GRATZ COLLEGE PHILADELPHIA STATISTICAL DATA OF THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AND PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. FOR 1908-1909 Edited by Julius H. Greenstone, Ph.D. Instructor in Pedagogics, Gratz College PHILADELPHIA 1909 GRATZ COLLEGE PHILADELPHIA STATISTICAL DATA OF THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AND PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA. ' FOR 1908-1909 Edited by Julius H. Greenstone, Ph.D. Instructor in Pedagogics, Gratz College PHILADELPHIA 1909 ^*^ The Gratz College of Philadelphia, in furtherance of its general pur- pose of preparing teachers for Jewish religious schools and stimulating religious instruction, published, in 1907, statistical data of the Jewish Religious Schools of Philadelphia. Believing that progress in the direction of Jewish education, as well as in any other undertaking, depends largely upon a knowledge of existing conditions, it was decided to extend this inquiry to the neighboring city of Baltimore and to the second largest city in the State of Pennsylvania, Pittsburg, and the results of the inquiry are here presented. It is hoped that similar investigations will soon be made as to the status of Jewish elementary education in other centres of Jewish life in this country. The editor desires to make grateful acknowledgment to all who have aided in bringing this material together, and especially in Baltimore to Mr. B. H. Hartogensis and Mr. Morris A. Rome, and in Pittsburg to Rev. Dr. Rudolph I. CofTee, who have given much time and labor to this work in their respective cities. ft; •. " :■ STATISTICAL DATA -OF THE JEWISH RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS OF BALTIMORE, MD. -FOR- 1908-1909 It is estimated that there are 50,000 Jews in Baltimore City, of whom the largest number lives in the congested district East of Jones' Falls. To provide for these there are 34 schools, in which a total enrollment of 2,845 is given by the official figures submitted herewith. It is obvious that not sufficient provision is made for those whose attendance at schools or Chedorim may be expected. Geographically considered, it appears that there are large numbers of boys and girls of the school age in the North- western residential section, in the Southern district and in the Western suburbs near Pulaski Street unprovided for. There is no Sunday School Society in Baltimore and there are no Sun- day Schools, saving the Frank Free Sabbath School, although the Council of Jewish Women does maintain Bible Classes and Study Circles; the Daughters in Israel conduct services every Sabbath afternoon, except in the summer, for some 400 children, while the Hebrew Education Society, at its building on Sabbath morning and holidays, has services for about 200 more ; the Talmud Torah Free School Society is inaugurating model Sabbath ser- vices under its newly installed superintendent, Rabbi E. N. Rabinowitz, in its amply large and attractive hall ; yet it is said there is room for more such services, while none are provided outside of the congested districts on the East side. The Talmud Torah has a new well-equipped building, a capable superintendent in Rabbi Rabinowitz, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and an adequate corps of teachers. The Hebrew Education Society, with its fifty years of prestige, is likewise fortunate in quarters and ten teachers. Dr. S. Benderly, the superintendent, has achieved national distinction for conducting at this building a model school in which, begin- ning with the children at tender ages, Hebrew is