The Russian School was an adult education program in Pittsburgh for Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. It was established around 1890 by Dr. Lippman Mayer of Rodef Shalom Congregation and overseen by a small group of volunteers. The curriculum largely consisted of English reading and writing. The school was initially located in the basement of the Rodef Shalom Congregation synagogue on Eighth Street downtown. It moved to 400 Fifth Avenue in November 1891. At one point, the school had as many as 110 students and three teachers and maintained a small library. As the Jewish immigrant population of Pittsburgh increased, the Russian School gradually gave way to larger educational initiatives overseen by the National Council of Jewish Women—Pittsburgh Section.
Bibliography
American Israelite
- “Jottings,” American Israelite, Nov. 19, 1891, p6 (online—Newspapers.com).
“Pittsburgh, Pa,” American Israelite, Jan. 7, 1892, p3 (online—Newspapers.com).
“Pittsburgh, Pa,” American Israelite, April 7, 1892, p3 (online—Newspapers.com).
Rauh Jewish Archives
- Selavan, Ida Cohen. “The Education of Jewish Immigrants in Pittsburgh, 1862-1932,” Ida Cohen Selavan Papers [MFF 2045].
- Feldman, Jacob S. “The early migration and settlement of the Jews in Pittsburgh, 1754-1894,” Pittsburgh, pa. [fF160 .J5 F312 c.3] (online).
Rodef Shalom Congregation Archives
- Rodef Shalom Congregation minutes (Rodef Shalom Congregation website).
Exhibit history
- Author: Eric Lidji
- Created: March 13, 2022
- Current Version: March 13, 2022