B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Virginia, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids B'nai Abraham Synagogue |
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The former synagogue, in 2014
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status |
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| Ownership | Northern Lights Music Festival |
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| Location | |
| Location | 328 South 5th Street, Virginia, Iron Range, Minnesota |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Minnesota
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| Date established | 1905 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1909 |
| Materials | Red bricks |
The B'nai Abraham Synagogue used to be a Jewish place of worship called a synagogue. Now, it's a museum about Jewish history and a place for performances. You can find it in Virginia, Minnesota, in the United States.
It was built in 1909. It was the first synagogue specially built in the Iron Range area. For many years, it was a very important place for the local Jewish community. In 1980, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This shows its importance to the area's history and different cultures.
The synagogue closed in the mid-1990s because fewer people attended. But with community help, it was saved. Today, B'nai Abraham is a museum and a place for cultural events.
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History of the B'nai Abraham Synagogue
Virginia became a busy town for lumber and mining in the 1890s. Jewish business owners and workers soon moved there. By 1894, Jewish people from Virginia and nearby towns started holding religious services. They met in Virginia's old North Pole Hall. Most of the Jewish people in Virginia were immigrants from an area of the Russian Empire that is now Lithuania.
Building the Synagogue
As Virginia grew, so did its Jewish population. The B'nai Abraham congregation was started in 1905. Their first meeting was on November 20 in Virginia's Socialist Opera House. Their main goal was to build a synagogue. Other synagogues in the Iron Range, like those in Hibbing and Eveleth, were old churches that were changed. B'nai Abraham was special because it was the first synagogue built from scratch in the Iron Range.
In 1908, the women of the congregation formed the B'nai Abraham Ladies' Aid Society. They worked hard to raise money for the new synagogue. They were very successful! For example, they donated $700 to buy one of the synagogue's 13 beautiful stained glass windows.
The Ladies' Aid Society continued their good work even after the synagogue was built. They called themselves the Sunshine Club. They visited sick members, hosted community events, and helped new Jewish immigrants.
A Community Hub
The synagogue was the heart of Virginia's close-knit Jewish community. Visiting rabbis led services there. Important holidays and Bar Mitzvahs were celebrated. B'nai Abraham was also used for weddings, birthdays, and retirement parties. It was a meeting place for local chapters of Jewish groups like B'nai B'rith and Hadassah.
The synagogue has a unique look with its stone foundation, special windows, and red brick. Its Romanesque Revival style makes it one of Virginia's most famous buildings. In 1980, B'nai Abraham was the first synagogue in Minnesota to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Saving the Synagogue
In the second half of the 1900s, the number of Jewish people in the Iron Range started to go down. This meant that synagogues in Hibbing, Chisholm, and Eveleth had to close. By 1990, B'nai Abraham was the last synagogue left in the Iron Range. In the mid-1990s, B'nai Abraham also closed its doors. By 2002, only two members were left in the congregation. That year, the building was listed as one of Minnesota's most endangered historic places.
In 2004, a nonprofit organization called the Friends of B'nai Abraham was formed. Their goal was to save the building. They bought it and started to restore the historic building. They received help from state and local grants, as well as donations. The building reopened in the summer of 2008. The Friends organization managed it.
B'nai Abraham Museum and Cultural Center
Today, the building is used as a cultural center and museum. It has a permanent exhibit that tells the story of Jewish settlement in the Iron Range.
In 2020, the Friends of B'nai Abraham gave the building to another nonprofit group, the Northern Lights Music Festival. This group now manages the building. They use it as a place for musical performances. They also use it to offer more music programs to the community.
Gallery
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Front exterior
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Sanctuary performance area
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East windows
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Performance
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Mounting stained-glass window supports
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Interior before restoration
See also
- List of synagogues in Minnesota
- National Register of Historic Places listings in St. Louis County, Minnesota
