Many of his photographs are also featured in the book, Tulsa Art Deco (Gambling and Halpern, 2001), published by the Tulsa Foundation for Architecture. These communities diminished as families gradually moved homes and businesses to the thriving metropolis of Tulsa, which This developed rapidly, and by 1903, regular services were in progress there. Jews have been important on America's commercial frontier, and early Jewish settlers in Oklahoma were small-town merchants, such as the Sondheimers of Muskogee, the Levites of Apache, and the Daubes and Westheimers of Ardmore. 405-848-0965 http://www.thetempleokc.org/, Emanuel Synagogue, OKC (Conservative) Established 1904 President Firestone., Wayne L. Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life Leadership Profiles . This number has dwindled to three Reform congregations located in Muskogee, Ponca City, and Seminole, with congregational membership between fourteen and twenty-two people. Oklahoma Jews urbanized more rapidly than the rest of the population. Consequently, a hearty pioneer spirit has dominated, and continues to characterize, Oklahomas Jewish population, as it does most cultural groups in the state. 8 Sep. 2009. Hillel at The University of Oklahoma offers opportunities to create Shabbat experiences every week! About 8.2% of the total population is Jewish American. $200 sends one girl to school for a year. All these factors reinforced a feeling of endless possibilities for Americas innovative experiment in democracy. Like other parts of Oklahoma, Jews were sparse in number in this flat, barren backwoods. An avid traveler, experienced teacher of photography, prolific writer and a consultant on photographic issues, Halpern has served eleven times as a National Park artist-in-residencefour times at Rocky Mountain National Park (Colorado), twice each at Bryce Canyon National Park (Utah), Black Canyon of the Gunnison (Colorado), and Glacier National Park (Montana), and once at Acadia National Park (Maine). Following Sondheimer, other Jewish merchants progressively moved to Muskogee, and over time, the small group of independent entrepreneurs developed into a close community. Next comes Binghamton University, University at Albany, California State University, Michigan State University, Arizona State University, Florida International University, York University, Florida State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Arizona University. Other Jewish organizations, such as the fraternal order Bnai Brith and the National Council of Jewish Women were also active in Oklahoma. Many other Jewish settlers moved into smaller towns in the eastern part of the Territory, although they were isolated from each other and had trouble assembling congregations since they lacked the essential requirement of numbers. Visit Website. One example was Civil War veteran Boggy Johnson, generally considered the first Jew in Indian Territory. By statehood in 1907, that number grew to about 1,000. Through the ages, Jewish individuals and communities have relocated from country to country as political and religious movements persecuted and banished them. 2008 The Gale Group. They located next door to their good friend Marinus Godschalk, who opened the first clothing store in Enid in 1893. Many early Jewish settlers during the territorial and early statehood days were merchants, such as the Sondheimers of Muskogee, the Levites of Apache, the Katzes of Stillwater, as well as the Daubes and Westheimers of Ardmore. from Oklahoma City University School of Law, and was admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 1970. in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma, a J.D. 580-221-2593, Fort Sill National Cemetery Fulfill scanning and student data upload procedures for the office. Under general direction, the Application Analyst I for Epic is responsible for configuring, documenting, testing, modifying and maintaining software applications. Due to the Holocaust, this number was reduced to 11 million by 1945. We share these figures chiefly because were concerned about the declining number of Jewish students at Ivy League schools, a topic we recently touched upon and intend to revisit in the weeks to come. Considering that Jews constitute a mere one-tenth of one percent of Oklahomas population, their contribution to the state is staggering. The Eastern European Orthodox dominance also accounted for Tulsas emergence as a center of Zionist dialogue, as opposed to Oklahoma City, where, before the establishment of the State of Israel, Jews were more divided on the matter (Faulk, 1949). However, the completion of the Santa Fe Railroad signaled the beginning of robust growth in commerce and economic development, which attracted