United Hebrew Relief Association

The United Hebrew Relief Association was created in 1880 through the merger of the Hebrew Benevolent Society and the Hebrew Ladies Aid Society. It initially addressed individual cases within the Jewish community and contributed funds and resources to communal causes throughout Allegheny County.^[1]United Hebrew Relief Association minute book, Aaron Family Papers [MSS 248], Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center (online).

The first president of the United Hebrew Relief Association was Alexander Fink, who carried over his role as head of the Hebrew Benevolent Society. He remained in the position until his death in 1892. During his tenure, the organization joined larger philanthropic efforts in the region, such as an effort in 1886 to distribution coal to some 450 families in the region.^[2]Advertisement, Pittsburgh Press, Jan. 12, 1886, p. 3 (online—Newspapers.com). Abraham Lippman assumed the presidency in 1892 and remained until his death in 1910. Working as a full-time volunteer, and covering much of the funding through his personal wealth, he stabilized the financial situation of the organization and reduced fraud.^[3]Joseph, Charles H. “The Hebrew Benevolent Society,” Jewish Criterion, Jan. 8, 1904, p. 1, 3-4 (online). ^[4]Joseph, Charles H. “A Life Long Philanthropist Reaches Three Score and Ten,” Pittsburgh Press, April 12, 1908 (online—Newspapers.com). ^[5]Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1986 (catalog record).

Lippman was succeeded in 1910 by his nephew Aaron Cohen. Cohen modernized the operations of the United Hebrew Relief Association. Under his tenure, the organization became one of the inaugural beneficiaries of the new Federation of the Jewish Philanthropies of Pittsburgh in 1912. Those efforts had stalled under Lippman, who had been the leading opponent locally of efforts to federate Jewish charities in the city. Cohen also professionalized the United Hebrew Relief Association in line with ideas in the emerging field of social work. The work of the organization expanded beyond direct financial assistance to include a range of social services. It commissioned a study of housing conditions in the Hill District in 1916 and constructed an affordable housing project in 1921 in partnership with the United Housing Corporation.^[6]Special Committee on Housing report, May 26, 1916, Aaron Family Papers [MSS 248], Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center (online). ^[7]“United Housing Corporation,” Jewish Criterion, January 14, 1921, p14 (online). In the 1920s, the United Hebrew Relief Association took up offices in the new Federation building at 15 Fernando Street in the lower Hill District and hired Dorothy Victor as a paid director with two paid employees. Her staff grew throughout the 1920s to include a team of 16 paid college graduates who processed applications.^[8]Feldman, 277-282.

The United Hebrew Relief Association changed its name in 1927 to the Jewish Family Welfare Association. The change better reflected its expanded responsibilities and helped distinguish the organization from the Hebrew Free Loan Association, which also provided direct funding to those in need.^[9]“Younger Men Being Attracted to Hebrew Free Loan Board of Directors,” Jewish Criterion, Feb. 4, 1927, p. 16 (online). ^[10]Shapiro, Charlotte Heller, “The Jewish Family Welfare Association of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: history and organization,” Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh, 1933 (online).In a further effort to increase services and improve operational efficiency, the Jewish Family Welfare Association merged with four other Federation beneficiaries—the Girls’ Bureau, the Jewish Big Brother Association, the Service for Foreign Born, and the Bureau for Jewish Children—in late 1936 to create the Jewish Social Service Bureau.^[11]“New Jewish Social Service Bureau Set Up Here,” American Jewish Outlook, Dec. 4, 1936, p. 1, 16 (online). The Jewish Social Service Bureau later became known as Jewish Family and Children’s Services and is currently known as JFCS Pittsburgh.

Bibliography

• United Hebrew Relief Association minute book, Aaron Family Papers [MSS 248], Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center (online).
• Shapiro, Charlotte Heller, “The Jewish Family Welfare Association of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: history and organization,” Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh, 1933 (online).

Exhibit history

• Author: Eric Lidji
• Created: February 16, 2022
• Current Version: February 16, 2022