| | Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 1 | Title: | Library Minyan Records
| | | | Creator: | The Library Minyan | | | | Dates: | 1987-1999 | | | | Abstract: | In 1988 the Program Committee of Beth Am Congregation in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, established its Shabbat Library Minyan under the guidance of Rabbi Alan Lettofsky. In 1998 the organization separated itself from Beth Am, becoming an independent non-profit organization. The Library Minyan's stated purpose was to promote traditional, egalitarian Jewish spiritual growth and Jewish learning. The collection consists of agendas, articles of incorporation, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, guidelines, minutes, newsletters, questionnaires, reports, rosters, a schedule, and a speech. | | | | Call #: | MS 5379 | | | | Extent: | 0.40 linear feet (1 container) | | | | Subjects: | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- Sources. | Jews -- United States -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Religious life -- 20th century.
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| Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 2 | Title: | Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV
| | | | Creator: | Gift of Jack Greminger | | | | Dates: | 1927-2017 | | | | Abstract: | The Workmen's Circle, or Arbeiter Ring, is a secular Jewish fraternal organization founded to build a better world, foster cultural Jewishness, and offer friendships. Early on, the Circle was viewed as an organization of labor unionists, including Socialists, although there was no official connection. Members demonstrated for social security, unemployment compensation, child labor laws, workmen's compensation, and health security, and supported candidates who were in favor of these issues. The group also provided lectures, poetry readings, plays, shows, and concerts in Yiddish. Camp Vladek (called the Workmen's Circle Camp) in Rock Creek, Ohio was a summer resort for adults and a children's camp from 1950-1963, when it was sold and the proceeds were used to build a Workmen's Circle Educational Center at 1980 Green Road in 1964. The I. L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School first opened in 1918 and became a center for adult Yiddish classes and Yiddish cultural programming. Since the Holocaust, the Circle's emphasis has shifted to the preservation, promotion, and perpetuation of Yiddish language and culture. In 1995 there were 3 branches in Cleveland and 1 in Akron; membership totaled approximately 1,200. The Workmen's Circle Records, Series IV collection consists of agreements, applications, awards, booklets, budgets, bylaws, correspondence, a mortgage deed and plot plan for Camp Vladek, employee manual and forms, flyers, board meetings and minutes, music sheets, newsletters, newspaper clippings, a photograph, a poster, holiday programs, a school calendar, a sketch, a songbook, a syllabus, and a Yiddish textbook. | | | | Call #: | MS 5456 | | | | Extent: | 2.41 linear feet (3 boxes, including one oversized folder) | | | | Subjects: | Workmen’s Circle (U.S.) -- Ohio -- Cleveland | Camp Vladek (Rock Creek, Ohio) | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies, etc. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century | Working class -- Ohio -- Cleveland | Friendly societies -- Ohio -- Cleveland
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| Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 3 | Title: | Beth Am Congregation Records, Series II
| | | | Creator: | Beth Am Congregation | | | | Dates: | 1933-1991 | | | | Abstract: | Beth Am Congregation, a Conservative Jewish congregation in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was founded in 1933 as the Community Temple by Rabbi Abraham Nowak and a group who belonged to B'nai Jeshurun Congregation (then known as Temple on the Heights). The founders wanted their new synagogue to be more welcoming to all Jews, regardless of their wealth or status. The congregation established administrative offices at 241 Euclid Avenue; services and school classes were held at Coventry School in Cleveland Heights. After meeting at several rented locations, the congregation purchased a large house on Washington Boulevard. By 1940, however, the need was seen for a permanent structure, and a building fund was established. In 1947 Beth Am purchased the Trinity Congregational Church at 3557 Washington Boulevard. The new rabbi, Jack J. Herman, was named the same year. The congregation continued to grow, and by 1956 had 600 families with 500 students in the religious school. A fire in 1957 destroyed much of the lower level of the building, including two Torahs and synagogue records; the congregation met on the campus of John Carroll University until repairs were effected. Rabbi Herman served the congregation until his death in 1969. Rabbi Michael Hecht was installed late in 1970. In 1971 the congregation dedicated a new religious school named for Rabbi Herman, constructed on land adjacent to the synagogue. From 1974 through the congregation's merger with B'nai Jeshurun in 1999, there were financial deficits that made it difficult for the congregation to sustain itself. The Jewish community was moving farther east, and membership decreased. A congregant offered land at the intersection of Cedar and Lander Roads in Mayfield Heights, provided that the membership could raise the monies necessary for a new building. In spite of a positive feasibility study, and plans unveiled by the architectural firm Finegold Alexander and Associates, the fundraising goals were not met and Beth Am sold its Washington Boulevard Building to the New Bible Fellowship Church and merged with B'nai Jeshurun Congregation in 1999. The collection consists of membership records, acknowledgement cards, certificates, and letterhead. This collection is of value to researchers studying the administration of a conservative Jewish congregation, particularly in Cleveland, Ohio. Of interest are letters of correspondence from Rabbi Michael Hecht and the congregation's board members to individual members of the congregation. The correspondence and synagogue records shed light upon the day-to-day operations of synagogues. The membership files, rabbi's letters to specific family members, and death and cemetery information will be of interest to genealogists. | | | | Call #: | MS 5151 | | | | Extent: | 0.40 linear feet (1 container) | | | | Subjects: | B'nai Jeshurun Congregation (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) | Beth Am Congregation (Cleveland Heights, Ohio). | Conservative Judaism -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- 20th century. | Jewish way of life -- 20th century | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- 20th century | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- Sources. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century. | Synagogues -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- 20th century.
