A Note Mark Alan Schneider: It has been over 25 years since the first issue of the TEMPLE BETH ISRAEL RePORT . Since January, 1982, the synagogue bulletin has continued to be the source of information and commentary for our TBI family and friends. As Editor from the beginning, I have had the honor of sharing my essays and columns with our readers. For this new website feature ‘Editor’s Encore,’ I have selected some of my favorite columns. I’ll change them on a regular basis. I hope you enjoy them. Thank you. THE CHOSEN FROZEN: It's What Jews Who Live in Alaska are Called BY MARK ALAN SCHNEIDER The garbage pails lining the streets of Juneau, Alaska are 100% bear proof. That was the second thing I noticed after arriving in the state capital. The first thing I saw was the big cover story in the daily newspaper, the Juneau Empire. A four column front page headline read: “Jewish Community Dedicates Center”. Imagine…on the same page as a story about the Golden North Salmon Derby was the exciting news that the Jews of Juneau were finally getting a home. Rabbi David Fine traveled from Seattle to Juneau to dedicate the Sukkat Shalom Jewish congregation. |
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Synagogue president Norman Cohen said that as far back as the 19th century, there have been Jewish residents who settled in Juneau, but until now they had been meeting in churches, people’s living rooms and the public library. Although he said there’s still a lot of work to do to finish the building, he said “we’re about the future…we really want to make this a home for Jews in Southeast Alaska.” Nick-named the Chosen Frozen, the Jewish population in Alaska numbers just under 4,000. (Anchorage’s Congregation Beth Shalom even sells “Chosen Frozen” logo sweatshirts.) Historically, many Jews have held, and continue to hold mayoral, senatorial, gubernatorial and local offices throughout the state. Alaska’s first senator was a former New York Jew named Ernest Gruening, who was very active in the drive for Alaska statehood. In addition to Juneau and Anchorage, there’s also an active synagogue in Fairbanks. Those are the three cities where 80% of Alaska’s Jewish population lives. The remaining thousand or so Jewish residents in Alaska are spread throughout the wilderness, in rural small towns and villages including one remarkable little place where my wife Barbara and I stopped to visit. Overlooking this little spot stands what could be the world’s only Jewish-named mountain. And that’s just one reason why we fell in love with this adorable town. But that’s another column.
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