taught as a living language, much after the Yellin method. The Sabbath Schools conducted by the congregations, to which Rabbis Rosenau, Guttmacher and Rubinstein re- spectively minister, are well equipped, have a corps of competent teachers and get good results, though instruction is limited to but once a week. The Hebrew Education Society conducts a training school for intend- ing teachers, but provides no course for regular teachers. B. H. H. I— PUPILS SCHOOLS I — Congregational Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Chizuk Emunah Har Sinai Oheb Shalom Shearith Israel II — Orphan Asylum Hebrew Orphan Asylum Ill — Talmud Torahs Baltimore Talmud Torah Society Talmud Torah V'Haemunah Keneset Israel Talmud Torah . . . Anshe Emunah Talmud Torah . . IV— Sabbath School Frank Sabbath School V — Hebrew Education Society* VI — Private Schools B. Balk M. Blank H. Brodie I. Echikowitz I. Edelson F. Friedlander M. Gann M. Glasser T. Goodman I. Mechanik H. Mirvis B. Moss M. Nathanson Olele Zion Hebrew School S. Plotsky I. Samuels . . . M. Schwartz . M. Slatowsky S. Sokolowsky S. Spector . . . R. Stichman . J. Zirlman . . Grand Total. Boys 105 42 126 25 38 571 190 70 _80_ 911 75 12 15 65 IS 15 15 4 15 4 10 20 10 80 30 9 10 4 25 21 20 20 10 382 Girls 118 18 124 20 32 70 70 325 Total 223 60 125 250 45 703 70 641 190 70 80 981 400 306 12 15 65 18 15 15 4 18 4 10 20 10 30 30 9 10 4 25 21 20 20 10 385 2845 Average Attend- ance 190 60 200 40 70 525 190 70 80 865' 350 12 15 65 15 14 15 4 17 4 10 20 10 30 30 8 10 4 25 15 20 20 10 373 *No information was furnished by the authorities, ondary sources. Data obtained from sec- II-TEACHERS SCHOOLS Male Female Total Paid 1 — Congregational Baltimore Hebrew Congregation 3 9 12 10 Chizuk Emunah 1 2 3 3 Har Sinai 2 3 4 7 6 10 5 Oheb Shalom 10 Shearith Israel 1 1 1 II — Orphan Asylum 10 22 32 29 Hebrew Orphan Asylum 1 1 1 Ill — Talmud Torahs Baltimore Talmud Torah Society 12 12 12 Talmud Torah V'Haemunah 4 4 4 Keneset Israel Talmud Torah 2 2 2 Anshe Emunah Talmud Torah 3 3 3 IV— Sabbath School 21 21 21 Frank Sabbath School 12 12 10 V — Hebrew Education Society* VI — Private Schools 23 Schools Each Having One Teacher. 22 22 22 Grand Total 98 *No information was furnished by the authorities. Data obtained from sec- ondary sources. Ill — Meetings and Subjects of Instruction Abbreviations Used in this Table. A. — Abrahams, Manual of Scripture History (Bloch Publishing Co., New York) ; B. — Bible; BY-Ben Yehuda, Dibre ha-Yamim li-Bene Israel; D. — Deutsch, Biblical History (published by author); Gr. — Graetz, liistory of the Jews (Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphi ) ; Gu. — Guttmacher, Sajjbath School Compan- ion (Bloch Publishing Co., New York) ; H.— Harris, The People of the Book, 3 volumes Katzenberg, Faith and Deed (Bloch Pub. Co., N. Y.); Ko. — Kohler, Guide for Instruction in Judaism (Philip Cowen, New York) ; L. — Levi, Hebrew Course Book (Jewish Chautau- qua Society, Philadelphia); Le. — Levy, Religion and Ethics for Jewish Children; LM — Lady Magnus, Outlines of Jewish History (Jewish Publication Society, Philadelphia); M. — Men- des, Child's First Bible (published by author) ; Ma. — Mannheimer, Hebrew Reader and Grammar (Bloch Publishing Co., New York) Me. — Mendes, Jewish Religion Ethically Pre- sented (published by author); Mi. — Mishnah; PB — Prayer Bjok; ShA — Shulhan Aruch; T Talmud; U — Krauskopf and Berkowitz, Union Hebrew Reader (Bloch Publishing Co.,' New York). SCHOOLS I — Congregational Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Chizuk Emunah Har Sinai . . . Oheb Shalom . Shearith Israel II — Orphan Asylum Hebrew Orphan Asylum Ill — Talmud Torahs Beth Talmud Torah Society Talmud Torah V'Haemunah Keneseth Israel He- brew School Anshe Emunah Tal- mud Torah Meetings Sunday Other Days IV— Sabbath School Frank Sabbath School V — Private Schools B. Balk M. Blank H. Brodie I. Echikowitz . . . . I. Edelson . . . F. Friedlander M. Gann 9.15-12 A.M. 9-11 A.M. 9.30-11.30 A.M. 9-11.30 A.M. Daily except Saturday Daily 4-6P.M. Daily 9-12 A.M., l..