Guide to the Bet Tikvah Congregation Records 1994-2017
Arrangement
Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Bet Tikvah Congregation Records
Creator
Bet Tikvah Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Collection Number
MSS 1155
Extent
3.5 linear ft., 314 MB linear feet(4 boxes)
Date
1994-2017
Abstract
Bet Tikvah (meaning "House of Hope") was founded in 1988 as Pittsburgh's only alternative congregation for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender Jews and their families and friends. The Bet Tikvah Congregation Records include minute books, prayer and song books, event and service photographs, correspondence, news clippings and born-digital records detailing the Congregation's activities between 1994-2017.
Language
The material in this collection is in English and Hebrew.
Author
The guide to this collection was written by Jon Klosinski.
Bet Tikvah (meaning "House of Hope") was founded in 1988 as Pittsburgh's only alternative congregation for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender Jews and their families and friends. The congregation conducted outreach both to the larger Jewish community and the larger gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender communities and balanced between spiritual programs and social services. The congregation also participated in numerous cultural events throughout Pittsburgh including the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force's 1998 Creating Change conference in Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Lesbian and Gay Film Festival as well as interfaith services during Pittsburgh's gay pride celebration.
In 1994, Bet Tikvah began holding services within the Rodef Shalom Congregation synagogue in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. Bet Tikvah held Sabbath services on the first Friday of each month, holiday services including the High Holidays and Passover, and other events. Member-led services and events were also held at a variety of locations in the Pittsburgh area including a local gay-owned restaurant, the Israel Heritage Room at the University of Pittsburgh, and the homes of congregation members. Bet Tikvah never affiliated with any official branch of Judaism.
Scope and Content Notes
Bet Tikvah (meaning "House of Hope") was founded in 1988 as Pittsburgh's only alternative congregation for gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender Jews and their families and friends. The Bet Tikvah Congregation Records include minute books, prayer and song books, event and service photographs, correspondence, news clippings and born-digital records detailing the Congregation's activities between 1994-2017. The collection also contains information about the relationship between Bet Tikvah and Rodef Shalom Congregation in the Shadyside neighborhood of Pittsburgh, as well as the larger gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender community. Open Forum Meetings minutes in the collection represent the Congregation's official board meetings. Records are housed in 4 boxes with one oversized folder along with 314 MB of digital files and are arranged in 7 series: Series I. Projects and Events, Series II. Liturgy, Series III. Newsclippings, Series IV. Newsletters, Series V. Community Relations and Series VI. Membership Information.
Arrangement
The Bet Tikvah Congregation Records are arranged in 7 series: Projects and Events (1997-2017), Liturgy (1998-2017), News Clippings (1998-2000), Newsletters (1997-2017), Community Relations (1999-2017), Membership Directories (2000-2017). Folder numbers correspond to physical box location while digital folders correspond to series arrangement.
Conditions Governing Access
Use of original digital media material is restricted. Per donor agreement, access to the following materials is restricted for 70 years following date of creation and will be made available on the following dates:
Series VI. Box 4, Folder 1, Membership Directories: 2070
Series VI. Box 4 Folder 2, Membership Directories: 2080.
Series VI. Digital 1, Life Cycles: 2073.
Series VI. Digital 2, Newsletter Name Use Permissions: 2073.
Series VI. Digital 3, Member Dues and Donations: 2083.
Series VI. Digital 4, Miscellaneous Files: 2083.
Series VI. Digital 5, Community Study Membership Lists: 2086.
Series VI. Digital 6, Event Attendance Information: 2087.
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Access to born-digital folders (noted as "Digital") is available upon request at the computer workstation in the Detre Library and Archives at the Heinz History Center.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Deb Polk in 2017.
Archives accession # 2017.0152
Preferred Citation
Bet Tikvah Congregation Records, 1994-2017, MSS 1155, Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Processed by: Jon Klosinski on 12/20/2017.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with the Senator John Heinz History Center. Literary rights are retained by the creators of the records and their heirs. For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the Library and Archives of the Senator John Heinz History Center.
Reproductions and copies of digital collection material are available with permission from Detre Library and Archives staff member.
Related Materials
Pollock Family Papers, 1914-2010, MSS 0818, Thomas and Katherine Detre Library and Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center.
Subjects
Corporate Names
Bet Tikvah Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Rodef Shalom Congregation (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Geographic Names
Pittsburgh (Pa.)
Other Subjects
Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
Jewish sexual minorities--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh.