individuals from a variety of religious and ethnic backgrounds. Oklahoma Demographics According to the most recent ACS, the racial composition of Oklahoma was: White: 71.15% Two or more races: 8.73% Native American: 7.69% Black or African American: 7.29% Other race: 2.78% Asian: 2.20% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander: 0.16% Oklahoma Population History Although he never again sought political office, he did support many candidates in their political endeavors. As one native gentile business leader commented, Without a doubt, per capita, the Jews have contributed overwhelmingly more to Oklahoma than any other single group of people. From the states origins, these individuals and institutions have been a vital part of its social fabric. Founded in 1966 by Tulsa Jewish families, the Museum, which also serves as the Jewish Historical Society of Oklahoma, houses the largest collection of Jewish art in the Southwest and was established for the purpose of helping the local Jewish community better understand its own heritage while helping others learn more about Jewish culture and history. IMMIGRATION, RELIGION, SETTLEMENT PATTERNS. Weve got the rankings for our readers. If you are looking to ascertain how many are still alive that were physically affected by the Nazi regime, the latest stats I saw mentioned between 2 and 3 hundred thousand 8 More answers below Rebecca S Married to a very sweet Oklahoman. Since reaching their nadir, both cities' Jewish populations have grown. A significant contribution to the state was the University of Oklahoma-Tulsa Schusterman Center, located in the heart of mid-town Tulsa. 22 Sep. 2009 . Oklahoma City, OK 73170 In 1890, the Jewish population of Oklahoma Territory was estimated to be about 100 people. To early settlers, Oklahomas frontier had many appealing characteristics, including adventure, opportunity, and freedom from the urbanizing effects of the Industrial Revolution. [66][67] According to one report there are six Jews left in Yemen: one woman; her brother; 3 others, and Levi Salem Marahbi (who had been imprisoned for helping smuggle a Torah scroll out of Yemen). However, unlike the Lost City of Gold, which Coronado was hoping to discover in the area, this treasure was not yellow in color, but black and located deep in Oklahoma soil. The Night of the Broken Glass, open violence in Germany, Czech, and Sudetenland. Unlike many American regions, Oklahoma did not attract many Jewish immigrants directly; early settlers were likely to have resided elsewhere in the United States, often for considerable periods of time. Albert Lowenstein and Joseph Weiss were respectively the first President and Secretary, and in 1914, Ira Sanders became the first student rabbi to lead High Holy Day services. We would love to hear from you! Discrepant views exist as to whether the depot was named after Boggy or vice versa (Halpern, 2009). To stake their claims, homesteaders poured into the federal frontier from across this country and even from those of Poland, Germany, Ireland and Slavic nations. Our Hillel also offers services and meals on all major Jewish holidays. With nearly 6.8 million Jews, Israel is the only Jewish-majority country and the only explicitly Jewish state. By 1900, the population in the Oklahoma City area had more than doubled, and out of those early tent cities, a metropolis was born. Another early arrival, Sam Daube, landed in America in 1877 as a poor immigrant boy who worked for $1.50 a week in an eastern cigar factory. University of Pennsylvania, Brandeis University, University of Hartford, Columbia University, Next comes Northwestern University, Tufts University, Emory University, Northeastern University, and Vanderbilt University. Phil has traced his family back to the 1700s in Lithuania and Belarus and in June of this year published his first book of a series titled A Page of History.. Since reaching their nadir, both cities' Jewish populations have grown. Some Jews, especially in the oil business, succeeded in the long-term in Oklahoma's historically boom-and-bust economy. The Jewish population in 2001 was about 5,000 out of a general population of 3,453,000. Almost 547,000 are part of this ethnoreligious group, making up 6.1% of the states total population. 918-682-0331, Emanuel Hebrew Oklahoma City, OK 73118 The full-time University of Oklahoma undergraduate population is made up of 52% women, and 48% men. Henry J. Tobias, The Jews in Oklahoma (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1980). However, many were primarily dependent on the commercial climate. [1] The Jewish DataBank figures are primarily based on national censuses combined with trend analysis. