B'nai Israel Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery, synagogue and Cemetery in North Dakota, USA
The B'nai Israel Synagogue and Montefiore Cemetery form a historic ensemble in Grand Forks, consisting of a synagogue built in Art Deco style in 1937 and a cemetery located at the corner of Gateway Drive and Columbia Road. The synagogue features geometric patterns and clean lines characteristic of its era, while the cemetery holds graves of community members spanning more than a century.
Jewish families arrived in Grand Forks in the late 1880s and built a small wooden synagogue completed in 1892 before it was replaced by the current Art Deco building in 1937. The cemetery was established in 1888 and named after Jewish philanthropist Moses Montefiore to serve the burial traditions of the growing community.
The synagogue on Cottonwood Street has served the Jewish community as a gathering place for worship and cultural celebrations since 1937. The site preserves the traditions of an immigrant community that arrived in the late 1800s and built deep roots in the city.
The site is easily accessible in Grand Forks, with the synagogue located on Cottonwood Street and the cemetery at the corner of Gateway Drive and Columbia Road. Visitors should note that placing small stones on graves is a tradition of respect for the deceased and should be honored when visiting.
The synagogue was designed by Joseph Bell DeRemer and his son Samuel Teel DeRemer, who created a design with Art Deco elements that stood apart architecturally from the earlier wooden structure. Inside, the building houses colorful stained-glass windows, a bimah, and an eternal light lamp that symbolizes the community's religious continuity.
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