Jewish Alaska?

According to an article in the current issue of Moment magazine, Alaska is "That Great Big Jewish Land."  Jews apparently have had a strong influence in the development of the state and its admission to the union, and are significantly prominent in commercial and public life.  They were some of the first non-native settlers in the area.  From their ranks came people as diverse as the state's first postmistresses, the longest-serving territorial governor (and the man who pushed for statehood), and 20% of the state's judges in 1995.  Someone has even written an alternate-history novel that contemplates what Alaska might have been like had plans to make Alaska a haven for people fleeing the Holocaust been successful.

Who knew?