Overview of the Collection
Western Reserve Historical Society
Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland
Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland Records
1.00 linear feet (1 container)
The Jewish Secular Community is a Cleveland, Ohio, group founded in 1971 to provide a non-religious Jewish education for their children, emphasizing Jewish history, literature, culture and tradition. In addition, the organization sponsored adult education activities, holiday observances, life cycle ceremonies and included a social action committee. The collection consists of administrative records, copies of texts for B'nai Mitzvah and holiday ceremonies, and materials relating to national Jewish secular community organizations. Included are membership lists, newsletters, board minutes, school records, correspondence and news clippings.
MS 4498
The records are in English
closed stacks1967-1988
History of the Jewish Secular Community of ClevelandThe Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland (f. 1967) is a group whose members share with other Jews a common history, literature, culture, and tradition without necessarily having a belief in God. The group's founding members were drawn together by their desire to offer their children a Jewish education outside of the existing religious institutions and their earliest efforts were focused upon the development of a school. By the mid-1970s, however, adult education, holiday observances, and life cycle ceremonies had been introduced and a social action committee had been formed.
Scope and ContentThe Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland Records, 1967-1988, consist of administrative records, copies of texts for B'nai Mitzvah and holiday ceremonies, and materials relating to national-level Jewish secular community organizations.
This collection is of value to researchers studying the history of the Jewish community in Cleveland, Ohio, and the origins and development of a grass roots alternative Jewish religious group. Of particular interest is the transcript of a discussion held in l987 by the group's founding members in which they discuss the origins, development, and future of the Jewish Secular Community. Genealogists might find the death and burial records useful.
Statement of ArrangementThe collection is arranged in two series.
- Series I: Chronological Files
- Series II: Subject Files is arranged chronologically.
Separated MaterialAll photographs have been removed to the photograph and print collection.
Related MaterialThe researcher should also consult MS 5138 Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland Records, Series II.
Processing InformationProcessed by Evy Rosenblum in 1990.
Restrictions on AccessNone.
Preferred Citation[Container ___, Folder ___ ] MS 4498 Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland Records, Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio
Acquisition InformationJewish Secular Society, l989.
Indexing TermsThe following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Subjects:Jewish Secular Community of Cleveland -- Archives.Jewish Secular School (Cleveland, Ohio) -- Archives.Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland -- Societies, etc.Jews -- Education -- Ohio -- Cleveland.Judaism -- Customs and practices.Detailed Description of The CollectionSeries I: Chronological Files1967-198811-11Each file includes a one page summary of the activities of that year and some or all of the following: membership lists, newsletters, board minutes, school records, correspondence and newspaper clippings.1967-1988Series II: Subject Files1967-1988 undated112Philosophy and history records1967-1987113Financial records1970-1981114School records1969 undated115B'nai Mitzvah records1972-1987116Passover Haggadah and High Holiday materials1974 1977 1980 undated117Death and burial records1976-1979 undated118-19National Jewish Secular Community conferences1969-1988