B'nai Abraham Synagogue

B'nai Abraham Synagogue
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
B'nai Abraham Synagogue from the northwest
Location	328 S. 5th St. Virginia, MN
Coordinates	47°31′6.88″N 92°32′10.28″W / 47.5185778°N 92.5361889°WCoordinates: 47°31′6.88″N 92°32′10.28″W / 47.5185778°N 92.5361889°W
Built	1909
NRHP Reference #	80004356 [1]
Added to NRHP	August 18, 1980

The B'nai Abraham Synagogue is a former synagogue in Virginia, Minnesota, United States. Built in 1909-10, it was the last remaining active synagogue on the Iron Range, and its once-robust congregation dwindled to a handful of members who could no longer maintain the handsome brick structure. It closed its doors in the mid-1990s. Many religious places such as B'nai Abraham slowly become vacant in areas where scant resources are available to continue serving their communities or rekindle new purposes. It was acquired in 2004 by a not-for-profit organization, The Friends of B'nai Abraham, who raised funds, and continue to do so, for the building's restoration. Its restoration is underway and reuse of this unique religious, cultural and historical building is ongoing. It has been rededicated as the B'nai Abraham Museum and Cultural Center in order to serve the citizens of Virginia, Minnesota and surrounding areas, and to preserve the history of its Jewish community, of which it was so much a part. The building reopened in the summer of 2008, and is jointly managed by the Friends organization and the Virginia Area Historical Society. It is used as a cultural center and museum and includes a permanent exhibit documenting the history of Jewish settlement on the Iron Range.

See also

• List of Minnesota Synagogues

References

1. Staff (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.

External links

• Friends of the B'nai Abraham
• Virginia Area Historical Society
• Virginia Area Historical Society Museum