History of the Jews in Arizona

The history of the Jews in Arizona began in the territorial era of the mid-1870s. By 1877, the territory had 48 Jewish residents. The population rose to 2,000 in 1897, dropped to 500 in 1907, and reached 21,000 by 1973.[1][2] The community grew rapidly after World War II.[2] State records from 2023 indicate over 82,000 Jewish residents live in Arizona.[3]

History

Jewish pioneers maintained positive relations with Christian neighbors during the early territorial years, and several business firms were established as Jewish-Christian partnerships.[2] Jewish residents were also active in politics; many served in the territorial and state legislatures. Jacob Weinberger served on the Arizona Supreme Court, and in later years, both Phoenix and Tucson elected multiple Jewish mayors.[2]

Temple Beth Israel was the first synagogue built in Phoenix. At the time of its construction, the city was home to approximately 120 Jews.[3] Rabbi Albert Plotkin led the congregation for nearly four decades (1955–1992), during which time he became a noted leader in the local civil rights and interfaith movements.[4] As the community expanded, congregations formed across the valley in Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, and Paradise Valley, as well as in Flagstaff, Kingman, Prescott, and Scottsdale.[2]

Discrimination

Jewish residents faced social barriers and antisemitism throughout the 20th century. During the 1930s, local antisemitism developed alongside the rise of European Nazism. Through the 1950s and into the 1960s, discrimination was common in Arizona's tourism industry, where several major resorts banned Jewish guests.[5]

Notable people

Several Jewish individuals have held positions in Arizona's political, judicial, and cultural history:

  • Nathan Benjamin Appel arrived in Tucson in 1856 and was the first known Jewish settler in the territory. He worked as a merchant, sheriff, and wagon train leader.[6]
  • Dr. Herman Bendell was nominated by President Ulysses S. Grant in 1870 to serve as the first Superintendent of Indian Affairs for the Arizona Territory.[7]
  • Michael Goldwater was a pioneer merchant, mine operator, and grandfather of Senator Barry Goldwater. His son, Morris Goldwater, served as the mayor of Prescott for 22 years.[2]
  • Jacob Mansfeld was a Tucson merchant who served on the first Board of Regents of the University of Arizona and secured the land for its first campus buildings.[6]
  • Jacob Weinberger was the youngest member of the 1910 Arizona State Constitutional Convention and later a federal judge.[2]
  • Stanley G. Feldman and Andrew D. Hurwitz served as justices on the Arizona Supreme Court.[2]
  • Gabrielle Giffords served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from 2007 until 2012.[7]
  • Garry Shandling was a comedian and actor who grew up in Tucson, where his family owned local businesses.[7]
  • Sandra Bernhard is an actress and comedian who attended Saguaro High School in Scottsdale.[7]

Organizations

The growth of the community led to the establishment of several local philanthropic and social service organizations. In Southern Arizona, the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Foundation merged to form the Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona.[8] Similar philanthropic work is conducted in Maricopa County by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix.[9] Social and educational resources are provided by the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center in Phoenix, the Tucson Jewish Community Center, and the Yeshiva of Phoenix.[10][11] Advocacy and civil rights monitoring are handled by local chapters of national organizations, including the American Jewish Committee and the Anti-Defamation League (ADL).[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Arizona Jewish Pioneers". swja.library.arizona.edu. Southwest Jewish Archives. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Arizona Jewish History". www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Arizona Jewish Historical Society — History". Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  4. ↑ "Mid-Century Rabbi Albert Plotkin and Sylvia Plotkin". Arizona Jewish Historical Society. Archived from the original on 17 December 2024. Retrieved 18 June 2026.
  5. ↑ Pleeter, Zach. "A history of Jewish life in Arizona: Struggles and triumph in the desert". Arizona Jewish Life. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
  6. 1 2 "Jewish Routes // Arizona". Moment Magazine. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "10 Things About (Jewish) Arizona". The Forward. 18 April 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2026.
  8. ↑ "Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona". www.jfsa.org. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Agencies & Organizations". Arizona Jewish Life. 8 August 2015. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  10. ↑ "Jewish organizations in Arizona". www.causeiq.com. Cause IQ. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Agencies & Organizations". Arizona Jewish Life. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
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