History is made at Temple Israel

JOAN SUDMANN SHAPIRO

If you are like me, you have a cache of boxes tucked away somewhere in a closet or storage room. The boxes contain an assortment of old photos, letters, greeting cards, children’s artwork, certificates, and various documents. You have intended to sort through and “do something” with this stuff for years. Maybe decades.

Four years ago, when Mindi Marburg began working as Director of Engagement and Events at Temple Israel, congregant Joseph Pinson opened a closet door to show her its contents. Inside was a jumble of boxes and stacks of miscellaneous photos and papers that had been shoved into the closet ten years ago when the congregation moved into its current building. The unorganized mess collecting dust in that forgotten closet contained over 150 years’ worth of the history of the Omaha Jewish community. “Something” needed to be done with these precious photos and documents, Joseph and Mindi agreed. But what?

Mindi, who had grown up at Temple Israel and recently returned, did not forget about the contents of that closet. She wanted to do something to shine a light on that history, especially since Temple Israel was preparing for a 2021 commemoration of 150 years since the first Congregation Israel was established in Omaha in 1871.

There was someone else who never forgot about the history of Temple Israel and was determined to do something about preserving its legacy.That person was Miriam (Mibsy) Brooks. Mibsy’s parents, Rabbi Sidney H. and Jane H. Brooks, moved to Omaha from Springfield, Ohio, with one-year-old Mibsy, in 1952. Rabbi Brooks served as Temple Israel’s senior rabbi for 33 years. When he arrived, the home of the Jewish congregation was a temple on Park Street, which is now a Greek Orthodox Church. Rabbi Brooks was instrumental in getting a new temple built on Cass Street. “At the time, it sat in the middle of a cornfield,” Mibsy recalled.

Conversations between Mindi and Mibsy took place, and the project of creating an archive and a display to illuminate the history of Temple Israel was born. “I was a thorn in their side for ten years or more,” Mibsy, a long-time congregant who now lives in North Carolina, declared to me in a phone conversation. “I wanted an archive. But I didn’t want it to be handled by a committee of volunteers. I wanted it done by professional archivists. Temple Israel is the oldest Reform congregation west of the Mississippi. I felt the project was very important. Many congregants are not aware of the history.”

We are all familiar with people who demand that “somebody needs to do something about this!” and then walk away. But that was not Miriam Brooks. She wanted to see this project through. She offered to make a substantial donation to cover the cost of hiring professional archivists to do the job right. Where would Temple Israel find highly qualified professional archivists? Chicago? New York? The Smithsonian? As it happens, the right people for the job were right here in Omaha.

Jeannette Gabriel, Ph.D., is the Director of the Schwalb Center for Israel and Jewish Studies at the University of Nebraska Omaha. She spent ten years with Smithsonian Associates, training History teachers in the Teaching American History Program. Ben Justman is the Executive Director of the Sarpy County Museum and the President of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society Board. Ben and Jeannette are professional historians and archivists who are deeply committed to preserving Jewish history. They also happen to be married to one another. They submitted a proposal and were selected to archive the chaotic treasure trove in the Temple Israel closet and create an exhibit informing the Omaha Jewish community about its roots. Just as they were about to begin their work in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic swept the world. “The pandemic was the greatest thing that ever happened to this project!” exclaimed Mibsy. Temple Israel was closed for 14 months. Jeannette and Ben could sort through the boxes and spread the materials out on tables all over the Social Hall where they could work undisturbed. They said it was a “labor of love” when I interviewed them in the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society archive at the Jewish Community Center.

Jeanette and Ben observed that “Temple Israel really cares about its history.” Temple Israel Executive Director Nate Shapiro affirmed, “Temple Israel is a proud member of, and contributor to, the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society.” Temple Israel has commemorated every big anniversary over the past 150 years. Former Temple Israel clergy have returned for these celebrations. Unfortunately, the pandemic meant that plans to celebrate the 150th anniversary were disrupted.

The question of where to locate the history exhibit generated a great deal of head-scratching, and many ideas were tossed around. Then one day, Mindi looked at the circular meditation room, which was barely ever used, and imagined it could be transformed into a gallery. There was general agreement that a history gallery would be an excellent use of that space. Graphic designer, Hylan Miller, was brought on board. If you have yet to venture beyond the Simon Community Court to peek inside the striking wood-paneled circular Temple Israel History Gallery, I encourage you to do so. The talented Ms. Miller worked closely with Jeannette and Ben to create a stunning visual display of the history of the Omaha Jewish community. As historians, Jeannette and Ben emphasize that there is a deep connection between Omaha’s Jewish history and the larger history of the Jewish people since the Jews in Omaha have roots in many parts of the world. They also point out that Omaha’s Jewish history is very closely tied to the history of Omaha as a whole.

The project took about three years. Miriam Brooks was thrilled to see the completed Temple Israel History Gallery In Honor of Rabbi Sidney H. and Jane H. Brooks. “I was speechless,” she proclaimed. “That space was just sitting there waiting for this. And yellow is my favorite color!” The round gallery, and the searchable kiosk that was created to accompany it, invite engagement with history. “I couldn’t be happier with the archive project.”

Asked for their perspective on the future impact of the archive, Ben and Jeannette would love to dig deeper. They have a passion for uncovering stories. They want to engage the community in identifying photographs and interacting with their history. Several people contributed documents, photos, and artifacts from their homes to the archives, and Jeanette and Ben encourage others to do so. As Jeannette put it, “Every story really matters.”