Young People’s Zionist League picnic
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Young People’s Zionist League was established June 4, 1916 as a local affiliate of the international religious Zionist organization Mizrachi.[1]“Young People’s Zionist League,” Jewish Criterion, June 9, 1916 (online). The organization held social and literary events and raised money for Jewish causes. In the years around World War II, it became one of the most popular and fastest-growing of the many emerging Zionist organizations in Western Pennsylvania, reaching 75 members by 1918 and 175 by 1921. [2]“Young People’s Zionist League,” Jewish Criterion, Feb. 1, 1918 (online). [3]“Young People’s Zionist League,” Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book, 1921 (online—Historic Pittsburgh).
Initially based out of the Zionist Institute at Center Avenue and Green Street in the Hill District, the Young People’s Zionist League eventually obtained independent headquarters when the “Mizrachi Center” was created at 2041 Center Ave. in late 1919.[4]“Young People’s Zionist League Third Anniversary Journal,” 1919 (online).
The Young People’s Zionist League arranged outings and parties, hosted Zionist speakers, and organized Hebrew classes. It raised money for the Jewish National Fund and later for the newly formed Keren Hayesod (Palestine Foundation Fund), as well as for local and international Jewish causes including the Federation of the Jewish Philanthropies of Pittsburgh and the Central Relief Committee-Pittsburgh Branch. It was especially active during the Mizrachi convention held in Pittsburgh in May 1917.[5]“Fourth Annual Mizrachi Convention Held in Pittsburgh, May 15-20, 1917,” Jewish Criterion, May 25, 1917 (online).
Leaders of the Young People’s Zionist League include Isadore Ashkewitz, Samuel Boldinger, Benjamin Broida, Ida Brown, Ray Cohen, Nathan Davidson, Max Dines, Mollie Fireman, Jacob S. Flom, Sarah Gelman, Harry Gusky, Edith Horenstein, Lillian Joffe, David Kantor, Theodore Kantor, E. Keplove, Sadie Kramer, Abe Kwait, Mary Lando, Rose Lecoff, Edith Levine, Harry Levite, A. I. Linzer, Leora Lipman, Ethel London, Freda Lusher, Albert Morgan, Samuel Picovsky, Harry Radbord, Julius Radbord, Rose Radbord, Sarah Radbord, Samuel Reidbord, William Reiner, Clara Ronis, Nathan Rosenblatt, Sara Rosenberg, Elizabeth Smith, Anna Spiegle, Frances Supkoff, Ida Tractanberg, Gerson Tolochko, Sarah Wald, M. B. Weiss, Edler Westerman, and L. Zweig.[6]“Young People’s Zionist League Third Anniversary Journal,” 1919 (online).
The Young People’s Zionist League continued meeting into the early 1920s, with its latest newspaper notices appearing the local Jewish Criterion in early 1923.[7]“Young People’s Zionist League,” Jewish Criterion, April 6, 1923 (online).
References
| ↑1 | “Young People’s Zionist League,” Jewish Criterion, June 9, 1916 (online). |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “Young People’s Zionist League,” Jewish Criterion, Feb. 1, 1918 (online). |
| ↑3 | “Young People’s Zionist League,” Pittsburgh Jewish Community Book, 1921 (online—Historic Pittsburgh). |
| ↑4, ↑6 | “Young People’s Zionist League Third Anniversary Journal,” 1919 (online). |
| ↑5 | “Fourth Annual Mizrachi Convention Held in Pittsburgh, May 15-20, 1917,” Jewish Criterion, May 25, 1917 (online). |
| ↑7 | “Young People’s Zionist League,” Jewish Criterion, April 6, 1923 (online). |