^l) 3.30 & 4-6.30 P.M. Daily 9-12 A.M., 2-4 & 4-7 P.M. Mon., Tues., Wed., Thur. & Sat. 4-7 P.M. Daily except Fri. 4-; P.M. Daily4-7p.M. except Fri. 7-12 A.M. Daily except Sat. 3-6 P.M. DailyS-9A.M 3.30-7 P,M. DailyS-9A.M 4-6 P.M. Daily 3-5 P. M Mon., Tues.. Wed., Thur! 4.30-6 P.M. D'ly 4-7 P.M. Text Books Hebrew Bible History Religion P.B ; B. U.; P.B. Ma.;P B.;B P.B.; B.; Mi P.B.; B. H.; Ha.; A. K. D.; L,M. H. He. Me.; Ko. Ka.; Ja. Is the study of Hebrew Compulsory Yes No Yes Ill — Continued M. Glasser Daily 33.0-7 P.M. Yes T. Goodman I. Mechanik H. Mirvis B. Moss M. Nathanson .... 9a. M, -2p.m. 4-9.30 p M. Daily 8-9 A. M 5-7 P.M. Daily 3-7 p,m Daily 3-5 p.m D'ly 7-9 A.M. D'ly 4-7 P.M. Daily P.B. Olele Zion Hebxew School S. Plotsky I. Samuels P B.; B. M. Schwartz R. Stichman P.B.; B. „ M. Slatowsky S. Sokolowsky S. Spector 10a.m.-2p.m Daily 4-9 P.M D'ly 8-10 A.M 3-5 P.M. Daily 1.30-4 P.M. J. Zirlman IV — Internal Organization of Schools SCHOOLS No. of Classes No. of Pupils in each Class Has each Class a Seperate Room Is there a School Board No. of Volumes in the Library Judaica Secular 1 — Congregational Baltimore Hebrevy Congregation. 8 3 7 10 3 4 8 4 2 3 12 21 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 2 3 2 3 1 Yes No Yes ( 1 Yes C ( ( t No about 250 No 2200 V Chizuk Emunah 20 Har Sinai 500 in all 753 Oheb Shalom Av. 25 15 Av. 18 40 Av. 50 " 40 " 25 " 30 6 Av. 7 " 33 9 Av. 7 15 4 18 4 10 20 10 Av. 15 " 15 9 10 4 10 Av. 8 '• 10 " 7 10 Shearith Israel II — Orphan Asylum Hebrew Orphan Asylum Ill — Talmud Torahs Baltimore Talmud Torah Society ols. in all Talmud Torah V'Haemunah. . . Keneset Israel Hebrevp School... Yes No Anshe Emunah Talmud Torah.. IV— Sabbath School Frank Sabbath School V — Hebrew Education Society* VI — Private Schools B. Balk M. Blank No Yes H. Brodie * F. Friedlander M. Gann M. Glasser I. Mechanik H. Mirvis B. Moss M Nathanson Yes Olele Zion Hebrew School S Plotsky M. Schwartz No M. Slatowsky S Sokolowsky Yes < 1 S. Spector *No information was furnished by the authorities, ondary sources. Data obtained from sec- V — Schools, Location and Superintendents Name of School I Baltimore Hebrew Congrega- tional School .... a Chizuk Emunah Congrega- tional Scliool 3 Har Sinai Sabbath School... 4 Religious School Congrega- tional Oheb Shalom 5 Hebrew School of Congrega- tional Shearith Israel .... 6 School of Hebrew Orphan Asylum 7 Baltimore Talmud Torah So- ciety 8 Talmud Torah V'Haemunah 9 Cheneses Israel Talmud Torah 10 Anshe Emunah Talmud Torah 11 Frank Sabbath School 13 Heder 13 Heder 14 Heder 15 Heder 16 Heder x'j Heder i8 Heder 19 Heder 20 Heder 21 Heder 23 Heder . ., 23 Heder 24 Heder . 25 Olele Zion Hebrew Society.. 26 Heder 27 Heder 28 Heder 29 Heder 30 Heder 3 1 Heder 32 Shomere Hadass Religious School 3 3 Heder 34 Hebrew Education Society. . . Address Madison Ave. & Rob- ert St McCulloch & Masher Sts Eutaw PL & Lan. McCulloch near Bloom Caleverton Heights 21 N. High St 249 N. High St. . . Superintendent Adoif Guttmacher Herman Glass C. A. Rubenstein William Rosenau S. SchaflFer ,S. Freudentlial |p. I. Shochet H. Davidson 782 W. Franklin St. . H. Schwartzman Hanover near Hill St. 117 Aisquith St Hanover & Hill Sts.. 323 S. Central Ave. . . 