The Cleveland District of the Zionist Organization of America was founded in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1966 as a result of a merger of three previous districts, including the Temple on the Heights District and The Temple District. Between 1966 and 1975, the organization was headed by five presidents. Gilbert Savransky held the office until Sandford Curtiss took over in the summer of 1969. When Curtiss resigned in August of 1970, Conrad Morgenstern held the office for two and one-half years. In September of 1973, Morgenstern was succeeded by Samuel Givelber for one year, who was then succeeded by Dr. Burton Dean in September of 1974.
The Cleveland District of the Zionist Organization of America was an affiliate of the national organization created in 1918. Formed out of the merger of there existing Zionist groups - the Federation of American Zionists, young Judea, and Hadassah - national Zionist Organization of America elected Louis D. Brandeis honorary president and Julian W. Mack as president at its founding convention.
From 1918 to 1921, representatives of the Zionist Organization of America participated in the work of the Zionist Commission in Palestine. After a period of activity in concert with the Emergency Committee for Zionist Affairs during World War II, the organization worked to mobilize United States support for the establishment of the state of Israel.
Since May of 1948, the national Zionist Organization of America has shifted its role from strong involvement in efforts to create the State of Israel, to one of fundraising and public relations on behalf of the newly founded state. This shift is reflected in the Cleveland District where this new emphasis on fundraising and public relations is very evident. In 1967, the Cleveland District played a vital role in the establishment of the Cleveland Zionist Emergency Council. Established by the Zionist Organization of America, under the chairmanship of Rabbi Daniel Jeremy Silver, the Council's purpose is to mobilize Cleveland Zionist organizations on Israel's behalf during periods of crisis, particularly through fundraising and public relations. The active response of the District's public affairs committee to issues relating to the American Jewish community and particularly on behalf of Soviet Jewry and the State of Israel is representative of organizational activities.
The Zionist Organization of America's support for projects in Israel - the Kfar Silver and Mollie Good High Schools - is dependent upon the success of its fundraising campaigns. Until 1970 the Kfar Silver Benefit Concert was a major event of the year, however, concerts raised insufficient funds for the needs of the projects. As a result, the presentation of the Abba Hillel Silver Humanities Award to a worthy individual was decided upon. The goal of the award was to support a perpetual scholarship at Kfar Silver High School based on funds collected prior to the dinner and presented to Kfar Silver in the name of the honoree. The award dinners in honor of Robert Taft, Jr., Gerald Ford, and Max Fisher were all very successful.
In October 1967, a women's committee was established for the purpose of conducting various fundraising projects. In August 1970, an investment club was formed that was responsible for the buying and selling of American and Israeli stocks and securities.
The programming of educational activities for both adults and youth have been essential to the organization. In December of 1867, Masada, the Zionist Organization of America youth group, was formed in Cleveland. Promoting Masada membership and finding proper facilities and a dynamic leader for the group have been topics of concern for the parent organization.
The Zionist Organization of America, Cleveland District Records, 1962-1975, consist of brochures, correspondence, constitutions, minutes, paid invoices, pamphlets, resolutions, receipts, statements and purchases of security accounts, and newspaper clippings.
This collection gives insight into the relationship between the Cleveland, Ohio Jewish community and the American Zionist Organization, and to the community's mobilization during the Israeli crises of 1967 and 1973. The records also make mention of the national Zionist Organization of America, Kfar Silver and Mollie Goodman High Schools in Israel, and the Abba Hillel Silver Award. National Zionist Organization of America presidents Jacques Torczyner and Herman Weisman are also mentioned, as are Cleveland presidents Gilbert Savransky, Conrad Morgenstern, Samuel Givelber, and Dr. Burton Dean. Other individuals mentioned in the collection are Cleveland Hebraist Bea Stadler and noted tenor of the Metropolitan Opera, Jan Peerce.
The collection is arranged in five series. Each series is arranged alphabetically by subject and then chronologically.
The researcher should also consult PG 188 Zionist Organization of America, Cleveland District Photographs.
Processed by Debra Spero Applebaum in 1978.
None.
[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 3734 Zionist Organization of America, Cleveland District Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Gift of the Zionist Organization of America, Cleveland District, in 1977.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.