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History of the Jews in Ohio

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56:, then a considerable town, which thus became the second place in the state where Jews settled. Thorman was soon followed by countrymen of his, who in 1839 organized themselves into a congregation (the first in Cleveland, and the second in Ohio) called the Israelitish Society. The same decade saw an influx of German Jews into Cincinnati, and these in 1841 founded the Bene Yeshurun congregation. To these two communities the Jewish history of Ohio was confined for the first half of the 19th century. In 1850 Ohio had six congregations: four in Cincinnati and two in Cleveland. 804: 1081: 695: 709: 791: 397:, made Ohio prominent in Jewish affairs nationally in the latter half of the 19th century. By the early 20th century, Cleveland, with its larger population swelled by immigration from eastern Europe, became the most prominent center for Jewish activities in the state. All of Ohio's statewide-elected Jewish politicians, most prominently U.S. Sen. 71:
in September 1880, Ohio was credited with a Jewish population of 6,581, which seems to be too low an estimate. The number of Jews in Ohio in 1904 was supposed to be about 50,000. This estimate made the Jewish community of Ohio one of the largest in the country, surpassed in numerical strength only by
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of 5662 (1902), almost every town of importance had some Jewish organization. The two largest communities now had 12 congregations in Cincinnati and 14 in Cleveland. In 1901 18 cities and towns had one or more Jewish institutions, 16 of them having 50 regularly organized congregations. The following
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These three cities are not only the most important numerically; they are the seats of the most prominent Jewish educational and charitable organizations and of the Jewish press of the state. Cleveland is home to the first Telshe Yeshiva in the United States, established in 1941 after the school was
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has had an active Jewish population for over 150 years. It is home to Temple Beth Israel-Shaare Zedek. The congregation is composed of the previous Reform and Conservative congregations which merged in 1961. The Temple currently holds regular bi-monthly services but has no permanent rabbi as of
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Today, roughly nine out of ten Ohio Jews live in the metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus, with community population estimates of 80,000 for Cleveland (as of 1996); 27,000 for Cincinnati (as of 2008); and 25,500 for Columbus (as of 2013).
100:, 1,004 Jews were enrolled from Ohio, a number exceeded only by the Jewish contingent of New York. This fact points also to the relative size of the Jewish community in Ohio at that time. One of these soldiers, Marcus M. Spiegel, rose from the ranks to a 324:, Beni Israel, founded in 1867. It has three congregations, Bnai Israel (rabbi, Joseph Levin), Bnai Jacob (rabbi, Herz Benowitz); founded in 1870), and Shomer Emonim (rabbi, Charles Freund; founded in 1870, dissolved in 1874, and reorganized in 1884). 242:
is also the seat of a considerable Jewish community. It has three congregations, Bnai Yeshurun, founded in 1854 (rabbi, David Lefkowitz), and two orthodox congregations, one of which, the House of Jacob (Rabbi Hillel Fox), was founded in
401:, have hailed from the Cleveland area. By the end of the 20th century, Columbus was an increasingly important center of national Jewish prominence, driven by its population growth and by educational and cultural institutions such as 780: 356:. In addition, five cities have sections of the Council of Jewish Women, four have nine Zionist societies, and eight have fifty-two lodges (comp. "American Jewish Year Book," 5662, p. 146). 330:
has two congregations, Children of Israel (rabbi, J. Friedman) and Rodef Sholem (rabbi, J. B. Grossman; organized in 1867). Youngstown has also a Ladies' Aid Society and a Hebrew Charity Society.
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has the Akron Hebrew Congregation, organized in 1865 (rabbi, Isador Philo). It has also the Francis Joseph Society, a charitable organization, and an Orthodox congregation.
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has three congregations, Agudath Achim founded in 1850 (rabbi, Becker), Moses Montefiore, and Sons of Israel, the last-named organized in 1896. It has further a
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Jews have filled also many local offices, judicial and administrative, both through election and appointment. Of federal office-holders may be mentioned:
908: 1110: 758: 972: 928: 795: 233: 1058: 1046: 977: 513: 421: 44:, the B'ne Israel. This English immigration was followed in the next two decades by the coming of German immigrants who, in contrast, were mostly 488: 938: 1036: 386: 955: 918: 859: 839: 994: 989: 336:
has two congregations, Beth Abraham and K'neseth Israel. Beth Abraham traced its history to 1874 and K'neseth Israel was formed in 1868.
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for the first time in Ohio in 1819, and, as the community grew, organized themselves in 1824 into the first Jewish congregation of the
1006: 829: 159:, and Max Silverberg have served in the state legislature. Julius Freiburg was a member of the convention to change the constitution. 1115: 999: 967: 945: 105: 249:
had a congregation known as the Fremont Hebrew Temple. By 1942 this congregation had merged with Beth Israel, a newer Jewish group.
