The story of a randomly selected handful of Jews who played important roles in shaping the state of Iowa and some of its cities during the state’s early years.
Yes, I remember the Greenstones. There was a small grocery on 19th and Pierce owned by a Jewish family. Every Friday it got bagels from Omaha. My grandparents shopped there as it was a block from their home. It was a traditional neighborhood "corner store." The owner was a relative of the Lederer family, I think his name was Dave Lipshutz. Lederers lived a few blocks from the store on Jackson Street. I sent the article to my cousin Richard Eric Wissng grandson of Herman Davidson, who ran Younker-Davidson (his father and uncles started the store as well as built the Davidson Building).Eric was thrilled with your research and writing.
Thank you for these stories. In researching for my bookThe People Are Kind: A Religious HIstory of Iowa, I found some more here are two from Sioux City:
George Koval, born in Sioux City, son of an activist who wanted to make a Jewish homeland in the Soviet Union, was the only Manhattan Project spy never to get caught.
The Barish brothers gave up their lucrative Ford dealership rather than display Henry Ford's anti-semitic newspaper in their showroom,, and took out a full page ad in the local paper explaining their decision.
Those two stories absolutely fascinate me. Would it be OK if I researched them myself and did a follow-up column, in which I would happily give and you credit for guiding me to them - as well as a plug for your book?
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Absolutely. There is actually a good book out on Koval. I didn't find much on the Barishes, but I suspect the newspaper ad in the SIoux City Journal could be found. I also ran into a scholar at a conference last month who was working on the Ford archives, but I haven't yet followed up on that, with the book coming out. Let me know if you'd like the sources I cite.
Excellent. At this point, I'm more interested in the Barish story, at least for now. I'm finding quite a bit on the family and its automotive business via newspaper archives. When is your book coming out?
Yes, I think the Barish story is the more important, but a quick look at my footnotes suggests I learned about it from Ann Hagedorn's book on Koval, Sleeper Agent. ( I know, it sounds like spy genre, but she did a good job painting the scene of Jewish Sioux CIty life, and I knew she had also written a good book on the Underground Railroad..)
The book came out at the very end of 2024--I didn't even get the notice from the publishers until the first weekend of 2025.
Thank you for your extensiveu research for this exceptional read.I grew up in a Sioux City neighborhood that had two synagogues as well as a vibrant Jewish Community Center. I was a neighborhood child who turned the electricity on and off at the Rabbi's home on Sabbath.It was a diverse neighborhood that I am now glad to have lived. Sioux City had many Jewish leaders who demonstrated altruism. I think Sioux City has been compromised as those leaders died and their educated children moved out of Iowa (used to be three synagogues, now only one). So appreciate your writing Arnie. BTW, I get orthopedica care at Steindler Clinic which will soon open a big location in North Liberty, there is also a clinic in Cedar Rapids.
Thank you for reading and the note. I had a bit of family in Sioux City (the Greenstones), so I do know a bit about the Jewish community there. I do recall the Davidson and Martin Dept. stores.
Arnold, The Davidson Family owned a department store in Sioux City which was bought by Younkers. Sioux City had two Younkers, Davidson and Martin, a block apart on 4th Steet. Both magnificent with lovely service and products like annaclairs.
These are fascinating stories, Arnie! Thank you so much for researching and sharing.
Thank you. It's good to hear from readers who appreciate this kind of work. Best wishes.
I love these stories. Thank you for taking the time to tell them. I always learn so much and I love to share them.
Yes, I remember the Greenstones. There was a small grocery on 19th and Pierce owned by a Jewish family. Every Friday it got bagels from Omaha. My grandparents shopped there as it was a block from their home. It was a traditional neighborhood "corner store." The owner was a relative of the Lederer family, I think his name was Dave Lipshutz. Lederers lived a few blocks from the store on Jackson Street. I sent the article to my cousin Richard Eric Wissng grandson of Herman Davidson, who ran Younker-Davidson (his father and uncles started the store as well as built the Davidson Building).Eric was thrilled with your research and writing.
Thank you for these stories. In researching for my bookThe People Are Kind: A Religious HIstory of Iowa, I found some more here are two from Sioux City:
George Koval, born in Sioux City, son of an activist who wanted to make a Jewish homeland in the Soviet Union, was the only Manhattan Project spy never to get caught.
The Barish brothers gave up their lucrative Ford dealership rather than display Henry Ford's anti-semitic newspaper in their showroom,, and took out a full page ad in the local paper explaining their decision.
Those two stories absolutely fascinate me. Would it be OK if I researched them myself and did a follow-up column, in which I would happily give and you credit for guiding me to them - as well as a plug for your book?
Bill R Douglas <iowarh@gmail.com>
12:54 PM (1 minute ago)
to forum+2laxo6&e0zvm&1jt5fz&4b7392293be8e6d06d4a4f978c71abbd2325c7d3f9cf7d67e37f71f98a54116c
Absolutely. There is actually a good book out on Koval. I didn't find much on the Barishes, but I suspect the newspaper ad in the SIoux City Journal could be found. I also ran into a scholar at a conference last month who was working on the Ford archives, but I haven't yet followed up on that, with the book coming out. Let me know if you'd like the sources I cite.
Excellent. At this point, I'm more interested in the Barish story, at least for now. I'm finding quite a bit on the family and its automotive business via newspaper archives. When is your book coming out?
Yes, I think the Barish story is the more important, but a quick look at my footnotes suggests I learned about it from Ann Hagedorn's book on Koval, Sleeper Agent. ( I know, it sounds like spy genre, but she did a good job painting the scene of Jewish Sioux CIty life, and I knew she had also written a good book on the Underground Railroad..)
The book came out at the very end of 2024--I didn't even get the notice from the publishers until the first weekend of 2025.
This was a fantastic article, thank you.
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for your extensiveu research for this exceptional read.I grew up in a Sioux City neighborhood that had two synagogues as well as a vibrant Jewish Community Center. I was a neighborhood child who turned the electricity on and off at the Rabbi's home on Sabbath.It was a diverse neighborhood that I am now glad to have lived. Sioux City had many Jewish leaders who demonstrated altruism. I think Sioux City has been compromised as those leaders died and their educated children moved out of Iowa (used to be three synagogues, now only one). So appreciate your writing Arnie. BTW, I get orthopedica care at Steindler Clinic which will soon open a big location in North Liberty, there is also a clinic in Cedar Rapids.
Thank you for reading and the note. I had a bit of family in Sioux City (the Greenstones), so I do know a bit about the Jewish community there. I do recall the Davidson and Martin Dept. stores.
Arnold, The Davidson Family owned a department store in Sioux City which was bought by Younkers. Sioux City had two Younkers, Davidson and Martin, a block apart on 4th Steet. Both magnificent with lovely service and products like annaclairs.