Culture

6 Surprising Facts About Jewish Utah

Unlikely Supporter: Brigham Young donated land to create Salt Lake City’s first Jewish cemetery Image by Charles Roscoe Savage

By Gabe Friedman and Rachel X. Landes August 24, 2014

1. Brigham Young, president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, donated land to create the first Jewish cemetery in Salt Lake City.

2. Simon Bamberger became Utah’s fourth governor after he was elected in 1916.

3. In 1934, students at the University of Utah created an anti-fascist group to “defend minority rights in Germany.” In that same year Elbert D. Thomas, senator of Utah and former professor from the University of Utah denounced Hitler.

4. The first Jewish woman to serve in Congress was born in Salt Lake City, to Polish Jewish immigrants. Florence Prag Kahn served from 1925 to 1937.

5. Jewish comedian and actress Roseanne Barr, grew up in Salt Lake City.

6. Mormons ran afoul of Jewish authorities by trying to posthumously baptize Anne Frank in 2012.

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