The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
A timeline reviewing notable events in the Jewish history of Western Pennsylvania from 1755 until 2017. Timeline includes all known congregations in the city of Pittsburgh and three surrounding suburbs, as well as dozens of local Jewish organizations. Also included are known Jewish population statistics between 1852 and 2017.
Timeline is actively being expanded to include additional events throughout Pittsburgh, as well as events in nearby small towns.
| Date | Event | Category | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1755 | Joseph Simon supplies Gen. Braddock's campaign against Fort Duquesne | Settlement | -- |
| 1760 | David Franks becomes supplier of Fort Pitt | Settlement | -- |
| 1775 | Mordecai Moses and Zipporah Mordecai | Settlement | The Mordecai Family |
| 1839 | earliest known Jewish settlement in Pittsburgh | Settlement | -- |
| 1847 | Bes Almon Society | Burial Society | Bes Almon Society |
| 1848 | Shaare Shamayim Congregation | Congregation | Shaare Shamayim Congregation |
| 1852 | Beth Israel Congregation (1) | Congregation | Beth Israel Congregation (1852) |
| 1852 | Jewish population: more than 30 families | Settlement | Population |
| 1853 | Hebrew Burial Association | Burial Society | Hebrew Burial Association |
| 1854 | Hebrew Benevolent Society | Philanthropic | Hebrew Benevolent Society |
| 1855 | Hebrew Ladies Aid Society | Philanthropic | Hebrew Ladies Aid Society |
| 1856 | Rodef Shalom Congregation | Congregation | Rodef Shalom Congregation |
| 1857 | Jewish population: 50 families | Settlement | Population |
| 1858 | Jewish population: 60 families | Settlement | Population |
| 1860 | Rodef Shalom Day School | School | Rodef Shalom Day School |
| 1860 | Allegheny Young Men’s Sephar Club | Fraternal | Allegheny Young Men’s Sephar Club |
| 1860 | Jewish population: 50 families and 25 single men | Settlement | Population |
| 1862 | B'nai B'rith Jericho Lodge No. 44 | Fraternal | Independent Order of B’nai B’rith (District No. 3) |
| 1864 | Tree of Life Congregation | Congregation | Tree of Life Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.) |
| 1864 | Jewish population: 150 families | Settlement | Population |
| 1869 | Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Congregation (as B'nai Israel) | Congregation | Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Congregation |
| 1874 | Congregation Emanuel (Pittsburgh) | Congregation | Congregation Emanuel |
| 1875 | Cremieux Society | Philanthropic | Cremieux Society |
| 1877 | Jewish population: 2,000 | Settlement | Population |
| 1878 | Young Men's Hebrew Association (1) | Philanthropic | Young Men’s Hebrew Association (1877-1905) |
| 1880 | United Hebrew Relief Association | Philanthropic | United Hebrew Relief Association |
| 1880 | Jewish population: 3,366 (Western Pennsylvania), 2,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1881 | Poale Zedeck Congregation | Congregation | Congregation Poale Zedeck |
| 1881 | Knights of Pythias Mt. Sinai Lodge No. 480 | Fraternal | Knights of Pythias |
| 1882 | Free Sons of Israel King David Lodge | Fraternal | -- |
| 1883 | Beth Jacob Congregation | Congregation | Beth Jacob Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.) |
| 1883 | Pittsburgh House of Shelter (as Refuge of Strangers) | Philanthropic | House of Shelter |
| 1885 | Pittsburgh Hebrew School (as Talmud Torah of Pittsburgh) | School | Pittsburgh Hebrew School |
| 1885 | Pittsburgh Platform | Event | Pittsburgh Platform |
| 1886 | Knesseth Israel Congregation | Congregation | -- |
| 1886 | Beth Abraham Congregation (as Mazursky's Congregation) | Congregation | Beth Abraham Cemetery |
| 1887 | Hebrew Free Loan Association | Philanthropic | Hebrew Free Loan Association |
| 1887 | Miscan Israel Congregation | Congregation | Mishcan Israel Congregation |
| 1889 | Ahave Sholem Congregation | Congregation | Ahave Sholem Congregation |
| 1889 | Choye Adam Congregation | Congregation | Choye Adam Congregation |
| 1889 | Der Volksfreund | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1889 | Jewish population: 5,000 | Settlement | Population |
| 1890 | Shaare Torah Congregation | Congregation | Shaare Torah Congregation |
| 1890 | Russian School | School | The Russian School |
| 1890 | Tiphereth Israel Congregation (as Anshe Sanee) | Congregation | Tiphereth Israel Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.) |
| 1890 | J. M. Gusky Orphanage | Philanthropic | J.M. Gusky Orphanage |
| 1890 | Agudas Achim Congregation (Crawford Street) | Congregation | Agudas Achim Congregation (Crawford Street) |
