Behind the Headlines the Jews of Salt Lake City

In the heart of this city is a large but humble building with Stars of David in the windows. It looks so much like an old-time Brooklyn shul that one would expect its pews to resonate with the sounds of the Kaddish and be permanently scented with pickled herring and egg kichel.

But it would be wrong to assume that the building is a synagogue. It is, in fact, the Assembly Hall of the Mormon Church headquarters. Utah is strewn with false clues to where and what its Jewish community is.

Part of the confusion lies in the traditional identification of the Mormons with the "Children of Israel." Symbols such as the Star of David and terms such as "Zion," are emphatically Mormon in Salt Lake City, so the real synagogue, Congregation Kol Ami, is carefully ornamented with Menorahs, and historical documents written by Jewish leaders often refer to the Jews as part of the "Gentile" (non-Mormon) community.

AUTHENTIC JEWISH IMPRINT

Yet the Jews have had an authentic imprint as well. For while the community has never been large (there are about 2300 Jews in Salt Lake City and less than 10 families in nearby Provo) it has a long and rich history in the region.

The first Jews passed through embryonic Salt Lake City on their way to the gold rush. Some settled there in 1854. in 1866 Mormon leader Brigham Young donated land for the Jewish cemetery. He was cordially disposed to the Jews, who had been helpful to his Mormon pioneers in earlier years.

The community grew steadily, building successively larger and more elaborate synagogues. Its character is clearly evident by the fact that an architect was brought from Germany to build a synagogue that was a small-scale replica of the Berlin Temple.

When the main temple turned Reform, an Orthodox synagogue was founded. With an in flux of Eastern European Jews in the early decades of this century, a second Orthodox congregation was founded. However, Orthodox Judaism eventually disappeared in Salt Lake City.

Reform and Conservative movements joined together in 1972 to create the city’s only synagogue, Kol Ami. The merger is working admirably in a community where all concerned Jews are chiefly interested in education–Kol Ami’s Hebrew school dominates it.

A COLORFUL SOCIAL HISTORY

Salt Lake’s Jewish community has a colorful history imbued with pioneer spirit. The copper mines of this mountainous region attracted hardy individualists of the 19th Century. Mines eventually gave way to ski resorts and in these, also, Jews took a zestful part.

Utah was the site of some proto-kibbutz communes. But, the harsh extremes of climate and the poor practical preparation of the early farmers meant that the experiment was doomed to early failure. Some of the remaining settlers, however, started poultry farms and were successful in the venture. Several innovations in poultry farming are the result of this modest but more successful effort.

Throughout this century Jewish citizens and settlers have tended to be businessmen looking for a quiet and decent place to raise their families. Downtown Salt Lake City is dotted with clothiers, jewellers, and other familiar businesses that bear Jewish names. The newest wave of newcomers, typically enough, are physicians, lawyers, and academics.

The standard of living–and economic opportunities–are somewhat lower in Utah than back east or further west. But the happier settlers point out that the low crime rate, wholesome orientation (the state is dry), and attractive scenery of the area continue to attract and keep community members. Despite the fact that Mormons are energetic proselytizers, Jewish leaders claim that relations between the two groups are excellent. They also say that overt anti-Semitism is virtually non-existent.

Despite its low-key character, the Jewish community of Salt Lake City is friendly and open. Jewish visitors, whether on business or on skills, are assured a welcome.