Tag

While there is little information on the Fargo Hebrew Congregation, it was the first Orthodox Jewish temple in Fargo. On July 6, 1886 William Giles, Abraham Rubel, and David Mezirow incorporated the temple, however it did not open its doors until 1906 and it took two years to complete the building.  The synagogue was built across from Island Park on First Street. Until it opened, the congregation held services in the

Listen to Ms. Woodward, as narrated by Dr. Ineke Justitz, by clicking the play button below. Mary Dodge Woodward speaks Mary Dodge Woodward was well informed for someone living in the isolated Dakota territory. In the two excerpts read by Dr. Justitz, Mary discusses the weather in the Dakota territory and the surrounding environment as well as solicitations and politics. She mentions the grain elevators resembling Ba

Fargo’s First Christmas Tree   In 1873 the people of Fargo went to church services in Moorhead as a church had not been established.  As the people of Fargo believed that the Christmas tree being planned for in Moorhead was more for the children of that church they decided to have their own.  Two trees were sent for but were stolen mid route.  It was decided that the men from Moorhead that were suspected o

~ Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest The domestic sphere was the responsibility of the women within the Jewish community, and this included child rearing and keeping a kosher home.  Women had to make sure that the food they were buying did not contain food that was treyf, or unfit to eat.  This meant making sure that all meat was butchered according to the church’s regulations and was kosher.  They

Historically, women in the West were portrayed in a stereotypical manner: they were either the unwilling followers of husbands who were seeking wealth and adventure, or the rebellious Annie Oakley types or brothel operators. The reality of women’s lives in the West is entirely different. Mary Dodge Woodward helped her son manage her cousin’s farm by maintaining the household. She cooked for up to 30 peopl