| 1894 | National Council of Jewish Women-Pittsburgh Section (as Columbian Council of Jewish Women) | Philanthropic | National Council of Jewish Women |
| 1895 | Jewish Criterion | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1896 | Machsikei Hadas Congregation | Congregation | Machsikei Hadas Congregation |
| 1896 | Beth Israel Congregation (2) | Congregation | Beth Israel Congregation (1896) |
| 1897 | Emma Kaufmann Clinic | Philanthropic | Emma Kaufmann Clinic |
| 1897 | Jewish population: 10,000 | Settlement | Population |
| 1898 | Hebrew Ladies Hospital Aid Society | Philanthropic | Ladies Hospital Aid Society |
| 1899 | New Light Congregation (as Congregation Ohel Jacob) | Congregation | New Light Congregation |
| 1899 | Beth Zedeck Congregation | Congregation | Beth Zedeck Congregation |
| 1900 | Shaare Zedeck Congregation | Congregation | Congregation Shaare Zedeck |
| 1903 | American Federation of Zionists Convention | Zionism | American Federation of Zionists Convention (1903) |
| 1903 | Cneseth Israel Congregation | Congregation | Cneseth Israel Congregation |
| 1904 | Workmen's Circle Branch 45 | Philanthropic | The Workmen’s Circle |
| 1904 | Congregation Ohav Sholom (Strip District) | Congregation | Congregation Ohav Sholom (Strip District) |
| 1905 | Beth David Congregation | Congregation | Beth David Congregation |
| 1905 | First Warsaw Benevolent Society | Philanthropic | First Warsaw Benevolent Society |
| 1905 | Young Ladies Sick and Relief Society | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1905 | Jewish Home for the Aged | Philanthropic | Jewish Home for the Aged |
| 1906 | Shaaray Tefilah Congregation | Congregation | Shaaray Tefilah Congregation |
| 1906 | Butler Street Congregation | Congregation | Butler Street Congregation |
| 1907 | Beth Israel Congregation (3) | Congregation | Beth Israel Congregation (Allegheny, Pa.) |
| 1907 | B'nai Zion Congregation | Congregation | B’nai Zion Congregation (Homewood) |
| 1907 | Kether Torah Congregation (as Anshe Volinya) | Congregation | Congregation Kether Torah |
| 1907 | Anshe Lubovitz Congregation | Congregation | Anshe Lubovitz Congregation |
| 1907 | Labor Lyceum Inc. | Philanthropic | Labor Lyceum |
| 1907 | Jewish population: 30,597 (Western Pennsylvania), 25,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1907 | Southwestern District of Pennsylvania Jewish Religious Schools | School | Southwestern District of Pennsylvania Jewish Religious Schools Program |
| 1908 | Emma Farm Association | Philanthropic | Emma Farm Association |
| 1908 | Montefiore Hospital | Philanthropic | Montefiore Hospital |
| 1908 | Pliskover Free Loan Association | Philanthropic | Pliskover Free Loan Association |
| 1908 | B'nai Israel Congregation | Congregation | B’nai Israel Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.) |
| 1909 | Irene Kaufmann Settlement House | Philanthropic | Irene Kaufmann Settlement House |
| 1910 | American Federation of Zionists Convention | Zionism | -- |
| 1910 | Young Men's Hebrew Association (6) | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1911 | Young Women's Hebrew Association | Philanthropic | Young Women’s Hebrew Association |
| 1911 | Moogen David Congregation | Congregation | Moogen David Congregation |
| 1911 | Hebrew Institute | School | Hebrew Institute |
| 1911 | Beth Jehuda Congregation (Manchester) | Congregation | Beth Jehuda Congregation (Manchester) |
| 1912 | Federation of the Jewish Philanthropies of Pittsburgh | Philanthropic | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh |
| 1912 | Malbish Arumim Society | Philanthropic | Malbish Arumim Society |
| 1913 | Talmud Torah Congregation | Congregation | Talmud Torah Congregation (South Side) |
| 1914 | Jewish Home for Babies and Children | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1914 | Shaare Zion Congregation | Congregation | Shaare Zion Congregation |
| 1915 | Montefiore Hebrew Congregation | Congregation | Montefiore Hebrew Congregation |
| 1916 | Hadassah of Western Pennsylvania | Zionism | Hadassah of Western Pennsylvania |
| 1916 | Young People's Zionist League | Zionism | Young People’s Zionist League |
| 1916 | Congregation Habad | Congregation | Congregation Habad |
| 1917 | Ahovy Sholem Lubovitsh Congregation | Congregation | Ahovy Sholem Lubovitsh Congregation |
| 1917 | Adath Jeshurun Congregation | Congregation | Adath Jeshurun Congregation |
| 1917 | Congregation Beth Shalom | Congregation | -- |
| 1917 | Jewish Children’s Aid Society | Philanthropic | Children’s Aid Society of Jewish Women |
| 1917 | Lechem Aniyum Society | Philanthropic | Lechem Aniyum Society |
| 1917 | Beth El Congregation | Congregation | -- |
