Shapiro, Ezra

Ezra Zelig Shapiro (1903-1977) was born in Volozhin, Poland, to Esther (Brudno) and Rabbi Osias Shapiro. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his family in 1906 and was educated in the Cleveland Hebrew Schools. A Jewish community leader and internationally known Zionist figure, Shapiro was elected president of the Cleveland Zionist District in 1924. In 1934, he became chairman of the National Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization of America. He was national vice-president of United Israel Appeal (1955-1970) and a founder and first president (1957-1960) of the American League for Israel, becoming honorary president in 1960. Shapiro was a delegate to several World Zionist Congresses beginning in 1937, and was instrumental in drafting the Jerusalem Platform that defined the direction for Zionism following the creation of the state of Israel.

Shapiro held a deep interest in Jewish educational issues. He served as president of Cleveland Hebrew Schools (1939-1943) and the Bureau OF Jewish Education (1953-1956). From 1959-1966, he was vice-president of the American Association for Jewish Education.

Shapiro earned his law degree from Ohio Northern University in 1925 and established his law practice in Cleveland that same year. He served as Cleveland city law director from 1933-1935, and returned to private practice.

Shapiro was active in the Cleveland Jewish Community Council and was instrumental in its merger with the Cleveland Welfare Fund.

Shapiro married Sylvia Lamport in 1932 and had two children, Daniel and Rena. He moved to Israel in 1971, where he was active in civic life. He died in Jerusalem in 1977 and was buried there.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Ezra Shapiro

From the guide to the Ezra Shapiro Papers, World Zionist Congresses 1951 and 1956, 1951-1956, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

Ezra Zelig Shapiro (1903-1977) was born in Volozhin, Poland, to Esther (Brudno) and Rabbi Osias Shapiro. He moved to Cleveland, Ohio, with his family in 1906 and was educated in the Cleveland Hebrew Schools. A Jewish community leader and internationally known Zionist figure, Shapiro was elected president of the Cleveland Zionist District in 1924. In 1934, he became chairman of the National Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization of America. He was national vice-president of United Israel Appeal (1955-1970) and a founder and first president (1957-1960) of the American League for Israel, becoming honorary president in 1960. Shapiro was a delegate to several World Zionist Congresses beginning in 1937, and was instrumental in drafting the Jerusalem Platform that defined the direction for Zionism following the creation of the state of Israel.

Shapiro held a deep interest in Jewish educational issues. He served as president of Cleveland Hebrew Schools (1939-1943) and the Bureau OF Jewish Education (1953-1956). From 1959-1966, he was vice-president of the American Association for Jewish Education.

Shapiro earned his law degree from Ohio Northern University in 1925 and established his law practice in Cleveland that same year. He served as Cleveland city law director from 1933-1935, and returned to private practice.

Shapiro was active in the Cleveland Jewish Community Council and was instrumental in its merger with the Cleveland Welfare Fund.

Shapiro married Sylvia Lamport in 1932 and had two children, Daniel and Rena. He moved to Israel in 1971, where he was active in civic life. He died in Jerusalem in 1977 and was buried there.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Ezra Shapiro

From the guide to the Ezra Shapiro Papers, 1892-1977, 1923-1977, (Western Reserve Historical Society)