An Alternative Approach to Judaics: The History of Jews in Colorado

Long before gold pan remedies paid off in the Rockies, Jewish pioneers found a surer path to fortune on the Colorado frontier: “Mining the miners.” 

Rather than digging for silver or gold, early Jewish settlers based their income on opening dry-goods shops, outfitting miners with the supplies they needed to survive, as opposed to directly mining the mines. 

The new frontier towns were very welcoming to new Jews, as the towns were small enough that they relied heavily on any shopkeepers, Jew or otherwise. 

“When you're part of a minority with such influence from the beginning, it makes you proud of your heritage,” said Channa Schweid, a history and Judaics teacher at Denver Jewish Day School. 

Schweid argues that studying local history provides an alternative and vital balance to the standard curricula and approach to Judaic studies. While many college-level courses focus primarily on historical tragedies, examining regional pioneer history highlights Jewish triumph, resilience, and community-building in our home state. 

That pioneer legacy is a living foundation for many institutions today. At DJDS, many students have long family lines of Jews living in Colorado and are deeply connected to Jewish youth institutions, such as Bnai Brith Youth Organization, an organization founded in 1944. 

“BBG [B’nai B’rith Girls] was important, as it was created in tandem with World War II, to give Jewish teens a safe space,” said Noah Kutnick, DJDS junior and BBYO Rocky Mountain Region Vice President of Recruitment. 

Across the state, the infrastructure built by early leaders still shapes everyday Denver life. Temple Emanuel Denver, founded in 1874, stands as the oldest Jewish congregation in Colorado. Meanwhile, healthcare milestones, such as Rose Hospital, trace back to organizers and funders like B’nai B’rith and Frances Weisbart Jacobs, a prominent Jewish pioneer.

Throughout Colorado history, Jewish pioneers have helped lay the groundwork for institutions that are still relevant to daily life today.