B'nai Abraham (Virginia, Minn.) Synagogue records

The Congregation B'nai Abraham was founded in 1905 in Virginia, Minnesota by Russian Jewish immigrants who were drawn to the area's industries of lumber and mining. In 1908 the Ladies' Aid Society was created to help aid in fundraising to build a permanent synagogue. When the construction of the red brick synagogue was completed in 1909, it was the first synagogue to be built on the Iron Range (neighboring congregations in Eveleth and Hibbing used converted spaces). The Ladies' Aid Society continued after construction, providing outreach and aid to the local Jewish community. The synagogue itself became a vital space for the Jewish community, not only providing space for worship, but also as a meeting space for local Jewish organizations such as the Virginia Federation for Jewish Service, and the local chapters of B'nai B'rith and Hadassah.

As the Jewish population on the Iron Range declined, congregations throughout the Iron Range shuttered their doors; by 1990 B'nai Abraham was the last synagogue in the area. By the mid-1990s B'nai Abraham closed their doors due to lack of members. In 2002, the building was listed as a threatened historic structure and so, in 2004, the Friends of B'nai Abraham was established to save the building. Through fundraising and grants, the group was able to restore the historic building and open the space as a local cultural center. The Friends of B'nai Abraham are still active and the building is still in use during the warmer months. For more information, visit www.ironrangejewishheritage.org.