The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Young Women’s Hebrew Association was established in late 1911. During a field day at Kennywood Park in August 1911 sponsored by the new Young Men’s Hebrew Association, a group of eight young women “volunteered to act as aids,” leading to the formation of an independent Young Women’s Hebrew Association a few months later.[1]“Hebrew Association Arousing Enthusiasm,” Pittsburgh Post, Aug. 5, 1911, p24 (online—Newspapers.com) [2]“Young Women’s Hebrew Association,” Jewish Criterion, Nov. 10, 1911, p11 (online—Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project)
The first officers were J.N. Palley (president), Sadie Grinberg (recording secretary), Mildred Schwartz (financial secretary), and Julia Palley (Treasurer). The group initially held meetings at the Irene Kaufmann Settlement House before moving to various locations, including the vestry rooms at Tree of Life Congregation, the YMHA rooms in the Dispatch Building on Fifth Avenue, the Fort Pitt Hotel, and the Hotel Schenley. The group held a business meeting and a social meeting every other week but saw membership lag due to the lack of proper accommodations.
The YWHA returned to the Irene Kauffman Settlement House in January 1915 as part of reorganization efforts under the presidency of Miriam Schoenfield. Between 1915 and 1917, the organization grew to 165 members up from 38 and added a Junior Y.W.H.A. with 110 members. The organizations raised funds toward a “Home for Jewish Working Girls,” which would have provided living quarters for Jewish domestic workers who were employed at the homes of non-Jewish families. The project never actualized.[3]“History of Y.W.H.A.” Souvenir program/United Young Men’s Hebrew Association of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, 1917
The YWHA remained a distinct entity until 1919 or 1920, when it partnered with the Young Men’s Hebrew Association to support a building fund campaign. With the cornerstone laying for the new building on Bellefield Avenue in Oakland in 1924, the entities became known as the Young Men’s & Women’s Hebrew Association.
Presidents of the Young Women’s Hebrew Association include J. N. Palley, Hannah Olbum, Bess Gottfried, Miriam Schoenfield, Mrs. Theo Kaufmann, and Sally Mazer.
References
| ↑1 | “Hebrew Association Arousing Enthusiasm,” Pittsburgh Post, Aug. 5, 1911, p24 (online—Newspapers.com |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | “Young Women’s Hebrew Association,” Jewish Criterion, Nov. 10, 1911, p11 (online—Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project |
| ↑3 | “History of Y.W.H.A.” Souvenir program/United Young Men’s Hebrew Association of Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, 1917 |