Cleveland Hebrew Schools

The Cleveland Hebrew Schools evolved from the Montefiore Free Hebrew School (later called the Talmud Torah) established in Cleveland, Ohio ca. 1885. In 1905, another communal Hebrew school was founded by Joshua Flock and Aaron Garber. In 1907, the two schools combined, the name remaining the Talmud Torah. In 1913, the Talmud Torah received an Ohio charter and changed its name to the Cleveland Hebrew School and Institute, enrolling students in grades one through eight. Abraham Hayyim Friedland, an internationally known educator, headed the school from 1921-1939. In 1926, a high school was added, and a Parent Council was organized in 1930. Bernard Levitin served as superintendent from 1944-1970, a period of movement of Cleveland's Jewish population to the suburbs. A reorganization of the Cleveland Hebrew Schools took place during this period, with some Cleveland branches closing and new suburban schools opening. As the number of Jewish day schools and congregational classes grew, the Cleveland Hebrew Schools enrollment dropped and branches were further consolidated. In 1955, the Parent Council organized Camp Oneg, a Hebrew summer day camp, and Ganon Gil Nursery, a Hebrew school for preschool children. In 1967 Cleveland Hebrew High School merged into Akiva High School.

From the description of Cleveland Hebrew Schools records, 1908-1975. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 43721648

The Cleveland Hebrew Schools evolved from the Montefiore Free Hebrew School (later referred to as the Talmud Torah) established in Cleveland, Ohio, ca. 1885 with an enrollment of 50 children from poor families. In 1905 another communal Hebrew school, founded by Joshua Flock and Aaron Garber, incorporated many innovations. For example, classes were taught in English and Hebrew, rather than Yiddish, and modern Hebrew literature was taught along with courses on Bible and the Hebrew language. When Flock and Garber's school combined with the Talmud Torah in 1907 and Garber became principal (serving until 1926), the method of instruction in the Talmud Torah changed from one of principally rote learning to incorporate many of these innovations. Cleveland's early Talmud Torah movement also received support from Samuel Margolies who was a leader of the Cleveland Orthodox community during his tenure (1904-1916) as Rabbi of Anshe Emeth. Under his guidance, community support was widened and enrollment increased. To aid the growing school, the Judea Ladies Auxiliary was organized in 1908. Their major activities centered on raising funds and a campaign to encourage the enrollment of girls. They were instrumental in the acquisition and maintenance of several buildings from the 1910s to the 1930s. In 1913, the Talmud Torah received an Ohio charter and changed its name to the Cleveland Hebrew School and Institute. In 1918 the Cleveland Hebrew School and Institute taught students from the first through the eighth grade. A.H. (Abraham Hayyim) Friedland (1891-1939), an internationally known educator, poet, and lecturer came to Cleveland in 1921 to head the Cleveland Hebrew School and remained in Cleveland until his death in 1939. In 1924 he also assumed the position of executive director of the newly formed Bureau of Jewish Education. Under Friedland's leadership the Cleveland Hebrew School grew to 2,300 students by 1923, a Hebrew High School and a Teacher Institute were organized in 1926, and the schools became known nationally. Throughout the 1920s, however, they were plagued with a deficit that increased yearly. In response to these critical financial needs, the Parent Council of the Cleveland Hebrew Schools, composed of women representing all PTA branches, was organized in 1930. Their fund-raising activities, an annual dinner and the sale of Passover matzoh, helped pay teacher salaries and lower the large debt. Bernard Levitin served as superintendent from 1944-1970, a period notable for the movement of Cleveland's Jewish population to the suburbs. A major reorganization of the Cleveland Hebrew Schools took place during this period with several Cleveland branches closing and new suburban schools opening. Beginning in the 1950s, as the number of Jewish day schools and congregation-sponsored afternoon Hebrew classes grew, the Cleveland Hebrew Schools enrollment dropped and branches were consolidated. In 1955 the Parent Council organized Camp Oneg, a Hebrew summer day camp and Ganon Gil Nursery, a Hebrew school for pre-school children. In 1967 Cleveland Hebrew High School merged into Akiva High School.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Cleveland Hebrew Schools

From the guide to the Cleveland Hebrew Schools Photographs, 1912-1976, (Western Reserve Historical Society)

The Cleveland Hebrew Schools evolved from the Montefiore Free Hebrew School (later referred to as the Talmud Torah) established in Cleveland, Ohio, ca. 1885 with an enrollment of 50 children from poor families. In 1905 another communal Hebrew school, founded by Joshua Flock and Aaron Garber, incorporated many innovations. For example, classes were taught in English and Hebrew, rather than Yiddish, and modern Hebrew literature was taught along with courses on Bible and the Hebrew language. When Flock and Garber's school combined with the Talmud Torah in 1907 and Garber became principal (serving until 1926), the method of instruction in the Talmud Torah changed from one of principally rote learning to incorporate many of these innovations. Cleveland's early Talmud Torah movement also received support from Samuel Margolies who was a leader of the Cleveland Orthodox community during his tenure (1904-1916) as Rabbi of Anshe Emeth. Under his guidance, community support was widened and enrollment increased. To aid the growing school, the Judea Ladies Auxiliary was organized in 1908. Their major activities centered on raising funds and a campaign to encourage the enrollment of girls. They were instrumental in the acquisition and maintenance of several buildings from the 1910s to the 1930s. In 1913, the Talmud Torah received an Ohio charter and changed its name to the Cleveland Hebrew School and Institute. In 1918 the Cleveland Hebrew School and Institute taught students from the first through the eighth grade.

A.H. (Abraham Hayyim) Friedland (1891-1939), an internationally known educator, poet, and lecturer came to Cleveland in 1921 to head the Cleveland Hebrew School and remained in Cleveland until his death in 1939. In 1924 he also assumed the position of executive director of the newly formed Bureau of Jewish Education. Under Friedland's leadership the Cleveland Hebrew School grew to 2,300 students by 1923, a Hebrew High School and a Teacher Institute were organized in 1926, and the schools became known nationally. Throughout the 1920s, however, they were plagued with a deficit that increased yearly. In response to these critical financial needs, the Parent Council of the Cleveland Hebrew Schools, composed of women representing all PTA branches, was organized in 1930. Their fund-raising activities, an annual dinner and the sale of Passover matzoh, helped pay teacher salaries and lower the large debt.

Bernard Levitin served as superintendent from 1944-1970, a period notable for the movement of Cleveland's Jewish population to the suburbs. A major reorganization of the Cleveland Hebrew Schools took place during this period with several Cleveland branches closing and new suburban schools opening. Beginning in the 1950s, as the number of Jewish day schools and congregation-sponsored afternoon Hebrew classes grew, the Cleveland Hebrew Schools enrollment dropped and branches were consolidated. In 1955 the Parent Council organized Camp Oneg, a Hebrew summer day camp and Ganon Gil Nursery, a Hebrew school for pre-school children. In 1967 Cleveland Hebrew High School merged into Akiva High School.

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Cleveland Hebrew Schools

click here to view the Encyclopedia of Cleveland History entry for Abraham Hayyim Friedland

From the guide to the Cleveland Hebrew Schools Records, 1908-1975, (Western Reserve Historical Society)