'Unpacking on the Prairie'

Exhibit on Jewish women opens

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM--Gefilte fish probably wasn't the first thing on the minds of the folks who turned up at the Brown County Museum for its latest exhibit on Jewish women of the upper Midwest, but it was certainly the subject of some conversations.

The exhibit, called "Unpacking on the Prairie: Jewish Women in the Upper Midwest" gathered one of the Brown County Historical Society's larger crowds when it officially opened Saturday night, estimated society president Bob Burgess.

It came to New Ulm on its last stop of a statewide tour. The exhibit is sponsored by the Minnesota Historical Society and the Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest.

Burgess credited the Pieser family for bringing the exhibit to New Ulm. He said many of the items on display at the museum were donated by the Pieser family.

Vicki Pieser, in turn, thanked the society on behalf of the Jewish population in Brown County for its receptiveness. The exhibit was brought to New Ulm to honor Pieser's mother's 85th birthday.

The exhibit shows the history of rural Jewish immigrant life in the Midwest around the turn of the last century. On some of the walls surrounding the exhibit are photographs, ads and social announcements that give indications that Jewish immigrants came to Winthrop, Springfield, Sleepy Eye and New Ulm. Many came speaking German and shared cultural traits and practices with their Catholic and Lutheran neighbors.

Shelly Schamblott grew up Jewish in New Ulm. She was three years old when her father started New Ulm Furniture after World War II. It was the old ads for some local Jewish businesses that Shelly said she identified most with. Shelly said that although she practiced a different religion that most, she still had a group of very close friends whom she still sees today.

Vicki Pieser said growing up Jewish in a small town differed greatly from living in a city like Minneapolis because the communities were-and still are--smaller in a small town.

"You're practicing a religion that's different," she said. "And most small towns revolve around churches."

Her daughter Betsy, who grew up in New Ulm but now lives in Minneapolis, said the exhibit gives Jewish culture good exposure.

"This is a great education experience," she said. "It's real hands-on."

And the folks who turned up Saturday night certainly had plenty of lox, bagels, kugel, gefilte fish and Jewish sweets to get their hands on.