Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The First Podolier Independent Society was a mutual aid organization in Pittsburgh. It began no later than the early 1920s as the First Tomashpiler Independent Society and was incorporated as the First Podolier Independent Society in July 1924 with the following charter members: Max Kurland, Sam Lerner, J. J. Krinsky, Harry B. Herlich, Oscar Wanetick, Jacob Goodman, Joe Letwin, Nathan Rusin, I. Resnick, L. Schaffman, Sam Surloff, M. Soloman, M. Childs, M. Millstone, Louis Spector, and J. Milgrim. Tomashpil is a small town within the Podolia province of southwestern Ukraine, and the name change may have reflected an effort to broaden the pool of potential members.
The First Podolier Independent Society was created to provide “payment of benefits to its members in case of sickness or disability or death,” according to its charter. Over time, these activities focused almost entirely on providing death benefits. The society purchased cemetery property in Reserve Township from Kether Torah Congregation and sold a portion of the property to the Daughters of Israel Cemetery Association. The earliest burial in the cemetery dates to 1878, which likely predates the organization. The society also commissioned a Torah, which was kept at Chofetz Chaim Congregation.
By the early 1950s, the membership of the First Podolier Independent Society largely lived in Squirrel Hill or the East End. The organization held business meetings at the Chofetz Chaim synagogue. Activities included overseeing its cemetery, arranging social events, and making charitable donations. Burials in the Podolier cemetery continued with some regularity into the mid-2000s. The most recent burial was in 2023 with Dr. Macy Levine, whose family had overseen the cemetery for decades. Around the time of his death, the cemetery was turned over to the Jewish Cemetery & Burial Association.
Bibliography
- Podolier Independent Society materials, from Macy Levine Papers [MSS 547] (catalog record).
- Podolier Independent Society materials, from Corinne Azen Krause Papers [MSS 113] (catalog record).
Exhibit history
- Author: Eric Lidji
- Original: March 17, 2026
- Current: March 17, 2026