Finding aid for the Sherith Israel Congregation Records

History of the Sherith Israel Congregation

The Sherith Israel Congregation was organized on May 31, 1922, for the purpose of providing a place of worship for the orthodox Jews of the Mount Pleasant neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. From 1922 to 1926, the congregation occupied a rented building at 11414 Lock Avenue. In 1926, growing needs prompted the congregation to purchase a larger building located at 3342 East 119th Street.

The Sherith Israel Congregation did not, however, continue to grow after this move. By 1930 the Jewish population began to move out of the Mount Pleasant area and into the eastern suburbs of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights. by 1938 the congregation was comprised of only 42 members who were unable to procure a replacement for Rabbi Seeliz Ginsburg who died that year after serving the congregation for thirteen years. Despite its small size and limited resources, Sherith Israel remained in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood as an independent congregation until 1962. In that year, it merged with the larger Sherith Jacob Congregation, commonly known as the Eddy Road Jewish Center, which was located in Cleveland Heights. In order to preserve the identity of both congregations, the merged group was called Sherith Jacob Israel. This congregation in turn merged into the Warrensville Center Synagogue in 1970.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Sherith Jacob Israel Congregation

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for the Warrensville Center Synagogue

Scope and Content

The Sherith Israel Congregation Records, 1923-1958 and undated, consist of minute books of the congregation, income and expense ledgers, and membership and dues record books. The collection is primarily written in Yiddish.

This collection will be useful to researchers studying the Jewish community of Cleveland, Ohio, in the twentieth century, and Orthodox Judaism in the east side Cleveland neighborhood of Mount Pleasant. Genealogists might find the membership records useful.

Statement of Arrangement

Restrictions on Access

None.

The researcher should also consult MS 4528 Sherith Jacob Congregation Records; and MS 4758 Warrensville Center Synagogue Records.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3689 Sherith Israel Congregation Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

Acquisition Information

Gift of Warrensville Center Synagogue in 1978.

Processing Information

Processed by Sandra Berman in 1978.

Detailed Description of The Collection