How Hawai and Alaska are connected to Israel

Have you wondered how some US states are connected to Israel? I have recently dived into the subject and found some pretty interesting connections. <br><br>And if you know a lot more than me, please share so I can learn too!<br><br>In Hawaii and Alaska, you can find some of the biggest Jewish communities, which have some strong roots and remarkable stories.<br><br>Let's start with Hawaii. When Hawai Hawai became a US state in 1959, it was the first American state in which the Jewish population grew significantly. And not just that, it became the state with the second-largest percentage of Jewish residents in the US. <br><br>In fact, one of the first synagogues to be built in Hawaii and Hawai was the Kona Hebrew Congregation, in 1917. And over time, more have been opened, with some having Hebrew and Yiddish language courses and Hawai Jewish cultural festivals. <br><br>Now, let's see some connections between Alaska and Israel. In 1867, when Alaska was purchased by the US from Russia, there was a debate if the purchase was a good idea. There was a huge number of those who didn't think it was a good idea. And in that debate, a really important thing happened. It was said by Senator Charles Sumner (Massachusetts) that the project is a good idea, but we can't do it alone. <br><br>After that, it was suggested that the US should ask the Jewish community to help, as they were such a hardworking people to settle it. And that didn't happen, but it was a really interesting idea. Hawai and Alaska have been connected ever since, with Jewish people coming to live and work there, and not just that, some US states who have the most Jewish communities and synagogues are Hawai and Alaska.