Congregation Ohav Sholom (Strip District)

Jewish Criterion
Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project

Congregation Ohav Sholom[1]Throughout its existence, the congregation used numerous spellings of its name in public notices, including Ahawas Sholom, Ahawas Sholem, Ohave Sholem, Ohav Shalom, Ohav Sholem, Ohav Sholom, Ohav … Continue reading was located in the Strip District of Pittsburgh. It was founded as early as 1904 by Jewish merchants living and working in the neighborhood and was also frequented by merchants from other neighborhoods who patronized the Strip District wholesale produce terminal early in the morning. The congregation appears to have never been legally incorporated. Congregation Ohav Sholom closed sometime after 1937.

Congregation Ohav Sholom purchased a former church at 2824 Liberty Avenue as early as 1904 and expanded the building to include a second story and a rear addition. The congregation also regularly held events at Klein’s Hall at 28th and Penn Avenue. The congregation regularly contributed to the War Sufferer’s Relief Fund and other causes.

In addition to the congregation, the Jewish population of the Strip District organized the Penn Avenue Mother’s Club, which ran the Penn Avenue Religious School under the auspices of the Southwestern District of Pennsylvania Jewish Religious Schools program.

Spiritual leaders of the congregation include Nathan Silverman, Louis Ginsburg, and Chas Spokane. Presidents include Joshua Weisberg, Paul Friedman, and R. B. Peller.

Individuals known to have been associated with Congregation Ohav Sholom include L. Amshel, the Applestein family, D. Beller, Block, Esther Boxsenbaum, Herman Brown, Leo Caplan, Fannie Engelsberg, Louis Evanier, Florence Fassberg, Meyer Feinberg, Bella Fineman, David Finman, Samuel Fishbein, Esther Franzos, Bennie Friedman, Ethel Friedman, Olgo Friedman, Paul Friedman, Ida Ginsberg, Sam Goldman, Anna Goldstein, Bennie Goldstein, David Goldstein, Eva Goldstein, Henry Goldstein, Jeanette Goldstein, Lillian Goldstein, Nathan Goldstein, Raphael Goldstein, Samuel Goldstein, Robert Graver, Fannie Grossman, Nathan Hollstein, C. M. Igel, Morris Jacobs, Isador Katz, Bella Kritberg, Julius Landy, Jennie Levenson, Leo Levenson, Louis Leventhal, David Lewis, Harry Miller, Lena Miller, Rose Molamud, Doro Moses, Abram Panich, Abe Paper, R. B. Peller, Anna Perovsky, Ida I. Richman, Harry Rothman, Isidor Rubin, Isadore Saul, Ida Schlanger, M. Seegman, Phyllis Seegman, Mary Shapiro, the Shore family, Morris Shvartz, Harry Sigal, Elizabeth Silverman, Mollie Silverman, Rose Silverman, Isadore Slavkin, Rachel Soltz, Rita Stein, Eva Stoltz, Gilbert Teitelbaum, Kathyrine Weinter, and Joshua E. Weisberg.

Bibliography

Newspapers.com

  • Congregation Ohav Sholom real estate notice, Pittsburgh Weekly Gazette, Sept. 20, 1904 (online—Newspapers.com).
  • “Fined for Disturbing Meeting,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, Sept. 13, 1909 (online—Newspapers.com).
  • “Synagogue Vestments Are Lost In Blaze,” Pittsburgh Press, May 8, 1925 (online—Newspapers.com).
  • “Police Are Puzzled In Synagogue Theft; Thieves Loot $500,” Pittsburgh Daily Post, July 25, 1925 (online—Newspapers.com).
  • “Rob Synagogue In Liberty Ave.,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, July 25, 1925 (online—Newspapers.com).

University of Pittsburgh Archives & Special Collections

Maps
  • “Strip District, Bedford Dwellings, Polish Hill. Plate 4,” Atlas of Greater Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: from official records, private plans, and actual surveys [1910], G.M. Hopkins & Co. (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • “Bedford Dwellings. Plate 30 B,” Real estate plat-book of the city of Pittsburgh : from official records, private plans and actual surveys, Volume 1. [1923], G.M. Hopkins & Co. (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • “Sheet No. 25” (January 1, 1931), Topographic sheets, City of Pittsburgh: geodetic and topographic survey (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
Oral Histories
  • Edwin Fisher oral history, 1997 ( Tape 1, Side 1), from NCJW-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • Lillian Goldstein oral history, 2000 (Tape 1, Side 1), from NCJW-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • Betty S. Hepner oral history, 1997 (Tape 1, Side 1), from NCJW-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • Anne Lowenthal oral history, 1982 (Tape 1, Side 1), from NCJW-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • Gussie Shore oral history, 1986 (Tape 1, Side 1), from NCJW-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • Gussie Shore oral history, 1986 (Tape 1, Side 2), from NCJW-Pittsburgh Section Records [AIS1664.40] (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
Photographs
  • “28th Street Bridge Steps,” [June 3, 1913], Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
  • “Liberty Avenue” [February 10, 1966], Pittsburgh City Photographer Collection (online—Historic Pittsburgh).

Exhibit history

  • Author: Eric Lidji
  • Created: May 4, 2023
  • Current: May 4, 2023

References

References
↑1 Throughout its existence, the congregation used numerous spellings of its name in public notices, including Ahawas Sholom, Ahawas Sholem, Ohave Sholem, Ohav Shalom, Ohav Sholem, Ohav Sholom, Ohav Scholam, Ohov Sholom, and Auhave Sholam.

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