Beth Jehuda Congregation (Manchester)

Beth Jehuda Congregation was a Jewish congregation in the Manchester neighborhood of the North Side of Pittsburgh.

A Jewish population emerged in Manchester in the early 20th century. By 1911, several families had started the North Side Religious School under the auspices of the Southwestern District of Pennsylvania Jewish Religious Schools program.^[1]“North Side Religious School” notice, Jewish Criterion, March 31, 1911 (online). A group of 25 founded Agudath Achim (Brotherly Love) in 1913 on Beaver Avenue. The congregation changed its name to Beth Jehuda in 1915, following an auction. Rudolph Solomon purchased the right to name the congregation after his father.^[2]Arnfield, Ruth. “A Half Century of Faith,” Jewish Criterion, Sept. 11, 1942, p. 24 (online).

Beth Jehuda Congregation was located at 1428 Nixon St. until 1926, when it dedicated a renovated church at 1822 Chateau St.^[3]Beth Jehuda synagogue dedication notice, Jewish Criterion, Aug. 27, 1926 (online). The congregation held events at the Chateau Street synagogue through at least 1956 and sold the building to the North Side Church of God in 1960.^[4]Congregation Beth Jehuda Sisterhood notice, Jewish Criterion, Jan. 27, 1956 (online). ^[5]1822 Chateau St., Pittsburgh House Histories (online-Facebook). Beth Jehuda Congregation continued to exist as a legal entity through at least 1965.^[6]Beth Hamedrash Hagodol-Beth Jacob special section, Jewish Chronicle, June 18, 1965 (online).

Presidents include George Mendelbaum (1913-1930) and William Siegman (1930-1960). Spiritual leaders include Rabbi Henry Tolochko, Rev. Alex Spokane, and Rabbi Simon Z. Rubenstein.

Bibliography

• “Beth Israel (Allegheny),” Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book, 1921 (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
• “Beth Israel (Allegheny),” Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book, 1924 (catalog record).
• Beth Jehuda Congregation photographs, Gerald Sapir Papers and Photographs [MSS 775] (catalog record).
• Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1986 (catalog record).

Exhibit history

• Author: Eric Lidji
• Original: March 2, 2023
• Current: March 21, 2023