South Dakota's Jewish population will soon have a permanent rabbi in the state. Something the it hasn't had since at least the early 1980's.  Before the end of the year, 27-year-old Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz, his wife Mussie, and their two daughters will be relocating from Brooklyn, NY to Sioux Falls.

Jews have called South Dakota home since the gold rush of the 1870's. The group has stayed relativity small through the decades, with current estimate saying that there are less than 1000 Jews living in the Rushmore State.

That small group has been served by traveling student rabbis for the past several years. In March of 2016 Rabbi Alperowitz visited Sioux Falls as one of those traveling rabbis for the festival Purim. The enthusiasm of the people at the event convinced him to move to Sioux Falls.

Rabbi Alperowitz recently told NPR's Scott Simon that final plans are being made and he hopes to be in Sioux Fall in time for Hanukkah, which this year starts on the evening of December 24.


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