Jews in Early Indiana

"Early Jews in Indiana and the Midwest

Always a trickle, never a flood, Jews have long been a presence in Indiana and the Old Northwest. Jewish migration into ante-bellum Indiana was characterized by two distinct phases and two different types of immigrants.

The initial 'wave' began as early as the 1760s when Jewish traders, businessmen, and land dealers inched their way along the barely-touched forests and unbridged waterways, helping pioneer early trade routes from the east into the Midwest. Well-known eastern seaboard Jews, like the Gratz family, formed land companies to market western lands or established trading businesses throughout the Midwest.6
The first Midwestern Jews were mainly American-born or 'English,' descendants of the Sephardim who made their way to the English colonies (in 1825 all but 3 of the known immigrant Jews in the Old Northwest were of 'English' origin)7 . They headed west for the same personal and economic reasons as any other immigrants. It was this scattered group that formed the core of Jewish 'settlement,' which was often highly mobile and seemingly disinclined to set out deep roots in any single place.

This pioneer group was almost exclusively male. Long accustomed to being a distinct minority, few seemed to carry their faith on their sleeves. Many rather rapidly assimilated into the dominant 'American' society, giving up many or all aspects of Jewish culture.8 This was partially the result of the paucity of other Jews in the area, but was also in keeping with the assimilationist tendencies of many of their forebearers. A great many married outside their faith, again a result of there simply being few, if any, Jewish women nearby."