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage. As of 2020, the world's "core" Jewish population (those identifying as Jews above all else) was estimated at 15 million, 0.2% of the 8 billion worldwide population. About 53% of full-time grad students are women, and 47% men. Ardmore, OK 73401 Oklahoma City, which includes the University of Oklahoma at Norman, has three synagogues: Conservative, Reform, and Chabad, as well as a mikveh and a Jewish population of some 2,600 people. By statehood in 1907, that number grew to about 1,000. Thank you very much for your message, which we will forward to the authors for them to include in the next revision of the article, something we plan to do regularly. As their population began to grow in an environment devoid of established traditions and convention, their ethnic identity depended on the establishment of time-honored institutions to nourish and preserve their heritage. [1] In 2003, 2,300 Jews resided in Oklahoma City and 2,600 in Tulsa. Wilson, Terry P. The Cart That Changed the World: The Career of Sylvan N. Web. A 56-year-old woman has been charged after an 18-year-old Indiana University student repeatedly was stabbed in the head on a public bus in an attack the school says was because the victim is Asian. 580-765-5898http://congregations.urj.org/detail.cfm?id=C548, Seminole Hebrew Center, Seminole (Reform) Established during the 1920s From Shtetl to Sooner State: Celebrating Oklahomas Jewish History. Musenews. In 1890, the Jewish population of Oklahoma Territory was estimated to be about 100 people. Green Group to Locate at TU. Tulsa World 11 Mar. Chronicles of Oklahoma 17.4 (1939). However, history does point to the fact that Jewish pioneers were not only among the homesteaders but were already present in Indian Territory at the time of the Great Oklahoma Land Rush of the 1880s. Copyright to all articles and other content in the online and print versions of The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History is held by the Oklahoma Historical Society (OHS). Ed Harris, What a pity that GINSBERGS DEPT. They appeared to be following the oil strikes of those years. Oklahoma City, OK 73131, Resthaven-Sunset Memorial Park The Froug and Smulian families all arrived in America in the late 1880s and were neighbors in Cincinnati, Ohio where they tried various jobs before they settled on a family business to distribute apparel called Froug-Smulian & Company. This number rises to 18 million with the addition of the "connected" Jewish population, including those who say they are partly Jewish or that have Jewish backgrounds from at least one Jewish parent, and rises again to 21 million with the addition of the "enlarged" Jewish population, including those who say they have Jewish backgrounds but no Jewish parents and all non-Jewish household members who live with Jews. Tulsa, OK 74115 . Date: January 16, 2013. By 2016, only 13 percent of the campus identified as Jewish by religion, a . [68], Jews and those of sufficient Jewish descent to be eligible for Israeli citizenship under the, Jewish population by country (1,000s, 2020), West Bank total population (without East Jerusalem): 2,548,700; Gaza: 1,839,900; Total: 4,388,600. Many of Guthries lyrics can be traced to the unusual collaborative relationship he had with his mother-in-law. For the gender breakdown for all students, go here. During this time, Jewish Oklahomans undertook a variety of jobs, boosted commerce and contributed significantly to the cultural and economic growth of the new state. Temple Beth Israel, Muskogee (Orthodox) Established 1922 closed in early 1970s. Source: Oxford University Press. New Jersey also has a high population of Jewish Americans. Edwards recovered from the gunshot wound and went on to a successful career in public service. Almost 547,000 are part of this ethnoreligious group, making up 6.1% of the state's total population. Massachusetts is home to over 293,000 Jews, which is 4.2% of the total population. Amid nationwide reports of anti-Semitic behavior, Jewish students at Oklahoma State University said bomb threats and vandalism are hardly surprising. phil.goldfarb@cox.net, Hi Marshall, thanks for your comments and consequently, adding to the vast contributions of Jewish Oklahomans. The development of the congregation, the cornerstone of any Jewish community, was the next step in satisfying their religious, educational, charitable, and social needs. The cities of Tulsa and Oklahoma City cannot be overemphasized in Oklahomas development. 918-492-1818 http://jewishmuseum.net/, Tulsa Jewish Retirement Center B'nai Emunah also thrived as Tulsa's Jewish population continued to grow during the years before World War II, reaching 2,850 people in 1937. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (officially Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr., and often referred to shorthand as MLK Day) is a federal holiday in the United States marking the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. Get Directions, 405-321-3703 This is a most important piece of work by Dr. Rockoff in preserving the Jewish histories in each State and individual community. The Jewish state has a positive immigration balance (called aliyah in Hebrew). The cities of Tulsa, Ponca City, Bartlesville, and Oklahoma City flourished. Washington DC has the largest percentage of Jewish people -- 8.27%. They were part of the first Tulsa neighborhoods established on the north side of the Arkansas River, away from the drilling sites, and spread out from downtown Tulsa in all directions. More recently, migration loss to Israel amongst French Jews reached the tens of thousands between 2014 and 2017, following a wave of anti-Semitic attacks. Generally, Oklahoma Jews' political involvement has been behind the scenes. As State Treasurer of Oklahoma (1994 -2005), his accomplishments included drafting legislation that created Oklahomas College Savings Plan. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In terms of the number of Jewish people living in each state, the following ten states come out on top: New York (1.77 million), California (1.19 million), Florida (657,095), New Jersey (546,950), Pennsylvania (434,165), Illinois (297,735), Massachusetts (293,080), Maryland (238,600), Texas (176,000), and Ohio (151,615). These Lithuanian immigrants saw an opportunity in the tire business, and opened the first Oklahoma Tire and Supply (OTASCO) store in 1918. Copyright to all of these materials is protected under United States and International law. In 1890, the Jewish population of Oklahoma Territory was estimated to be about 100 people. Wauhob, Shane, "Jewish Synagogues in Oklahoma", 24 April 2009, The National Jewish monthly: Volumes 52-54, B'nai Brith, 1938, p 284, Oldest Synagogues in the United States, Temple Emeth, About the Schusterman Center for Jewish Studies, Mission | Schusterman Center for Israel Studies | Brandeis University, http://www.articlealley.com/article_868151_29.html, "Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities - Muskogee, Oklahoma", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_synagogues_in_Oklahoma&oldid=1106226879, The Synagogue | Congregation B'nai Emunah. Tweet. For example, Egypt had a Jewish community of 80,000 in the early 20th century that numbered fewer than 40 as of 2014, mainly because of the forced expulsion movements to Israel and other countries at that time. Phil Goldfarb 18,564 are undergraduates and 3,261 are graduate students. "Way to tell it like it is, Ivy Coach" - The Dartmouth. One of the larger trading points existed at the future site of Muskogee, then a mere village. In fact, he was so popular that Rabbi and Oklahoma State University Professor, Perry Gethner, notes that according to local legend, during the heyday of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1920s, members marched through Stillwater with anti-Jewish signs, along with one that read, But not you Mr. Katz.[1]. In 1912, the congregation acquired a home of its own when it purchased the vacant First Christian Church. 1870-1987 and undated. In . In western Oklahoma, Jewish pioneers David Wolff, Isaac Levy, Isaac Jacobs, David Schonwald, H. L. Cohen, and S. E. Levi participated in the 1889 Land Run and were among the first Jewish settlers of Oklahoma City and Guthrie. Wildcatters and investors flooded the boomtown and city life began to take shape. Borofskys Kosher Meat Market and the Blend familys New York Bakery were the destination for kosher foods in Tulsa. The above table represents Jews that number at least a few dozen per country. Oklahoma Jewish philanthropy is a story of an ethnic/religious group defining its place in an evolving society, while simultaneously shaping its internal direction and external distinctiveness. On a recent PBS program, Fresh Air, Republican Edwards said that he voted for Barack Obama in the 2008 general election (Gross, 2008). [23][22] This controversy followed a similar debate in 2001 when the National Jewish Population Survey released a United States Jewish estimate as low as 5.2 million only to have serious methodological errors suggested in their survey. Innovative experiment in democracy, generally considered the first Jew in Indian Territory by statehood in 1907 that! And 47 % men Christian Church ] the Jewish population in 2001 was about 5,000 out of a population. The state & # x27 ; s total population, generally considered the first clothing store in Enid in.. 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