239 S. High St 135 S. Central Ave. . . 1074 Granby St 234 S. Eden St 649 Lombard St 5 N. Irving PI 739 W. Baltimore St. . 131 Gough St 141 S. Central Ave... 215 S. Exeter St 1113 Granby St 14 W. Hill St 1 147 Granby St 136 S. Eden St 135 N. Pine St 754 W. German St. . . 303 N. Caroline St. . . 1X2 Albermarle St loio E. Pratt St 1040 E. Lombard St. . 125 Aisquith St Harry Samburg Martha Stromberg R Balk Moses Blank H. Brodie I. Echikowitz I. Edelson P. Friedlander M. Gann N. Glasser Tobias Goodman Israel Mechanik Hirsch Mirvis B. Moss Moses Nathanson Isaac Samuels S. Plotsky M. Schwartz Reuben Stichman M. Slatowsky S. Sokolowsky Samuel Spector Joe Zirlman S. Benderley 10 STATISTICAL DATA -OF THE- JEWISH RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS OF PITTSBURG, PA. -FOR- 1908-1909 11 Hebrew Education in Pittsburg dates from 1862, when Temple Rodeph Shalom organized a day school with the minister of the congre- gation, Rev. Wm. Armhold, now of Philadelphia, and Mr. Josiah Cohen, now Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, as teachers. The curriculum, in addition to public school studies, included Hebrew, Biblical History and German. In 1865, Mr. Armhold accepted a position in Philadelphia, and Mr. Cohen resigned to practise law. Rev. L. Naumberg (minister, 1865-187 1 ) and Prof. J. Morrow, now Superintendent of Schools, Alle- gheny, Pa., conducted the school for one year. After that instruction was limited to one session on Sabbath mornings and consisted of Hebrew and Bible study. In 1885, under the administration of Dr. L. Meyer (1872- 1901), the day of instruction was changed to Sunday. Rev. Dr. J. Leonard Levy completely reorganized the school in igoi, and this year, in the post- Confirmation Class, has introduced the study of Hebrew. In 1864, conservative members withdrew from the Temple and formed the Tree of Life Synagogue. Daily Hebrew instruction was given under the direction of Alexander Fink, president of the congregation for many years. The Cantor, according to the official contract, was to assist in the school, and also the sexton, Mr. A. Goldstein, who became sexton in 1884, has taught Hebrew with splendid results to more children in the city than any other one man. Rabbi Michael Fried (now in Sacramento, Cal.) was minister from 1898 to 1906, and organized a systematic Sunday School with weekly sermonettes. Rev. Dr. Rudolph I. Coffee reorgan- ized the curriculum in 1906, and the attendance was more than tripled the following year when the congregation entered its new edifice. Mr. Henry Jackson has been Chairman of the School Board for the past twenty- seven years. The Washington Street Synagogue, organized in 1869, had no regular school till 1902, when Rabbi A. M. Ashinsky started instruction each Sun- day morning in Biblical History and Catechism. The Gusky Orphanage children were formerly sent to the Temple School, with additional instruction in Hebrew at the Home. Because of the distance since the removal of the Temple, only the older children attend, and the others study at the Home. Outside of the above, all instruction in Biblical History is under private direction. A very serious difficulty in this community is that of obtaining good teachers. There are very few Jewish persons employed as teachers in the public schools, and so principals have to create the teach- ings staffs themselves. R. I. C. 12 I_PUPILS SCHOOLS Boys Girls Total Average Attend- ance 1 — Congregational Anshe Sanee 30 60 95 20 133 120 190 171 125 30 60 285 20 304 