Bickur Cholim Home photograph
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Bickur Cholim Society was a service agency in Pittsburgh providing care for people recovering from illness. The organization assumed many forms over its existence, including arranging hospital visits, overseeing a convalescent home, and awarding grants.
Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz organized the first Bickur Cholim Society in Pittsburgh around 1912 with a group of Jewish women living in the Hill District. By the early 1920s, the group was raising funds toward opening a convalescent home, a dream that would remain unrealized for more than 30 years.[1]Bickur Cholim Society notice, Jewish Criterion, March 25, 1921 (online). The first Bickur Cholim Convalescent and Nursing Home opened at 4906 Baum Blvd. in late 1954 and early 1955.[2]“Bickur Cholim To Establish Convalescent Home, Jewish Criterion, December 3, 1954 (online). The facility included beds for 16 patients, a “strictly kosher” kitchen, quarters for 24-hour nursing staff, and an on-call physician.
The home relocated into a renovated house at 208 S. Negley Ave. in 1957. The new facility included 22 beds but quickly filled, leading to discussions of a large addition onto the property to accommodate an additional 34 patients.[3]“Bickur Cholim Home Dedication To Open Campaign,” Jewish Criterion, August 30, 1957 (online). The Bickur Cholim Society became an affiliate of the United Jewish Federation (now the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh) in 1962. Following a study initiated by the United Jewish Federation, the Bickur Cholim Society abandoned plans for its expansion and instead relocated in February 1967 to a wing at Montefiore Hospital while it worked toward building an independent 100-bed facility on the grounds of the hospital.
The partnership with Montefiore Hospital ended after a few months. The Bickur Cholim Society temporarily suspended its activities in 1971 but reorganized in 1973 by opening a convalescent and nursing home within the Angelus Convalescent Center at 200 Amber St. in the East End. The Bickur Cholim wing included 20-beds and had a kosher kitchen.[4]“Bickur Cholim Spirit Soar on ‘The Wing,'” Jewish Chronicle, September 13, 1973 (online).
Even after discontinuing its partnership with the Angelus, the Bickur Cholim Society continued provided services and resources within the Jewish community. In the early 1980s, the Jewish Home and Hospital for the Aged built the Bickur Cholim Pavilion as a site for adult day care programming. The National Council of Jewish Women-Pittsburgh Section opened its Council Care program in the pavilion in 1983 and expanded the initiative over the subsequent years with funding from the Bickur Cholim Society.[5]“NCJW’s 90th birthday gift; Elderly Day Care Center,” Jewish Chronicle, May 5, 1983 (online). The Bickur Cholim Society was also an important funder for Jewish Family & Community Services and Jewish Residential Services in the late 1980s and early 1990s.[6]“Bickur Cholim makes $45,000 in grants,” Jewish Chronicle, May 21, 1992 (online).
References
| ↑1 | Bickur Cholim Society notice, Jewish Criterion, March 25, 1921 (online). |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “Bickur Cholim To Establish Convalescent Home, Jewish Criterion, December 3, 1954 (online). |
| ↑3 | “Bickur Cholim Home Dedication To Open Campaign,” Jewish Criterion, August 30, 1957 (online). |
| ↑4 | “Bickur Cholim Spirit Soar on ‘The Wing,'” Jewish Chronicle, September 13, 1973 (online). |
| ↑5 | “NCJW’s 90th birthday gift; Elderly Day Care Center,” Jewish Chronicle, May 5, 1983 (online). |
| ↑6 | “Bickur Cholim makes $45,000 in grants,” Jewish Chronicle, May 21, 1992 (online). |
