Jewish Chronic Relief Society.

The Jewish Chronic Relief Society was established in 1914 in Cleveland, Ohio as the Cleveland Ladies Consumptive Aid Society, to provide assistance and care to indigent Jews afflicted with tuberculosis or other chronic conditions. In 1923 the group incorporated as the Cleveland Denver Consumptive Ladies Aid Society and, in 1935, as the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society of Cleveland. Together with the Bikur Cholim Sick Relief Society and with the cooperation of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Cleveland and Mt. Sinai Hospital, the society helped raise the funds to build the Jewish Convalescent Hospital for tuberculosis patients. By the 1940s, the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society included a Junior Auxiliary, the Daughters of the Consumptive Relief Aid Society; a men's group; and a Cleveland Heights group. With the decrease in tuberculosis, the organization changed it's name in 1958 to the Jewish Chronic Relief Society. The organization disbanded in 1988.

The Jewish Chronic Relief Society (1914-1988) was established in Cleveland, Ohio, as the Cleveland Ladies Consumptive Aid Society to provide assistance and care to indigent Jews afflicted with tuberculosis or other chronic conditions. In 1923 the group incorporated as the Cleveland and Denver Consumptive Ladies Aid Society and, in 1935, as the Jewish Consumptive Relief Society of Cleveland. Together with the Bikur Cholim Sick Relief Society and with the cooperation of the Jewish Welfare Federation of Cleveland and Mt. Sinai Hospital, the society helped raise the funds to build the Jewish Convalescent Hospital, a nineteen bed facility for tuberculosis patients. The facility, at 18810 Harvard Road, was dedicated in 1937. In 1945, the Cleveland Federation of Jewish Charities assumed the operation of the facility while the Society continued to contribute the funds for its maintenance as well as volunteers for its operation. By the 1940s membership int eh Jewish Consumptive Relief Society was over 1,000. This total included members of the group's Junior Auxiliary, the Daughters of the Consumptive Relief Aid Society, a men's group and a Cleveland Heights, Ohio, group. With the decrease in tubercular incidence, the organization changed its name in 1958 to the Jewish Chronic Relief Society and enlarged its mission to include all chronically ill Jews. In 1967, the Jewish Convalescent Hospital officially changed its name to the Jewish Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center of Cleveland. In 1979, when this facility closed, the society shifted its main support to Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital. In November 1988, with fewer than 100 members, the Society agreed to disband. It disbursed its assets among a number of medical associations, societies, and foundations, as well as Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem and Rainbow Babies and Childrens Hospital in Cleveland.

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