Jewish history and culture is rich in the State of Nebraska. By the
early 20th century there was a Jewish presence in over 30 Nebraska
towns, some dating back to the 1850s. Today, the great majority of Jews
live in Omaha, with a smaller community in the capital city of Lincoln.
Synagogues, temples, community centers, and cemeteries mark the
landscape.
In the pages of Jewish Life in Omaha and Lincoln: A Photographic
History, peoples' lives, events, neighborhoods, and institutions that
helped shape and transform today's Jewish community are brought to life.
This vibrant tapestry is captured in images ranging from a mid-19th
century stereopticon to a recent aerial photograph. The over 230 images,
culled from the collection of the Nebraska Jewish Historical Society,
focus on immigration patterns that brought Jews into the region, from
the opening of the West, to the Holocaust, to the arrival of Soviet
Jews. Other images look at the changing face of synagogues and religious
practices in the Midlands. Jewish-founded businesses that are mentioned
in this book are landmarks in Omaha and throughout the Midwest, from the
Nebraska Furniture Mart to Omaha Steaks International.