Guide to the Talmudical College and Mesivta of Pittsburgh Records 1967-1974
- Repository
- Heinz History Center
- Title
- Talmudical College and Mesivta of Pittsburgh Records
- Creator
- Talmudical Institute and Mesivta of Pittsburgh
- Collection Number
- MSS 695
- Extent
- 2 linear feet (2 boxes)
- Date
- 1967-1974
- Abstract
- The Talmudical College and Mestiva of Pittsburgh opened in September 1967 to provide college-level Talmudical, and later high school, education in Pittsburgh. The collection consists of one box of materials, such as correspondence, class lists and faculty and staff lists.
- Language
- The material in this collection is in English.
- Sponsor
- This collection has been made accessible as part of an NHPRC-funded Basic Processing grant.
- Publisher
- Heinz History Center
- Address
-
1212 Smallman St.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15222
library@heinzhistorycenter.org
URL: https://www.heinzhistorycenter.org
History
A group of people gathered in June 1967 to discuss the possibility of opening a Talmudic college in Pittsburgh. A month later, Rabbi Yitzchak Alster was hired as the dean of the Talmudical College of Pittsburgh, Yeshiva G'dola D'Pittsburgh, which opened on September 11, 1967. It was the first institution in Pittsburgh dedicated to providing students with college-level courses in studying and researching the Talmud. Believing that funds would be better spent on providing education, the founders decided to cooperate with other Pittsburgh Jewish institutions and use their facilities instead of initiating a building campaign. Congregation Shaare Torah offered the use of its study areas and dining hall to the college. Yeshiva Achei T'mimim, a local day school, offered the use of one of its buildings to the high school, mesivta, which opened in 1968. The mesivta offered a general and religious curriculum to students in ninth to twelfth grades. By 1976, the college consisted of undergraduate and graduate Judaic Studies departments, cooperative college credit for the granting of degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, and a continuing education department. Plans were in place to begin a program for granting Rabbinic and teaching degrees. Since courses in rabbinic psychology had been added, students began going to participating hospitals in the Pittsburgh area to read to patients, write letters, assist with religious observance and to conduct services. Teaching candidates provided instruction to students with extended illnesses.
Scope and Content Notes
The collection consists of correspondence relating to donations and pledges (1969-1974), donation and pledge receipts (1969-1974), lists of potential donors (1972-1974), lists of members of other Pittsburgh Jewish organizations (1967-1974), class lists (1970-1974), and faculty and staff lists (1970-1974).
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift from Ian Heiss in 2000.
Archives accession # 2000.0110
Preferred Citation
Talmudical College and Mesivta of Pittsburgh Records, 1967-1974, MSS 695, Rauh Jewish Archives, Senator John Heinz History Center
Processing Information
This collection was processed by Kelly J. Smith on 01/06/2012.
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
- Talmudical College and Mesivta of Pittsburgh
- Alster, Rabbi Yitzchak
- Robinson, Sanford
- Jewish religious schools -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh
- Jewish education--Pennsylvania--Pittsburgh
- Jews -- Pennsylvania -- Pittsburgh