This document is a page taken from Temple De Hirsch’s 1933 minutes and addresses the beginning of a new school. During this time period, Jewish organizations had to make budget cuts as people began donating less money amidst the Great Depression. However, one thing that Jewish organizations in Seattle would not get rid of was schools. This document is important because it shows that Temple De Hirsch supported a new religious school and was in favor of creating a committee despite the fact that Temple De Hirsch had a lot of debt. Additionally, the top of the document also references to a member of Temple De Hirsch reducing her monthly membership fee. This was very common during the great depression and Temple De Hirsch minutes reveal that people reduced their donations on a weekly basis to Temple De Hirsch.
While Jewish organizations like Temple De Hirsch had very little money to start new projects, schools were seen as one of the most valuable parts of the Jewish community during the Great Depression. Jews at the time were very worried about rising concerns of antisemitism, an uncertain economic future, and their children’s knowledge of the Jewish faith. Educating children seemed to be a solution to those problems and as a result, the biggest advancements to happen in the Jewish community during the Great Depression was in the creation and maintenance of schools.
This second document was also taken from Temple De Hirsch minutes and shows that The Religious School committee allowed someone to keep her children in school despite the fact that she did not have enough money to make sufficient membership payments. Although money was tight during the great depression and teachers were paid less then they had ever been paid, students whose parents that did not have enough money to send their children to religious school could still attend religious school. Jewish newspapers during the Great Depression argued week after week for two things: better education and helping Jews across the world. While very little donation money during the Great Depression went towards helping Jews overseas, a lot of organizations in Seattle diverted their money into maintaining functional and accessible schools.