| 1918 | American Federation of Zionists Convention | Zionism | -- |
| 1918 | Jewish Daily Forward | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1919 | Jewish population: 75,921 (Western Pennsylvania), 60,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1921 | Ohave Zedeck Congregation | Congregation | Congregation Ohave Zedeck (Oakland) |
| 1921 | B'nai B'rith Women | Fraternal | B’nai B’rith Women |
| 1921 | Murray Avenue Hebrew School | School | -- |
| 1921 | Hebrew Religious Academy | School | Hebrew Religious Academy |
| 1922 | Bureau of Jewish Education | School | Bureau of Jewish Education |
| 1922 | The Jewish Leader | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1922 | Congregation Agudath Achim (Herron Hill) | Congregation | Congregation Agudath Achim (Herron Hill) |
| 1922 | Aves Achim Congregation (Bloomfield) | Congregation | Aves Achim Congregation (Bloomfield) |
| 1923 | Adath Israel Congregation | Congregation | Congregation Adath Israel |
| 1923 | Kahal Chassidim | Congregation | The Pittsburgher Rebbe Dynasty |
| 1923 | Chofetz Chaim Congregation | Congregation | Chofetz Chaim Congregation |
| 1924 | Young Men's and Women's Hebrew Association | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1924 | Jewish National Fund-Pittsburgh Council | Zionism | -- |
| 1924 | Agudus Achim Congregation (Western State Penitentiary) | Congregation | Agudus Achim Congregation (Western State Penitentiary) |
| 1925 | Organization for Pioneer Women in Palestine-Pittsburgh Council | Zionism | Na’amat USA Pittsburgh Council |
| 1925 | Jewish War Veterans Pittsburgh Post 49 | Fraternal | Jewish War Veterans |
| 1925 | Jewish population: 43,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1926 | Isaac Seder Education Center | School | -- |
| 1926 | Y Weekly | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1926 | Congregation Ezras Tzadickem | Congregation | Congregation Ezras Tzadickem |
| 1927 | Yehoash Folk Schule | School | Yehoash Folk Schule |
| 1927 | Torath Chaim Congregation | Congregation | Torath Chaim Congregation |
| 1927 | B'nai Emunoh Congregation | Congregation | -- |
| 1927 | Hilltop Jewish Community Club | Congregation | Hilltop Jewish Community Club |
| 1927 | Jewish population: 82,418 (Western Pennsylvania), 53,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1929 | Montefiore Hospital [relocation] | Philanthropic | Montefiore Hospital |
| 1930 | Rabbi Jacob Joseph Rabbinical College | School | Yeshiva Rabbi Jacob Joseph |
| 1932 | Jewish National Folk Shule | School | Jewish National Folk Shule |
| 1933 | Jewish Home for the Aged [relocation] | Philanthropic | Jewish Home for the Aged |
| 1934 | Jewish Children's School | School | Jewish Children’s School of the IWO |
| 1934 | American Jewish Outlook | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1934 | Congregation Kehilleth Isaac | Congregation | Beth Mogen David Congregation |
| 1935 | The Friendship Club | Philanthropic | The Friendship Club |
| 1936 | Beth Mogen David Congregation | Congregation | Beth Mogen David Congregation |
| 1936 | United Jewish Fund | Philanthropic | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh |
| 1936 | Jewish Social Service Bureau | Philanthropic | The Jewish Social Service Bureau |
| 1936 | Beth Israel Congregation (Wilkinsburg) | Congregation | Beth Israel Congregation (Wilkinsburg) |
| 1937 | Jewish population: 84,418 (Western Pennsylvania), 52,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1939 | Jewish Community Relations Council | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1942 | Hebrew Institute [relocation] | School | Hebrew Institute |
| 1942 | Yeshiva Schools | School | Yeshiva Schools of Pittsburgh |
| 1942 | Maimonides Institute | School | The Maimonides Institute |
| 1942 | Jewish Women’s League for Taharath Hamishpocho | Communal | Jewish Women’s League for Taharath Hamishpocho |
| 1942 | Squirrel Hill Boys Club | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1943 | Y Canteen | Philanthropic | Y Canteen |
| 1943 | Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Jewish Committee | Philanthropic | Pittsburgh Area Jewish Committee |
| 1946 | Young Peoples Synagogue | Congregation | Young Peoples Synagogue |
| 1946 | Temple Sinai | Congregation | -- |
| 1947 | Hillel Academy | School | Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh |
| 1948 | Jewish population: 73,060 (Western Pennsylvania), 54,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1949 | Caravan of Hope | Zionism | Caravan of Hope |
| 1949 | Pittsburgh Region of Women’s American ORT | Zionism | Pittsburgh Region of Women’s American ORT |
