Hebrew Association of the Deaf of Cleveland.

The Hebrew Association of the Deaf of Cleveland was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1935 through the leadership of Abraham Saslaw. It's goals were to promote literary activities and to provide social events and religious services to deaf members of the Cleveland, Ohio, Jewish community. The organization's first officers were Joseph Adelson, Abraham Saslaw, Lillian Saslaw, Max Ellis, Issac Bialosky, Esther Zimmerman, and Abraham Mansky. The organization has been affiliated with the National Congress of Jewish Deaf. Rabbi William Seligman served as the spiritual leader of the organization from the 1950s-1980. Isidor Reisman, a principal and teacher, taught Hebrew to Jewish deaf students. The group has met at the Jewish Community Center since the 1960s.

From the description of Hebrew Association of the Deaf of Cleveland records, 1940-1988. (Rhinelander District Library). WorldCat record id: 43987984

The Hebrew Association of the Deaf of Cleveland (f. 1935) was formed through the leadership of Abraham Saslaw. The organization's goals are to promote literary activities and to provide social events and religious services to deaf members of the Cleveland, Ohio, Jewish community. The first few meetings of the group were held in members' homes; the group later met in the Barney Kronick Club House on East 105th Street. The space rented was, apparently, in Kronick's Restaurant. As the Jewish population shifted into the eastern suburbs following World War II, other meeting places were found in those suburbs. Since the 1960s the Jewish Community Center in Cleveland Heights has been the organization's meeting place. The organization's first officers were Joseph Adelson, Abraham Saslaw, Lillian Saslaw, Max Ellis, Issac Bialosky, Esther Zimmerman and Abraham Mansky. Membership has varied from fifteen to thirty. The organization has been affiliated with The National Congress of Jewish Deaf whose purpose is "advocating religious spirit, tradition, ideals and fellowship for Jewish deaf". Rabbi William Seligman (1918-1980), community chaplain for the Jewish Community Federation, served as the spiritual leader of the organization from the 1950s until his death in 1980. He conducted High Holy Days and Passover services for the deaf. Also of special note is Isidor Reisman (b. 1920), a principal of the Cleveland Hebrew Schools and a teacher of the educationally impaired, who has, since the 1960s, taught Hebrew to Jewish deaf students and prepared some of them for bar or bat mitzvah.

From the guide to the Hebrew Association of the Deaf of Cleveland Records, 1918-1980, (Western Reserve Historical Society)