Tales of Hoffman, Pioneering the Upper Midwest 1820 - 1910

This is a collection of semi-autobiographical vignettes about Jewish life in St. Paul, Minnesota. The scenes take place in the old West Side, which was St. Paul's major Jewish neighborhood during the first half of the twentieth century. Many chapters deal with the tensions and changes in lifestyle between generations. There are Yiddish-speaking mothers who live for their children only to have them move elsewhere around the country or relocate to more affluent neighborhood such as Highland Park, where the intertwined folkways, institutions, and friendships of the old immigrant community seem all but invisible. The older men are portrayed as deeply involved with religious rituals and with providing for their families. In many cases, Hoffman's narratives employ fictional devices to convey moral insights about the value systems of both young and old.

Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.