| 1949 | Irene Kaufmann Center (Squirrel Hill) | Philanthropic | Irene Kaufmann Settlement House |
| 1949 | Council Lounge for Older People | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1950 | Jewish Family & Children’s Service | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1950 | Self Study on Jewish Education | School | Self Study on Jewish Education |
| 1951 | Pittsburgh Council on Jewish Education | School | Council on Jewish Education |
| 1951 | Temple Emanuel of the South Hills | Congregation | -- |
| 1953 | College of Jewish Studies | School | College of Jewish Studies |
| 1953 | Liliane S. Kaufmann School of Nursing | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1954 | Bickur Cholim Convalescent and Nursing Home | Philanthropic | Bickur Cholim Society |
| 1954 | Pittsburgh School for Reform Judaism | School | Pittsburgh School for Reform Judaism |
| 1955 | United Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh | Philanthropic | Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh |
| 1955 | Parkway Jewish Center | Congregation | -- |
| 1957 | Beth Israel Center (Pleasant Hills) | Congregation | Beth Israel Center (Pleasant Hills) |
| 1958 | Temple David | Congregation | -- |
| 1960 | Y-IKC | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1962 | Jewish Chronicle of Pittsburgh | Cultural | The Jewish Press |
| 1963 | Anathan House | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1963 | Congregation Dor Hadash | Congregation | -- |
| 1963 | Jewish population: 45,000 (Allegheny County) | Settlement | Population |
| 1967 | Pittsburgh Youth Council for Soviet Jewry | Philanthropic | Pittsburgh Youth Council for Soviet Jewry |
| 1967 | Talmudical College and Mesivta of Pittsburgh | School | Talmudical College and Mesivta (Yeshiva Gedola) |
| 1968 | Urban Affairs Foundation | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1968 | Ohav Shalom Congregation (as North Hills Jewish Community Center) | Congregation | -- |
| 1968 | Western Pennsylvania Jewish History Project | Cultural | -- |
| 1968 | NCJW Oral History Project | Cultural | -- |
| 1969 | School of Advanced Jewish Studies | School | School of Advanced Jewish Studies |
| 1971 | Pittsburgh Conference on Soviet Jewry | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1972 | Community Day School | School | Community Day School |
| 1972 | Mollie's Meals | Philanthropic | Mollie’s Meals |
| 1975 | American Friends of Israel War Disabled | Zionism | American Friends of Israel War Disabled |
| 1978 | Young Israel Congregation | Congregation | -- |
| 1975 | Cooperative Conservative Congregations Hebrew School | School | Cooperative Conservative Congregations Hebrew School |
| 1976 | Western Pennsylvania Auxiliary for Exceptional People | Philanthropic | Western Pennsylvania Auxiliary for Exceptional People |
| 1977 | Kollel Jewish Learning Center | School | Kollel Jewish Learning Center |
| 1977 | Jewish population: 48,000 (Allegheny County) | Settlement | Population |
| 1978 | Project Renewal | Zionism | -- |
| 1979 | New Americans Resettlement Committee | Philanthropic | New Americans Resettlement Committee |
| 1980 | Holocaust Center of Pittsburgh | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1980 | Solomon Schechter Day School | School | Solomon Schechter Day School |
| 1983 | Beit Or Congregation | Congregation | -- |
| 1984 | Jewish Education Resource Center | School | Jewish Education Resource Center |
| 1984 | Jewish population: 55,850 (Western Pennsylvania), 46,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1984 | Jewish population: 44,900 (Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, and Butler Counties) | Settlement | Population |
| 1987 | Kayruv Van | School | Kayruv Van |
| 1988 | Bet Tikvah Congregation | Congregation | -- |
| 1988 | Western Pennsylvania Jewish Archives | Cultural | -- |
| 1989 | Jewish Residential Services | Philanthropic | The Branch |
| 1991 | Jewish Education Institute | School | Jewish Education Institute |
| 1992 | Jewish population: 48,950 (Western Pennsylvania), 45,000 (Pittsburgh) | Settlement | Population |
| 1993 | Jewish population: 16,687 households (Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, and Butler Counties) | Settlement | Population |
| 1994 | Renaissance | Philanthropic | -- |
| 1994 | Partnership 2000 | Zionism | -- |
| 1995 | Adat Shalom | Congregation | -- |
| 2002 | Jewish population: 44,200 (Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, and Butler Counties) | Settlement | Population |
| 2017 | Jewish population: 49,200 (Allegheny, Westmoreland, Washington, Beaver, and Butler Counties) | Settlement | Population |