Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

people have been living in

Arizona Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...

since the mid-1870s. In 1877, there were 48

Jews Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

living in the

territory. Over succeeding decades, Arizona's

population rose to 2,000 in 1897 and fell to 500 in 1907. By 1973, it had risen again to over 21,000. The Jewish population grew rapidly after World War II. Today, there are over 82,000

residents in

and

Christians Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

had good relations in pioneer Arizona; many well-known firms had

and

Christian Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...

partners. Many

served in territorial and state legislatures.

Jacob Weinberger Jacob Weinberger (January 4, 1882 – May 20, 1974) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Education and career Born in Austria-Hungary, to Herman and Nettie Flaster Weinb ...

was on the

Arizona Supreme Court The Arizona Supreme Court is the state supreme court of the U.S. state of Arizona. Sitting in the Supreme Court building in downtown Phoenix, the court consists of a chief justice, a vice chief justice, and five associate justices. Each justice i ...

. There have been several Jewish mayors of

Phoenix Phoenix most often refers to: * Phoenix (mythology), a legendary bird from ancient Greek folklore * Phoenix, Arizona, a city in the United States Phoenix may also refer to: Mythology Greek mythological figures * Phoenix (son of Amyntor), a ...

and

Tucson , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

in recent years. The first synagogue built in

was Temple Beth Israel. At the time that this synagogue was originally built, there were approximately 120

living in the

area. After its move to Scottsdale, AZ other congregations emerged across the valley in Mesa, Tempe, Glendale, Paradise Valley, and other locations. Organized Jewish congregations were also found in Flagstaff, Kingman,

Mesa A mesa is an isolated, flat-topped elevation, ridge or hill, which is bounded from all sides by steep escarpments and stands distinctly above a surrounding plain. Mesas characteristically consist of flat-lying soft sedimentary rocks capped by ...

, Prescott, Scottsdale and

Tucson , "(at the) base of the black ill , nicknames = "The Old Pueblo", "Optics Valley", "America's biggest small town" , image_map = , mapsize = 260px , map_caption = Interactive map ...

. Despite the success of early and mid-Jewish leaders in the territory and state, Jews living in

have still faced challenges observing

Judaism Judaism ( he, ''Yahăḏūṯ'') is an Abrahamic, monotheistic, and ethnic religion comprising the collective religious, cultural, and legal tradition and civilization of the Jewish people. It has its roots as an organized religion in the ...

and facing

anti-Semitism Antisemitism (also spelled anti-semitism or anti-Semitism) is hostility to, prejudice towards, or discrimination against Jews. A person who holds such positions is called an antisemite. Antisemitism is considered to be a form of racism. Antis ...

. While Jews around the world fell victim to

Hitler's Adolf Hitler (; 20 April 188930 April 1945) was an Austrian-born German politician who was dictator of Nazi Germany, Germany from 1933 until Death of Adolf Hitler, his death in 1945. Adolf Hitler's rise to power, He rose to power as the le ...

Nazi movement Nazism ( ; german: Nazismus), the common name in English for National Socialism (german: Nationalsozialismus, ), is the far-right totalitarian political ideology and practices associated with Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party (NSDAP) in Na ...

from the mid-1930s onwards,

experienced their own form of anti-Semitism leading up to the 1960s. This mainly included being restricted from specific resorts.

Organizations

* Jewish Community Foundation of Southern Arizona * Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona * Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center * Jewish Community Relations Council and Holocaust Education * Jewish Family & Children's Services of Southern Arizona * Jewish War Veterans of the USA Friedman-Paul Post * Tucson Jewish Community Center *

American Jewish Committee The American Jewish Committee (AJC) is a Jewish advocacy group established on November 11, 1906. It is one of the oldest Jewish advocacy organizations and, according to ''The New York Times'', is "widely regarded as the dean of American Jewish org ...

Anti-Defamation League The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), formerly known as the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith, is an international Jewish non-governmental organization based in the United States specializing in civil rights law. It was founded in late Septe ...

* Brandeis National Committee- Phoenix Chapter * Hadassah * Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Phoenix * Jewish Community Services * Yeshiva of Phoenix * East Valley JCC (EVJCC) * ADL Arizona -

* Jewish Philanthropies of Southern Arizona

References

{{reflist Jews and Judaism in Arizona Jewish-American history by state