West Side Jewish Center (Cleveland, Ohio)

The West Side Jewish Center was organized in Cleveland, Ohio, as B'nai Israel by ten Orthodox Jewish families in 1910, the second Jewish congregation founded on the west side of Cleveland. A small house was purchased at 1794 W. 30th St. in 1912. In 1918, a former church building at W. 25th St. and Bridge Ave. was acquired. In 1926, a new synagogue was constructed at 1791 W. 57th St., but was lost through foreclosure about 1937. Services were held in various rented quarters until 1940, when a small house was purchased at 4101 John Ave. During the 1940s and 1950s membership averaged 55 families. A new building was occupied at 14308 Triskett Rd. in 1957, when the Center was merged with Beth Israel-The West Temple. By 1919, the congregation had become Conservative. With the 1957 merger with Beth Israel, the Center became part of the Reform movement. A school was also operated by the Center until 1944.