| Repository: | Western Reserve Historical Society |
| Creator: | Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel |
| Title: | Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel Photographs |
| Dates: | 1979-1994 |
| Extent: | 0.80 linear feet (2 containers) |
| Abstract: | Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel (VCI) was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization with the goal of helping people from Cleveland, Ohio, who had moved to Israel. VCI offered services to Clevelanders planning a long-term or permanent move to Israel and to former Clevelanders now living in Israel. The group was founded by Shirley Goodman, who served as its director until her death in 2006. In Cleveland, VCI offered weekly workshops for those planning to move to Israel. Topics included packing and shipping, buying appliances, culture shock, and dealing with Israeli bureaucracy. VCI also offered Hebrew language classes. In Israel, the majority of services were provided through the Daniel Haas Center, located in Jerusalem, opened in 1983. Former Clevelanders could rely on VCI to help them stay connected to one another and to friends and relatives in Cleveland. A directory of Clevelanders living in Israel was published every few years, and meetings and social events were held regularly. Other services offered included employment assistance, housing interviews, counseling, emergency financial aid, and interest free loans. The Daniel Haas Center closed in 1996 due to lack of funding. VCI now continues its work through the Cleveland Hometown Association in Israel. The collection consists of approximately 300 color and black and white photographs. These photographs depict volunteers and members of VCI at events and locations in both Cleveland and Israel. The majority of the individuals in the photographs have been identified. |
| PG Number | PG 572 |
| Language: | The records are in English |
Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel (VCI) was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization with the goal of helping people from Cleveland, Ohio, who had moved to Israel. VCI offered services to Clevelanders planning a long-term or permanent move to Israel and to former Clevelanders now living in Israel. The group was founded by Shirley Goodman, who served as its director until her death in 2006.
In Cleveland, VCI offered weekly workshops for those planning to move to Israel. Topics included packing and shipping, buying appliances, culture shock, and dealing with Israeli bureaucracy. VCI also offered Hebrew language classes.
In Israel, the majority of services were provided through the Daniel Haas Center, located in Jerusalem, opened in 1983. Former Clevelanders could rely on VCI to help them stay connected to one another and to friends and relatives in Cleveland. A directory of Clevelanders living in Israel was published every few years, and meetings and social events were held regularly. Other services offered included employment assistance, housing interviews, counseling, emergency financial aid, and interest free loans. The Daniel Haas Center closed in 1996 due to lack of funding. VCI now continues its work through the Cleveland Hometown Association in Israel.
Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel Photographs, 1979-1994 and undated consists of approximately 300 color and black and white photographs. These photographs depict volunteers and members of VCI at events and locations in both Cleveland and Israel.
This collection is of value to researchers interested in emigration in the last quarter of the 20th century, especially those studying how Americans, specifically Clevelanders, prepare to make aliyah (to emigrate to Israel) and learn to live in a new culture. Genealogists may find the photographs to be of value. Of particular interest are the photographs of founder Shirley Goodman, volunteer Bennet Kleinman, and several prominent Israeli political figures.
None.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
[Container ___, Folder ___] PG 572 Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel Photographs, Western Reserve Historical Society. Cleveland, Ohio
Shirley Goodman, 2002
Processed by Jessica Marra and Hannah Porath in 2011.
Volunteers for Clevelanders in Israel Photographs 1979-1994 undated |
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| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 1 | 1 | Benefit, with Jerusalem Mayor Teddy Kollek 1984 | |||||||||
| 1 | 2 | Benefit, Gala, with Israeli ambassador 1985 | |||||||||
| 1 | 3 | Chanukah party 1980 | |||||||||
| 1 | 4 | Clevelanders, in Israel, A-L undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 5 | Clevelanders, in Israel, M-Z undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 6 | Daniel Haas Center 1985 | |||||||||
| 1 | 7 | Farewell party 1989 | |||||||||
| 1 | 8 | Farewell party 1990 | |||||||||
| 1 | 9 | Farewell party undated | |||||||||
| 1 | 10 | Independence Day concert 1986 | |||||||||
| 1 | 11 | Installation 1982 | |||||||||
| 1 | 12 | Installation 1983 | |||||||||
| 1 | 13 | Party undated | |||||||||
| Box | Folder | ||||||||||
| 2 | 1 | Patron Supper 1982 | |||||||||
| 2 | 2 | Picnic 1992 | |||||||||
| 2 | 3 | Picnic 1993 | |||||||||
| 2 | 4 | Picnic undated | |||||||||
| 2 | 5 | Student gathering 1983 | |||||||||
| 2 | 6 | Tour, of Israel 1981 | |||||||||
| 2 | 7 | Tribute dinner 1988 | |||||||||
| 2 | 8 | Wedding, Bronstein-Infeld families 1994 | |||||||||
| 2 | 9 | Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) 1979 | |||||||||
| 2 | 10 | Yom Ha'atzmaut (Israel Independence Day) 1984 | |||||||||