Guide to the Jewish National Fund records, 1945-1987
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Jewish National Fund records
- Creator
- Jewish National Fund
- Collection Number
- MSS#318
- Extent
- .5 linear feet (1 box)
- Date
- 1945-1987
- Abstract
- The Pittsburgh Jewish National Fund Council was organized in 1924, with Max Engelberg as its first president. The Council evolved into the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in 1931. The JNF had the mission of raising funds from Jewish communities with which to purchase land in what was then Palestine, to facilitate the settlement of Jews there, and to make the land more usable by draining swamps and forestation. Materials consist primarily of minutes of the Jewish National Fund Council and correspondence.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
- 1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
The Pittsburgh Jewish National Fund Council was organized in 1924, with Max Engelberg as its first president. The Council evolved into the Jewish National Fund (JNF) in 1931. The Pittsburgh JNF was part of the national JNF organization that had been established by the Fifth Zionist Congress, on December 28, 1901 in Basel, Switzerland. The JNF had the mission of raising funds from Jewish communities with which to purchase land in what was then Palestine, to facilitate the settlement of Jews there, and to make the land more usable by draining swamps and forestation.
One of the fund raising initiatives used by the JNF was the ongoing "Blue Box" campaign. Indeed, by 1948, when the state of Israel was founded, more than half of the land owned by the JNF was purchased by proceeds of the Blue Boxes. These small blue tin collection boxes, with a white map of Israel on the front, were created in 1904 and were placed in schools, synagogues, and homes. They became a means for Jews in the diaspora to contribute to the work of building a Jewish state through small donations. Educating Jews about the meaning of the boxes, placing these boxes, and collecting the donated funds to be forwarded to the national office, became basic activities for local branches of the organization. Families, individuals, and organizations were also encouraged to mark important occasions by contributing money through the JNF to plant trees as part of the land reclamation effort.
Scope and Content Notes
The Jewish National Fund Records are housed in one archival box and arranged chronologically. Materials consist primarily of minutes of the Jewish National Fund Council and correspondence. The minutes begin with the year 1947, several years after the founding of the organization, and continue through 1962, with a few records included between 1963-1965. Judge Henry Ellenbogen was president of the organization for much of this time. The primary purpose of the meetings was to plan fund-raising activities. In addition to discussions of the Blue Box and tree planting initiatives, youth activities, increasing regional memberships, and encouraging individuals to arrange for bequests were also discussed. Planning for the annual dinner, the major event of the year, was discussed at these meetings. Programs for many of the annual dinners between 1945 and 1975 are included in the collection.
Insight into the working of the organization can best be understood from the correspondence which spans the years from 1950 to 1974, with the years of 1961-68 and 1973 are missing. The letters received and the copies of letters sent, delineate the political activity within the local council, as well as its relationship to the national branch. The records also include representative newspaper clippings and press releases and printed pamphlets from the national organization.
Conditions Governing Access
No Restrictions.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These materials came in one accession.
Acc.#1993.0119 Gift of Iris S. Nahemow, director, Jewish National Fund
Preferred Citation
Jewish National Fund records, 1945-1987, MSS#318, Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
Records arranged by R. Barent and inventory written by S. Melnick, August 2000
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.
Separated Materials
Jewish National Fund photographs, MSP#318
Subjects
- Engleberg, Max
- Ellenbogen, Henry
- Zionism--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh--Organizations
- Jews--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh