Jewish Studies

The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware was founded in 1974 and incorporated in 1975 for the purpose of acquiring, preserving and publishing material pertinent to the history of Jewish settlement and Jewish life in the State of Delaware. Our collections contain organizational records, family papers, memoirs and photographs.

The Jewish Federation pledges to lead and mobilize our community by investing in critical priorities locally, in Israel and around the world.

The history of Jews in Pittsburgh began in the 1840's with a small community of primarily German immigrants, whose first communal action was the establishment of a burial society. By the end of the Civil War, there were two congregations, Rodef Shalom and Tree of Life.

The German-Jewish community was already quite prosperous when Jews from Eastern Europe and the Russian Empire began to arrive in large numbers in the 1890s. The influx of Yiddish-speaking Jews lasted until 1920, when immigration laws became more restrictive. During this thirty-year period, the number of Jews in Pittsburgh and the region grew dramatically.

Just as this new wave of immigrants had begun to arrive, the first English-language Jewish newspaper, the Jewish Criterion, was established in 1895. This weekly newspaper published articles related to national and international political and entertainment news, along with information concerning local social and life-cycle events. In 1934, the American Jewish Outlook, which had offerings similar to those of the Criterion, began publication.

The two newspapers were published concurrently until 1962, when they were acquired by the United Jewish Federation and closed. An independent corporation, the Pittsburgh Jewish Publication and Education Foundation, was created and chartered with the purpose of publishing a new weekly publication to be known as the Jewish Chronicle. Since then, the Jewish Chronicle has been the newspaper of the Pittsburgh Jewish community, providing coverage of local events, international news, and organization and life-cycle events.

Located in Philadelphia’s historic district.

The Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, on Independence Mall in Philadelphia, presents educational programs and experiences that preserve, explore, and celebrate the history of Jews in America. Its purpose is to connect Jews more closely to their heritage and to inspire in people of all backgrounds a greater appreciation for the diversity of the American Jewish experience and the freedoms to which Americans aspire.

The Baltimore Hebrew Institute (formerly Baltimore Hebrew University) at Towson University, is committed to supporting the education of Jewish educators, communal professionals and Judaic studies scholars who wish to excel in their chosen fields.