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| Photograph Collection | Requires cookie* | | 4 | Title: | Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Photographs, Series III
| | | | Creator: | Workmen's Circle of Cleveland | | | | Dates: | 1930-1995 | | | | Abstract: | The Workmen's Circle of Cleveland (f. 1904) is a secular Jewish fraternal organization formed in the United States to perpetuate Yiddish language and culture, support and promote a liberal political agenda, offer both health and death benefits, and provide a meeting place for fellowship. Its Yiddish cultural programming includes lectures, readings, concerts, third Passover Seders, and the I.L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School, a supplementary program for children. Following World War II and the Holocaust and the continuing acculturation into American life of the descendants of its Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrant founders, the Workmen's Circle, in Cleveland, Ohio, and nationwide, has been experiencing significant and continuous loss of membership. The Workmen's Circle's group health plan and death benefits, both of which are available on a non-sectarian basis, are the major source of membership. The collection consists of approximately 850 images of the activities of the Workmen's Circle of Cleveland, Ohio, particularly Branch 671E and the I.L. Peretz School. | | | | Call #: | PG 560 | | | | Extent: | 0.80 linear feet (2 containers and 1 oversize folder) | | | | Subjects: | Workmen's Circle (U.S.) -- Photographs. | Workmen's Circle (U.S.) -- Photograph collections. | I.L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School (Cleveland, Ohio) | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- Sources. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies, etc. -- Photographs. | Fraternal organizations -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Working class -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jews -- Education -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Photographs. | Yiddish language -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
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| Manuscript Collection | Requires cookie* | | 5 | Title: | Workmen's Circle of Cleveland Records, Series III
| | | | Creator: | Workmen's Circle of Cleveland | | | | Dates: | 1916-2004 | | | | Abstract: | The Workmen's Circle of Cleveland, Ohio (f. 1904) is a secular Jewish fraternal organization formed in the United States to perpetuate Yiddish language and culture, support and promote a liberal political agenda, offer both health and death benefits, and provide a meeting place for fellowship. Its Yiddish cultural programming includes lectures, readings, concerts, third Passover Seders, and the I.L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School, a supplementary program for children. Following World War II and the Holocaust and the continuing acculturation into American life of the descendants of its Yiddish-speaking Jewish immigrant founders, the Workmen's Circle, in Cleveland and nationwide, has been experiencing significant and continuous loss of membership. The Workmen's Circle's group health plan and death benefits, both of which are available on a non-sectarian basis, are the major source of membership. The collection consists of correspondence, ledgers, membership lists, minutes, and programs. | | | | Call #: | MS 5088 | | | | Extent: | 1.01 linear feet (1 container and 1 oversize folder) | | | | Subjects: | Workmen's Circle (U.S.) | I.L. Peretz Workmen's Circle School (Cleveland, Ohio) | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- 20th century. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- History -- Sources. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Social life and customs -- 20th century. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies, etc. | Fraternal organizations -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Working class -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Jews -- Education -- Ohio -- Cleveland. | Yiddish language -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
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