1066: 898: 950: 893: 876: 540: 1051: 881: 869: 821: 565: 229: 296:'s Congregation Bench Abraham (rabbi, Louis Kuppin), was organized in 1858 and included a Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Society. 1041: 984: 849: 816: 616: 417: 1026: 888: 834: 413: 67:
After the middle of the 19th century, congregations sprang up throughout the state. In the statistics published by the
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was the site of two congregations in 1900. By 1902, these two congregations merged under the name B'nai Israel.
68: 152: 201: 101: 736: 144: 136: 402: 163: 132: 374: 345: 140: 741: 341: 148: 128: 311: 308:
has two congregations, Chesed Shel Emeth (rabbi, H. Arnofsky) and Ohev Zedakah (founded in 1866).
113: 97: 747: 664: 640: 124: 88:. The Jews of Ohio formed a little over 1 percent of the total population, which was 4,157,545. 732: 473: 406: 398: 305: 219: 213: 271:
was home to a Congregation called B'nai Israel, which purchased a permanent building in 1926.
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has one of the largest Jewish communities in Ohio. Its oldest religious institution is a
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The Jews of Ohio have taken a significant part in the public life of the state. In the
45: 1099: 349: 258: 246: 85: 265:
have each a congregation. In Mansfield, a Jewish presence can be dated to the 1840s.
353: 317: 281: 239: 207: 77: 714: 460: 287: 191: 690: 274: 236:(which became a Conservative congregation in the 21st century) and Beth Jacob. 59:
As of 2012, Ohio has a Jewish population of 148,680, about 1.3% of the state.
41: 617:"Jews in the Y Bridge City: A History of Zanesville's Early Jewish Community" 489:"Jews in the First Capital: A History of Chillicothe Ohio's Jewish Families" 216:
has a Jewish Relief Society. Religious services were also organized in town.
790: 722: 81: 49: 25: 641:"Jewish Cleveland 2004--A Demographic Profile of Our Community Survey" 255:'s Congregation B'nai Israel (rabbi, L. Liebman) was founded in 1866. 727: 369:
relocated out of Lithuania. In Cincinnati, the activity of Rabbi
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as appraiser of merchandise, and Bernhard Bettman, appointed by
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In political life also the Jews have been active. Joseph Jonas,
762: 228:, the capital of the state, had in 1902 a Reform congregation, 752: 541:"A History of Jewish Life in Mansfield and Surrounding Areas" 748:
The History of Jewish Cleveland – Teaching Cleveland Digital
514:"A History of Jewish Life in Fremont and Surrounding Areas" 120:, the highest military decoration for gallantry in action. 108:, for which rank he had been recommended. Two others— 178:
Jewish communities in Ohio at the turn of the 20th century
439: 437: 32:. He drew after him a number of English Jews, who held 377:
there, as well as of the other major institutions of
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has a Jewish Aid Society and a Hebrew Sabbath-school.
104:, and but for his untimely death would have become a 210:
has a congregation and a Hebrew Ladies' Aid Society.
290:'s congregation, Anshe Emeth, was founded in 1858. 187:cities also had Jewish organizations as of 1902: 566:"A History of the Jewish Community of Lancaster" 665:"Jewish Population Study Cincinnati, Ohio 2008" 774: 8: 592:"Steubenville and Weirton's Jewish Heritage" 781: 767: 759: 744:at The Columbus Jewish Historical Society 797:History of the Jews in the United States 302:has one congregation, Temple Oheb Shalom 433: 422:History of the Jews in Greater Columbus 222:has a congregation, Children of Israel. 