Pittsburgh Hebrew School advertisement (1924)
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Pittsburgh Hebrew School, also known as the Talmud Torah, was a Jewish educational institution for boys created by Rabbi Moshe Shimon Sivitz. Various sources provide conflicting dates for its founding, going back as early as 1885. The school was incorporated in 1899 with charter members Herman Stein, Max Goldberg, Samuel Silberblatt, Israel Lefkosky, Hyman Sach, Samuel Sheffler, and Max Rosenberg.[1]Pittsburgh Hebrew School charter, Allegheny County Charter Books Vol. 25, p. 464-467. [2]“Pittsburg-Allegheny,” American Israelite, Sept. 14, 1899, p. 2 (online—Newspapers.com).
The school initially met in rented rooms on Wylie Avenue near Tunnel Street in the lower Hill District. Hours were 4 to 7 p.m. during the school year with additional morning classes during the summer. The school briefly relocated to Fifth Avenue near Chatham Street around 1888 and then to Washington Street above Wylie Avenue. The school moved to 1210 Franklin St. around 1894 and to Colwell Street around 1897.[3]Kelskay, Joseph M. “Pittsburgh Hebrew School is Pioneer Talmud Torah,” Jewish Criterion, September 24, 1924, p. 131-136 (online).
Around the time of its incorporation, the Pittsburgh Hebrew School launched a building fund campaign. It eventually purchased a three-story building at 137 Crawford Street, where it remained for decades. Once installed in the new building, the school operated two units: a cheder for younger boys and a yeshiva for older boys.[4]Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh:Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, p. 272. By the mid-1920s, student enrollment at the Pittsburgh Hebrew School was approaching 500.
The Pittsburgh Hebrew School temporarily operated out of the Irene Kaufmann Settlement House at 1851 Center Avenue in the 1940s. The school attempt to relocated to Bartlett Street in Squirrel Hill in 1949 but was denied key permits by city officials.[5]“School Denied Building Permit,” Pittsburgh Press, Aug. 9, 1949, p5 (online—Newspapers.com).
A Daughters of Jacob women’s auxiliary was organized around 1912 to assist the school.[6]“Daughter of Jacob Auxiliary, Pittsburgh Hebrew School,” Jewish Criterion, May 1, 1925, p. 34 (online). The Junior Club was formed in early 1925 to promote the school and its mission.[7]“Junior Club Organized at Pittsburgh Hebrew School,” Jewish Criterion, January 30, 1925, p. 52 (online).
References
| ↑1 | Pittsburgh Hebrew School charter, Allegheny County Charter Books Vol. 25, p. 464-467. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “Pittsburg-Allegheny,” American Israelite, Sept. 14, 1899, p. 2 (online—Newspapers.com). |
| ↑3 | Kelskay, Joseph M. “Pittsburgh Hebrew School is Pioneer Talmud Torah,” Jewish Criterion, September 24, 1924, p. 131-136 (online). |
| ↑4 | Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh:Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, p. 272. |
| ↑5 | “School Denied Building Permit,” Pittsburgh Press, Aug. 9, 1949, p5 (online—Newspapers.com). |
| ↑6 | “Daughter of Jacob Auxiliary, Pittsburgh Hebrew School,” Jewish Criterion, May 1, 1925, p. 34 (online). |
| ↑7 | “Junior Club Organized at Pittsburgh Hebrew School,” Jewish Criterion, January 30, 1925, p. 52 (online). |
