Guide to the Temple Sholom (Eau Claire,​ WI) Records,​ 1943,​ 1962-​1976

Summary Information

Title: Temple Sholom (Eau Claire, Wis.) Records

Inclusive Dates: 1943, 1962-1976

Creator: Temple Sholom (Eau Claire, Wis.)

Call Number: Eau Claire Micro 10; Micro 634

Quantity: 2 reels of microfilm (35mm)

Repository: Housed at the Area Research Center, William D. McIntyre Library, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Library-Archives Division

Archival Locations: UW-Eau Claire McIntyre Library / Eau Claire Area Research Ctr.

Abstract: Records of a synagogue which serves Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews in the Chippewa Valley; consisting of records from the Temple itself, the Women's B'nai B'rith, and the Men's B'nai B'rith. Included are financial records, minutes, correspondence, records generated by B'nai B'rith District 6, and other papers.

Language: English

Biography/History

Antecedents of Temple Sholom in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, date back to 1885 when the Jewish residents of the area first conducted services. Although the congregation has existed since then, it was not until the 1940's that the Temple became active in providing for the religious needs of Jewish families in the Eau Claire area.

Due to its relatively small size -- approximately thirty families -- the Temple acts as the shelter organization of all Jewish institutional life in the Chippewa Valley. Consisting of Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews, the congregation decided in 1969 to affiliate with the United Synagogue of America, the national organization of Conservative Judaism. The Temple and its member organizations, which include men and women's B'nai B'rith chapters, Hadassah, and United Synagogue Youth, provide the congregation with educational programs such as speakers, Hebrew lessons, a Sunday School, and study groups. Most of the services are lay-run, with rabbis from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area coming to celebrate the High Holy Days. The small size of the congregation has brought about changes in several of the organizations. In 1974 the women's Hadassah chapter voted to disband and become members at large. The following year the congregation decided to elect one set of officers for the Temple, the Men's B'nai B'rith, and the Women's B'nai B'rith because of difficulty in obtaining three sets of officers for all of the organizations.

In 1972 the Chippewa Valley B'nai B'rith Lodge, Temple Sholom's B'nai B'rith affiliate, received national attention when it voted to drop the “male only” clause of its membership rules.

Scope and Content Note

The records of Temple Sholom are arranged in three series: Temple Sholom; Chippewa Valley B'nai B'rith, Lodge 1474; and Eau Claire B'nai B'rith Unit, Chapter 368. These series not only contain the records of the Temple and its men and women's B'nai B'rith chapters but also document the activities of the Temple as the religious focal point for the Jewish community in the Chippewa Valley.

The TEMPLE SHOLOM series consists of the records of the Temple itself, 1943, 19671976. Included are agenda, clippings, correspondence, financial records, mailing lists, and newsletters. A file on the United Jewish Appeal records members' donations, and a file on the United Synagogue conventions contains reports, resolutions, press releases, and correspondence.

The records of the CHIPPEWA VALLEY B'NAI B'RITH, LODGE 1474, the men's chapter, include an Anti-Defamation League file of correspondence and miscellany and a file of general correspondence, some of which focuses on the 1972 decision to drop the “male only” clause from the constitution. Material from District Six of the national B'nai B'rith includes convention proceedings, directories, minutes of the Minnesota-Wisconsin B'nai B'rith Council and of the local board of governors, programs, and policy statements.

The records of the EAU CLAIRE B'NAI B'RITH UNIT, CHAPTER 368, the women's affiliate, consists of correspondence and minutes. There are also directories, programs, policy statements, and miscellany from District Six of the national B'nai B'rith Women.

Administrative/Restriction Information

Acquisition Information

Originals loaned for microfilming by Morton Sipress, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1976. Accession Number: M76-455

Processing Information

Processed by Tim Hughes and Christine Rongone, November 11, 1977.

Search Terms/Subject Terms

• Jews—Wisconsin—Eau Claire
• Synagogues—Wisconsin—Eau Claire
• B’nai B’rith. Chapter 368 (Eau Claire, Wis.)
• B’nai B’rith. District 6
• B’nai B’rith. Lodge 1474 (Chippewa Valley, Wis.)

Reel List