92:Distinguished Jews in 19th century Ohio 621:The Columbus Jewish Historical Society 596:The Columbus Jewish Historical Society 545:The Columbus Jewish Historical Society 383:Union of American Hebrew Congregations 69:Union of American Hebrew Congregations 387:Central Conference of American Rabbis 52:, Simson Thorman, settled in 1837 in 7: 572:. Columbus Jewish Historical Society 520:. Columbus Jewish Historical Society 360:Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus 570:Columbus Jewish Historical Society 518:Columbus Jewish Historical Society 340:High holiday services are held in 232:; and two Orthodox congregations, 204:, and a Ladies' Auxiliary Society. 174:as collector of internal revenue. 14: 1111:Jewish-American history by state 1080: 1079: 802: 789: 707: 693: 202:Young Men's Hebrew Association 1: 418:Jews and Judaism in Cleveland 493:www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org 414:Jewish history in Cincinnati 391:Hebrew Sabbath-School Union 1132: 728:Cleveland Jewish Directory 1077: 812: 474:"Ohio-Israel Cooperation" 405:'s Melton Center and the 395:National Jewish Charities 184:American Jewish Year Book 20:dates back to 1817, when 1116:Jews and Judaism in Ohio 723:Cleveland Jewish History 373:and the founding of the 733:Ohio-Israel Cooperation 24:, a pioneer, came from 18:history of Jews in Ohio 1022:Southern United States 742:Central Ohio Histories 737:Jewish Virtual Library 669:Berman Jewish DataBank 645:Berman Jewish DataBank 449:JewishEncyclopedia.com 615:Reid, Austin (2020). 539:Reid, Austin (2023). 487:Reid, Austin (2021). 463:& H. G. Friedmann 424:for further details. 403:Ohio State University 28:and made his home in 375:Hebrew Union College 145:Frederick S. Spiegel 168:President Cleveland 149:Charles Fleischmann 137:Harry M. Hoffheimer 172:President McKinley 164:Nathaniel Newburgh 114:Abraham Greenawalt 98:American Civil War 1093: 1092: 407:Wexner Foundation 399:Howard Metzenbaum 182:According to the 133:Caspar Lowenstein 106:brigadier general 63:Population growth 1123: 1083: 1082: 1059:Washington, D.C. 807: 806: 805: 798: 793: 783: 776: 769: 760: 717: 712: 711: 710: 703: 698: 697: 696: 680: 679: 677: 676: 661: 655: 654: 652: 651: 637: 631: 630: 628: 627: 612: 606: 605: 603: 602: 587: 581: 580: 578: 577: 561: 555: 554: 552: 551: 536: 530: 529: 527: 525: 509: 503: 502: 500: 499: 484: 478: 477: 470: 464: 458: 456: 455: 441: 371:Isaac Mayer Wise 1131: 1130: 1126: 1125: 1124: 1122: 1121: 1120: 1106:History of Ohio 1096: 1095: 1094: 1089: 1073: 1011:South Carolina 808: 803: 801: 796: 787: 713: 708: 706: 699: 694: 692: 689: 684: 683: 674: 672: 663: 662: 658: 649: 647: 639: 638: 634: 625: 623: 614: 613: 609: 600: 598: 589: 588: 584: 575: 573: 563: 562: 558: 549: 547: 538: 537: 533: 523: 521: 511: 510: 506: 497: 495: 486: 485: 481: 472: 471: 467: 453: 451: 443: 442: 435: 430: 362: 180: 166:, appointed by 157:Alfred M. Cohen 141:Fred A. Johnson 131:, Daniel Wolf, 116:, received the 94: 65: 12: 11: 5: 1129: 1127: 1119: 1118: 1113: 1108: 1098: 1097: 1091: 1090: 1078: 1075: 1074: 1072: 1071: 1070: 1069: 1061: 1056: 1055: 1054: 1049: 1044: 1039: 1034: 1024: 1019: 1018: 1017: 1009: 1004: 1003: 1002: 997: 987: 982: 981: 980: 975: 970: 960: 959: 958: 948: 943: 942: 941: 933: 932: 931: 923: 922: 921: 913: 912: 911: 906: 901: 891: 886: 885: 884: 874: 873: 872: 864: 863: 862: 854: 853: 852: 844: 843: 842: 837: 832: 824: 819: 813: 810: 809: 788: 786: 785: 778: 771: 763: 757: 756: 750: 745: 739: 730: 725: 719: 718: 704: 701:Judaism portal 688: 687:External links 685: 682: 681: 656: 632: 607: 590:Reid, Austin. 582: 564:Reid, Austin. 556: 531: 512:Reid, Austin. 