245 28 Beth Jacob Beth Hamidrash Hagadol 55 205 Galician School Rodeph Shalom School Tree of Life School 20 286 205 II — Orphan Asylum J. M. Gusky Orphanage and Home.... Ill — ^Othep Schools Columbian School and Settlement 458 27 396 75 486 19 944 46 396 75 799 46 220 65 IV — Private Schools Mr. Chernoff Mr. S. Galantz Mr. Geffen 471 16 9 25 30 30 17 10 5 471 16 9 25 30 30 17 10 5 285 16 9 20 Mr. Kamenetzky Mr. H. Lefsovsky Mr. Tolotzky Cor. Crawford & Centre Avenues 64 Crawford Street 30 80 16 8 4 142 142 128 Grand Total 1098 505 1603 1258 II— TEACHERS SCHOOLS Male Female Total Paid 1 — Congregational Anshe Sanee Beth Jacob Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Galician School Rodeph Shalom School Tree of Life School 1 3 5 1 1 2 6 8 8 1 3 11 1 9 10 1 3 1 9 10 II — Orphan Asylum Gusky Orphanage and Home Ill — Other Schools Columbian School Settlement Talmud Torah 13 1 3 26 9 39 1 9 3 24 1 3 IV — Private Schools 8 Schools Each Having One Teacher.. 3 8 9 12 8 3 8 Grand Total 25 31 56 36 13 Ill — Meetings and Subjects of Instructions* SCHOOLS Meetings Text Books Is the study of Hebrew Compulsory Sunday Other Days Hebrew Bible History Religion 1 — Congregational D'ly 3-8P.M D'ly 3-8 P.M. Beth H a m i d r a s h Hagadol Galician School . . . Rodeph Shalom School 10-12 A.M. No 2.30-4.30 P.M (In Sept. Oct. May & June 10-12 A.M.) 10-12 A.M. Daily 1 hour 9.30-11.30 A.M. Yes H.; L.M A. Jos.; Gr. H.; Gr. Le. Tree of Life School. II — Orphan Asylum Gusky Orphanage & Home 4-5 P.M. (4 w'k days) U.; P,B. B.;T. Leaflets Ill — Other schools Columbian School Settlement Talmud Torah D'ly 3-6 P.M. Yes IV — Private Schools 8 Schools, all teacli daily between 3 and 7 P. M., He- brew compulsory in all. *For List of Abbreviations used here see page 7 14 IV — Internal Organization of Schools SCHOOL No. of Classes No. of Pupils in each Class Has each Class a Separate Room Is there a School Board Library Judaica Secular 1 — Congregational Anshe Sanee 3 3 11 9 10 6 9 4 2 1 3 3 4 2 2 1 10 20 Av. 25 6 31 24 Varies Not given 18 Av.8 5 9-10-11 9 7 9-8 5 4 No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes Beth Jacob Yes No Yes No Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Galician School Rodeph Shalorn School 107 482 Tree of Life School II — Orphan Asylum Gusky Orphanage and Home.... Ill — Other Schools Columbian School Settlement. . . . Talmud Torah IV — Private Schools Mr. Chernoif Mr. S. Salantz Mr. Geffen Mr. Kamenetzky Mr. H. Lefsovsky Mr. Tolotzky Cor. Crawford & Central Aves.. 64 Crawford Street 15 V— Schools, Location and Superintendents Name of School I — Congregational Anshe Sanee Beth Jacob Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Galician School Rodeph Shalom School Tree of Life School , II — Orphan Asylum Gusky Orphanage and Home III — Other schools Columbian School and Settle ment Ethics Classes Talmud Torah IV — Private Schools Heder Heder Heder Heder Heder Heder Heder Heder Address Cor. Fulton & Clark Boul'd Cor. Townsend & Franklin Sts Washington St 65 Cranford St 5th & Morewood Aves 218 Craft Ave 3605 Perrysville Ave., Allegheny 1835 Centre Ave 137 Cranford St Ross & Dimidie Sts... 27 Carpenter Alley. . . 1225 Franklin St 13 12 Clark St ii Townsend St., rear. 1308 Franklin St , Cor. Cranford & Cen- tre Ave 64 Cranford St Superintendent Mr. M. S. Schonfield David S. Levy Rabbi J. L. Levy Rabbi Rudolph L Coffee B. M. Goldsmith Miss Anna Reed Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Mr. Chernoff S. Galantz Geffen Kamenetzky H. Lefsovsky Tolotzky 16 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS • 019 643 019 2