About Us

Part II

Early History of the La Crosse Jewish Community
By  GORDON H. FEINBERG

 
From early pioneer days, Jews have lived in La Crosse and had an active,
prominent part in the development and growth of  the city.
Jewish families, traveling by canal boats, railroad and ox carts, came
here from other sections of the country and settled in the years before
La Crosse was officially organized as a city.
 

John M. Levy and his wife were the first Jews to settle here. They came
from Prairie du Chien, Wis., in 1845 when there Were less than a dozen
persons living here.
 

Through the years Levy was a trader, merchant, agent, hotel keeper and
banker. He served in numerous social, civic and religious capacities.
Other Jews followed Levy here. By the time- La Crosse was organized as a
city in 1856 by virtue of a charter granted for the purpose, the Jews
also had established themselves and helped promote development of the
area.
 

In 1857 some of the residents organized the first communal organization
which they called the Hebrew Indigent, Sick and Burial Society. Later
the name was changed to the Hebrew Benevolent Society. First officers of
the Society were L. Hirshheimer, president; I. Tuteur, vice-president;
N. Scharff, secretary, and J. Gutman, secretary.
 

The Society purchased one acre of  land for a burial ground in 1857.
Mrs. Hindle, mother of Louis Hirshheimer, was the first interment in
1858.
 

The first synagogue erected in La Crosse was early in 1867. It was
located on Jay Street, near Fifth Street. Previous to this, services
were held in the Masonic Lodge Hall.
 

A report to the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in March, 1877,
showed the Jewish population in La Crosse to be 106 persons. This report
was incomplete, however, and did not list the total population.
 

The Congregation Anche Chesed was developed from the Hebrew Benevolent
Society in 1878, This Congregation was of the Reformed Jewish faith.
Several different rabbis served the Congregation through the years that
followed.
 

The synagogue building was moved in 1880 to 521 South Fourth Street. It
was used there until 1901.
 

Records of Congregation Anche Chesed show that there were 22 members in
1899, 19 in 1893 and 14 members in 1903. Judge Herman Langstad was the
last of the pioneer members of Congregation Anche Chesed to remain in La
Crosse. He lived here until his death in 1933.
 

While population of the earlier settlers who founded the original
Reformed Congregation was decreasing as a result of deaths or departures
from the city, new settlers who practiced the Orthodox Jewish faith were
moving into La Crosse, starting in the 1900's.
 

The Orthodox Jews conducted services in homes of various residents
until they established their own synagogue in 1905 at 414 No. 11th St.
The building that they acquired had belonged previously in 1871 to a
Lutheran Congregation.
 

There was an estimated Jewish population of about 30 families, both
Orthodox and Reformed, in La Crosse in 1905 when the Orthodox Synagogue.
was founded under the name of Congregation Sons of Abraham.
Congregation Sons of Abraham has served the community without
interruption since 1905, utilizing the same building. First officers of
the Congregation in 1905 were A. M. Goldish, president; Fishel Tubias,
vice-president; Noah Levenstein, secretary; and Joseph Feinberg,
treasurer.
 

David Sigel was the first acting rabbi in 1905. Louis Aronin was the
first full time resident rabbi in 1915. Since then the Congregation has
had several different rabbis. The present rabbi who took office in May,
1948, is Abraham Album.
 

Long range plans for the building of the present new synagogue were
first formulated in 1943. Drives had been conducted among the La Crosse
Jewish Community members to collect money for the synagogue building
fund since 1943.
 

A building committee was formed in 1946. Two representatives each were
picked from the B'nai B'rith Lodge, Congregation Sons of Abraham, and
the Jewish Women's League, and three representatives were selected from
the community-at-large.
 

This committee consisted of Max Bemel, Louis Ebin, Willard Fantle,
Herman Glickman, Sol Lindenberg, Morris Rifkin, Albert Schiller, Mrs.
Sam Levy and Mrs. Bernard Sharp. Harry Locketz was added in 1947.
The committee was formally incorporated in 1946 under the name of "La
Crosse Jewish Synagogue and Center Building Committee." Construction of
the new synagogue was begun in August, 1947.
 

Since Jews first settled in La Crosse they have had societies and
organizations In the earlier years two fraternal insurance societies
maintained chapters here. They were the Independent Order B'nai B'rith
and the Kesher Shel Barzel.
 

A Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society was formed in 1885. A chapter of
Hadassah was organized about 1938 and later, when the chapter was
dissolved, a new group known as the La Crosse Jewish Women's League was
formed. A B'nai B'rith Lodge, No. 1093, was re-established in La Crosse
in 1922.
 

John M. Levy held the highest office in the city when he was elected
mayor twice. He also served as an alderman and assessor. J. Gutman
served as a La Crosse county supervisor. Albert Hirshheimer was both an
alderman and a supervisor.
 

B. L. Strouse was an alderman. Harry J. Hirshheimer was an alderman as
well as secretary of the La Crosse County Historical Society. At present
he is Industrial Secretary of the La Crosse County Chamber of Commerce.
Leopold Wachenheimer served as Register of Deeds.
 

Albert Hirshheimer was president of the La Crosse School Board and
president of the Batavian Bank. He also headed the former La Crosse Plow
Co., one of the principal industrial firms in the city.
Louis Hirshheimer who settled here in 1855 operated a saw mill in the
pioneer days when lumbering was one of the key industries responsible
for the growth of the town.
 

In 1936 Jews here founded a refugee committee to aid in the relief and
rehabilitation of persons persecuted by the Nazis in Germany. A local
committee also was formed as part of the United Jewish Appeal to give
financial relief to suffering people in Europe and Palestine.
During World War II, Jews here entertained soldiers of all faiths from
Camp McCoy and the Army Technical Training Command School at Tomah. The
Jews helped to furnish and equip several Day Rooms in the Camp McCoy
hospital. The La Crosse Jewish Community cooperated with the National
Jewish Welfare Board and the USO in giving assistance to servicemen of
all faiths and their families.
 

In World War II, La Crosse Jews cooperated in the promotion of war bond
drives as well as purchases. Jews here joined with residents of other
faiths to participate in food and clothing drives for the relief of war
victims. Many local Jews were repeated donors to the American Red Cross'
Blood Bank. The Jewish Community joined with other civic and educational
groups to help sponsor Brotherhood Week programs.
Jews of the La Crosse community have fought for America as far back as
the Civil War when serving with the Union Army. During World War 11, 44
men, which represented about 22 per cent of the total Jewish population
of approximately 200 in the La Crosse area, were in American armed
forces. Most of them served overseas. Some of them were either war
prisoners, wounded in action or winners of awards and decorations for
outstanding service.
 

The history of the Jews in La Crosse reflects an immeasurable
contribution in the various social, religious, cultural, patriotic and
civic activities in connection with the development of the city.
 

From the earliest settler, John Levy, to the present, although few in
number, they have attempted at all times to add to the glory and
progress that is today La Crosse, the beautiful.