504: 479: 465: 432: 431: 429: 426: 379:Reform Judaism 361: 358: 346:East Liverpool 338: 337: 331: 325: 322:chevra kadisha 315: 309: 303: 297: 291: 285: 279: 272: 266: 256: 250: 244: 237: 223: 217: 211: 205: 195: 179: 176: 118:Medal of Honor 110:David Orbansky 93: 90: 64: 61: 38:divine service 13: 10: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1128: 1117: 1114: 1112: 1109: 1107: 1104: 1103: 1101: 1088: 1087: 1076: 1068: 1065: 1064: 1062: 1060: 1057: 1053: 1050: 1048: 1045: 1043: 1040: 1038: 1035: 1033: 1032:Brazos County 1030: 1029: 1028: 1025: 1023: 1020: 1016: 1013: 1012: 1010: 1008: 1005: 1001: 998: 996: 993: 992: 991: 988: 986: 983: 979: 976: 974: 971: 969: 966: 965: 964: 961: 957: 956:New York City 954: 953: 952: 949: 947: 944: 940: 937: 936: 934: 930: 927: 926: 924: 920: 917: 916: 914: 910: 907: 905: 902: 900: 897: 896: 895: 892: 890: 887: 883: 880: 879: 878: 875: 871: 868: 867: 865: 861: 858: 857: 855: 851: 848: 847: 845: 841: 840:San Francisco 838: 836: 833: 831: 828: 827: 825: 823: 820: 818: 815: 814: 811: 799: 792: 784: 779: 777: 772: 770: 765: 764: 761: 754: 751: 749: 746: 743: 740: 738: 734: 731: 729: 726: 724: 721: 720: 716: 705: 702: 691: 686: 670: 666: 660: 657: 646: 642: 636: 633: 622: 618: 611: 608: 597: 593: 586: 583: 571: 567: 560: 557: 546: 542: 535: 532: 519: 515: 508: 505: 494: 490: 483: 480: 475: 469: 466: 462: 450: 446: 440: 438: 434: 427: 425: 423: 419: 415: 410: 408: 404: 400: 396: 392: 388: 384: 380: 376: 372: 366: 359: 357: 355: 351: 347: 343: 342:Bowling Green 335: 332: 329: 326: 323: 319: 316: 313: 310: 307: 304: 301: 298: 295: 292: 289: 286: 283: 280: 278:January 2024. 276: 273: 270: 267: 264: 260: 257: 254: 251: 248: 247:Fremont, Ohio 245: 241: 238: 235: 231: 230:Temple Israel 227: 224: 221: 218: 215: 212: 209: 206: 203: 199: 196: 193: 190: 189: 188: 185: 177: 175: 173: 169: 165: 160: 158: 154: 150: 146: 142: 138: 134: 130: 129:William Bloch 126: 121: 119: 115: 111: 107: 103: 99: 91: 89: 87: 86:Massachusetts 83: 79: 75: 70: 62: 60: 57: 55: 51: 47: 43: 39: 35: 31: 27: 23: 19: 1084: 995:Philadelphia 990:Pennsylvania 962: 800:   794:   673:. 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Retrieved 448: 411: 381:such as the 367: 363: 339: 312:Steubenville 234:Agudas Achim 183: 181: 161: 122: 95: 78:Pennsylvania 66: 58: 22:Joseph Jonas 17: 15: 1007:Puerto Rico 830:Los Angeles 826:California 715:Ohio portal 461:Cyrus Adler 306:Springfield 220:Circleville 214:Chillicothe 46:Reform Jews 42:Ohio Valley 1100:Categories 1063:Wisconsin 1015:Charleston 1000:Pittsburgh 968:Cincinnati 946:New Jersey 904:Cumberland 675:2018-01-27 650:2018-01-27 626:2023-03-04 601:2022-03-21 576:2018-09-24 550:2023-03-10 498:2023-03-04 454:2018-01-27 428:References 393:, and the 334:Zanesville 328:Youngstown 294:Portsmouth 153:Henry Mack 125:Jacob Wolf 30:Cincinnati 1067:Milwaukee 1047:Galveston 973:Cleveland 935:Nebraska 929:St. Louis 925:Missouri 915:Michigan 909:Frederick 899:Baltimore 846:Colorado 835:San Diego 269:Lancaster 263:Mansfield 54:Cleveland 1086:Category 978:Columbus 951:New York 894:Maryland 877:Illinois 866:Georgia 860:southern 856:Florida 300:Sandusky 253:Hamilton 226:Columbus 198:Bellaire 82:Illinois 74:New York 50:Bavarian 34:Orthodox 1052:Houston 1037:Brenham 919:Detroit 882:Chicago 870:Atlanta 822:Arizona 735:at the 350:Findlay 259:Ironton 102:colonel 36:-style 26:England 1042:Dallas 985:Oregon 850:Denver 817:Alaska 753:Jstyle 524:24 May 445:"OHIO" 389:, the 385:, the 354:Marion 318:Toledo 282:Marion 240:Dayton 208:Canton 84:, and 1027:Texas 939:Omaha 889:Maine 288:Piqua 243:1886. 192:Akron 963:Ohio 526:2021 420:and 412:See 352:and 275:Lima 261:and 48:. 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Index

Joseph Jonas
England
Cincinnati
Orthodox
divine service
Ohio Valley
Reform Jews
Bavarian
Cleveland
Union of American Hebrew Congregations
New York
Pennsylvania
Illinois
Massachusetts
American Civil War
colonel
brigadier general
David Orbansky
Abraham Greenawalt
Medal of Honor
Jacob Wolf
William Bloch
Caspar Lowenstein
Harry M. Hoffheimer
Fred A. Johnson
Frederick S. Spiegel
Charles Fleischmann
Henry Mack
Alfred M. Cohen
Nathaniel Newburgh

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