Jewish History of Aberdeen, South Dakota

On Sunday, Dec. 15, Or Emet will host a presentation by Robin J. Doroshow, executive director of the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest. Doroshow will present “Aberdeen, South Dakota: A Jewish History” from 10 a.m.-noon at Twin Cities German Immersion School, 1031 Como Ave. in St. Paul. A social time will follow.

From her first visit to Aberdeen, South Dakota, in 2018, Doroshow knew it was a special community. In 2020, the JHSUM and Congregation B’nai Isaac of Aberdeen joined forces to research and document the history of Aberdeen’s Jewish community.

In June 2022, after months of research and oral history recording, the JHSUM published the journal “Aberdeen: A Jewish History” ​and released the video “A Stop Along the Way.” Both were premiered in Aberdeen as part of a Shabbat weekend celebration at B’nai Isaac and other locations around the city. Doroshow will show “A Stop Along the Way” during her Or Emet presentation.

Doroshow is a Minnesota native whose grandparents and great-grandparents were third-wave Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe who settled in St. Paul.

She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and Jewish studies from the University of Minnesota and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law.

Those who cannot attend in person may join over Zoom. Please register in advance here.

The Sunday adult programs are free and open to the public and meet concurrently with the Jewish Cultural Sunday School.

Or Emet is a secular congregation celebrating and honoring Jewish culture, history and values from a humanistic, inclusive perspective.

For information about Or Emet’s Jewish Cultural Sunday School, contact JCSS director Molly Phipps at [email protected]. For information about Or Emet, email [email protected] or visit oremet.org.