, and he went into the
clothing business.
Other early Jewish set-
tlers included Carl Kosit-
chek, Casper Albern, Judah
Cohen. and Jacob Levyn.
In 1875 the Jews founded

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•

the Hebrew Benevolent So-
ciety, and soon after pro-
cured a burial ground off
what is now M-32. Nine Jew-
ish children were buried
there before the turn of the
century.
In 1876 a committee was
formed to draft bylaws for
the organization and to care
for the sick. But the Jews
were not an official congre-
gation until 1877, when
members acquired a Sefer
Torah and shofar.
Worship services began
at the home of Julius
Myers, then were trans-
ferred to a rented building
in the Whitney block at Sec-
ond and Chisholm.
Thirteen years later the
congregation found a home.
Members purchased the
Spratt property at 125
White for use as a temple.
The building had been used
by a religious sect called
the Perfectionists, but ac-
counts indicate the sect was
forced to disband when its
minister was expelled from
town for "gross immora-
lity."
The congregation was
originally called Beit Tefil-
lah, but was later renamed
Beth-El.
From 1870-1904 the Jew-
ish community, like the
rest of Alpena, grew. An in-
dividual or married couple
would move to Alpena, es-
tablish a business, then
send for friends and rela-
tives to help them get estab-
lished.
In 1907 a Ladies Ben-
evolent Society was found-
ed, supplementing the Hebr-
ew Benevolent Society and
the activities at the temple.
The temple was only
opened to "mixed seating"
in the 1890s. Before that,
women had been segr-
egated and allowed to sit in
only a section of the
temple.
The revolutionary move
to allow mixed seating may
have been a result of a
schism that occurred in the
1890s. The Jews split into
two congregations—one Or-
thodox and one Reform.
The
infighting
lasted
beyond 1910. Eventually the
congregation became what
it is today—a congregation
of tradition but of basic re-
formist doctrine.
Until 1910, the Jewish
community retained its size
and several fulltime rabbis

were brought in to serve Jews have also been active Voters and on the board of
the temple.
in the League of Women trustees of Alpena Hospital.
From World War I
through the end of World
War II, the Jewish commu-
nity consisted of 25-30 fami-
lies. Rabbinic students
were brought in to serve
the congregation during the
High Holidays.
An active Bnai Brith chap-
ter existed for many years,
though efforts to organize
and maintain a Hebrew
school were sporadic and
unsuccessful. ,
Since 1943 a rabbinic stu-
dent has been brought to Al-
pena for the entire sum-
mer. Since the 50s, how-
ever, the Jewish commu-
nity has been shrinking.
Most Jewish children who
grow up in Alpena leave for
Rabbi Melanie Aron of Temple Beth-El in Alpena is
advanced education and do
shown with the congregation's Holy Ark.
not come back.
But the Jews who have re-
mained have been a vital
tet
part of the community, par-
ticipating in civic, social,
and cultural affairs. The
first Jew to serve in public
office was Casper Alpern,
who served as a city coun-
cilman during the years
1895-97.
la more recent years, Isa-
dore Isackson, Maynard
Cohen, and Carola Cohn
have served on the school
board. Harold Kessler, J.A.
Ramsey, Stuart Cohn and
Harvey Tonken have all
served the community as
physicians. Jewish teachers
have included Molly Stone,
Gertrude Isackson, Lois Fi-
venson, Julia and Rebecca
Myers, Barbara Enelow,
Leah Lowenstein, and Je-
rome Alpern.
Jews have been active
members of various frater-
nal organizations including
the Masons and Elks and
have been involved in City
Band, City Orchestra, and
other cultural endeavors.
Temple Beth-El in Alpena

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This stained glass window decorates the ,rear of Alpena's Temple Beth-El.

