Guide to Congregation B'nai Israel Records, (Glassport, Pa.), 1907-2002

Repository
Heinz History Center
Title
Congregation B'nai Israel Records, (Glassport, Pa.),
Creator
Congregation B'nai Israel
Collection Number
MSS#289
Extent
0.5 linear feet (1 box)
Date
1907-2002
Abstract
Congregation B'nai Israel in Glassport, Pennsylvania, was formed in 1906, when thirteen Jewish families came together and decided to form a synagogue. A new synagogue on Ohio Avenue was constructed in 1916, and remained in use by the congregation until 1976, when the synagogue was sold and the congregation disbanded. Congregation B'nai Israel Records consist of a charter application, constitution, by-laws, deeds, financial records, ledgers, minute books, and a transcribed oral history from congregation members.
Language
The material in this collection is in English.
Author
The guide to this collection was originally written by Susan Melnick. Further processing to incorporate additions to the collection was completed by Theresa E. Rea with generous support from PNC Charitable Trusts - J. Samuel and Rose Y. Cox Foundation and the Giant Eagle Foundation on April 30, 2010.
Publisher
Heinz History Center
Address
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org

History

In 1906, thirteen Jewish families held a meeting and decided to form a synagogue in Glassport, Pennsylvania, located approximately ten miles south of Pittsburgh. The congregation applied for a charter and at the first regular meeting, Charles Weisenthal, one of the founding fathers, was chosen as its first president. The other founders of the congregation include Max Broder, Jacob Lazar, Sam Miller, Ben Perlstein, Max Papernick, A. A. Radon, Meyer Weiss and Saul Weiss.

Services were held in Furman's Hall on Sixth Street in Glassport until September 1916, when congregation members decided to build a new synagogue. The Ladies Aid Society purchased a lot, located on Ohio Avenue, where the building was constructed. In 1956, Congregation B'nai Israel celebrated its 50th Anniversary and twenty years later the building was sold and the congregation disbanded.

Scope and Content Notes

The collection contains a charter application, constitution, by-laws, deeds, financial records, ledgers, and two minute books with entries in both English and Hebrew. Also included in the collection is an oral history transcription from an interview with two former members of the congregation.

Arrangement

  1. Congregation B'nai Israel Records of Glassport, Pennsylvania, are housed in one archival box and arranged alphabetically.

Conditions Governing Access

No Restrictions.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sol Darling on August 8, 1994.

Gift of Debbie Darling Roth on August 13, 2004.

Preferred Citation

Congregation B'nai Israel Records, Glassport, Pa., 1907-2002, MSS#289, Rauh Jewish Archives, Library and Archives Division, Senator John Heinz History Center

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Susan Melnick. Further processing to incorporate additional materials to the collection was completed by Theresa E. Rea on April 30, 2010.

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.

Subjects

    Corporate Names

    • Congregation B'nai Israel

    Geographic Names

    • Glassport, Pa.

    Other Subjects

    • Jews--Pennsylvania--Glassport
    • Synagogues--Pennsylvania--Glassport

Container List

Charter Application,, 1914
Containers
Box 1, Folder 1
Constitution and By-Laws,, c. 1961
Containers
Box 1, Folder 2
Deed,, 1933
Containers
Box 1, Folder 3
Financial Records,, 1915-2000
Containers
Box 1, Folder 4
Oral History Transcription (revised),, 2002
Containers
Box 1, Folder 7
Papers,, 1935-1976
Containers
Box 1, Folder 8