| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Warrensville Center Synagogue |
| Title: | Warrensville Center Synagogue Records |
| Dates: | 1925-1990 |
| Extent: | 3.30 linear feet (6 containers) |
| Abstract: | The Warrensville Center Synagogue, an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was established in 1959 as a result of a merger between three smaller synagogues, the Tetiever Ahavath Achim Anshe Sfard Congregation, the Kinsman Jewish Center, and Congregation Nvai Zedek. In 1970, Sherith Jacob Israel, the Eddy Road Jewish Center-Memorial Synagogue joined Warrensville Center. This congregation was itself a merger of Sherith Jacob and Sherith Israel of Mount Pleasant congregations. In 1972, Shaker-Lee Congregation was absorbed by the Warrensville Center Synagogue. Shaker-Lee Congregation was the result of a previous merger of Ohel Jacob, Ohel Yavne, and Tifereth Israel (not to be confused with The Temple-Tifereth Israel, a Reform congregation) congregations. The collection consists of organizational documents, membership lists, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and program brochures. Included is the card file (1950-1989) of funerals of congregants maintained by Rabbi Jacob Muskin, leader of the Kinsman Jewish Center (1950-1959) and the Warrensville Center Synagogue (1959-1990). Also included is the Warrensville Center Synagogue membership card file (1959), arranged alphabetically by family name and coded to indicate the members' original congregational affiliation. |
| MS Number | MS 4758 |
| Location: | closed stacks |
| Language: | The records are in English |
The Warrensville Center Synagogue, an Orthodox Jewish congregation in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, was established in 1959 as a result of a merger between three smaller synagogues, the Tetiever Ahavath Achim Anshe Sfard Congregation (f. 1909), the Kinsman Jewish Center (f. 1930), and Congregation Nvai Zedek (f. ca. 1920). The merger occurred as a result of the Jewish migration from Cleveland to the eastern suburbs after World War II. None of these congregations could continue on its own. In 1970, Sherith Jacob Israel, the Eddy Road Jewish Center-Memorial Synagogue (f. 1962), joined Warrensville Center. This congregation was itself a merger of Sherith Jacob (f. 1899) and Sherith Israel of Mount Pleasant (f. 1930). In 1972, Shaker-Lee Congregation (f. 1959) was absorbed. Shaker-Lee was the result of a previous merger of Ohel Jacob (f. 1915), Ohel Yavne (f. 1919) and Tifereth Israel (f. 1920 -- not to be confused with The Temple-Tifereth Israel, a Reform congregation).
Jacob Muskin (1918-1990), previously rabbi of the Kinsman Jewish Center beginning in 1950, served Warrensville Center Synagogue from the merger in 1959 until his death in 1990.
click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Warrensville Center Synagogue
The Warrensville Center Synagogue Records, 1925-1990, consist of organizational documents, membership lists, newsletters, newspaper clippings, and program brochures.
This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of twentieth century Orthodox Judaism in general, and in particular, the consolidation of Orthodox Jewish congregations in the Cleveland metropolitan area. The rabbi's funeral record cards may offer important information for genealogists, as they contain family names (including parents, children and siblings), addresses, dates and places of birth.
None.
Related MaterialThe researcher should consult MS 3765 Taylor Road Synagogue Records and MS 4756 Heights Jewish Center Records, to further identify other Orthodox synagogue mergers in the Cleveland metropolitan area. The library also has the records of two of the founding congregations, MS 3703 Tetiever Ahavath Achim Anshe Sfard Congregation Records, and MS 3689 Sherith Israel of Mount Pleasant Records.
The researcher should also consult PG 487 Warrensville Center Synagogue Photographs; and PG 514 Warrensville Center Synagogue Photographs, Series II.
Separated MaterialAll photographs have been removed to PG 487 Warrensville Center Synagogue Photographs.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4758 Warrensville Center Synagogue Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Mrs. Miriam Muskin, 1993 and 1997.
Processed by Jane A. Avner in 1997
Series I: Congregational Records 1925-1990 |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Kinsman Jewish Center, annual banquet books 1946 1949-1951 1955 1957-1958 | |||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Kinsman Jewish Center, banquet programs 1952 1955 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Kinsman Jewish Center, Kinsman Shaker Courier and K.J.C. Newsletter 1951-1959 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Kinsman Jewish Center, membership lists 1950-1958 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Kinsman Jewish Center, Young Women's League, nursery school correspondence and student applications 1951-1952 | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Kinsman Jewish Center, Young Women's League, lists and newspaper clippings 1951 1953 1958 | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Sherith Israel of Mount Pleasant, financial statements (photocopies) 1925 1927 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Sherith Jacob Congregation [also called Eddy Road Jewish Center] memorial book (original in Container 6, oversize materials) ca. 1940 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Sherith Jacob Congregation [also called Eddy Road Jewish Center] , Golden Jubilee Celebration book 1947 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Nvai Zedek officer list ca. 1950s | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Nvai Zedek Sisterhood nineteeth annual donor luncheon book 1952 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Shaker Lee Synagogue dedication banquet book and fiftith anniversary program book 1961 1965 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Tetiever Ahavath Achim Anshe Sfard Congregation, 35th and 40th anniversary banquet books 1944 1949 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, constitution, drafts and final version, merger agreement, and newspaper clippings 1959-1960 | |||||||||
| 1 | 10-11 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, membership lists 1964 1966-1967 1969-1970 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, newspaper clippings, programs and publicity 1959-1989 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, Leah Goldenberg Classroom, dedication certificate (original in Container 6, oversize materials) 1965 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13-14 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, Bulletins 1959-1990 | |||||||||
| 1 | 15 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, Annual Memorial Tribute programs 1961-1989 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, dedication journal 1959 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, first anniversary banquet book 1960 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, Youth Education Center Dedication banquet book 1966 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, annual banquet books 1968-1970 | |||||||||
| 1 | 16 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, dinner programs 1961 1963-1964 1966 1968 | |||||||||
| 1 | 17-20 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, annual banquet books 1971-1984 | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 21-22 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, annual banquet books 1985-1989 | |||||||||
| 2 | 23 | Warrensville Center Syngagogue, Religious School, commencement exercise programs 1961 1964-1965 1968-1970 1972-1973 1975-1976 | |||||||||
Series II: Card Files 1951-1989 |
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| Box | |||||||||||
| 3-4 | Rabbi Jacob Muskin's card file of funeral records of congregants 1951-1989 | ||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 5 | Warrensville Center Synagogue membership card file, A-Z. Color code: salmon, Kinsman Jewish Center; white, Tetiever Ahavath Achim Anshe Sfard Congregation; blue, Congregation Nvai Zedek. 1959 | ||||||||||