Rauh Jewish Archives
Corinne Krause, Bess Topolosky, Selma Berkman, and Allen Berkman announcing the formation of the Western Pennsylvania Jewish Archives in November 1988 with the first artifact donated to the new institution. (Photo courtesy of the Rauh Jewish Archives)
History
A Pittsburgh institution, conceived in Cleveland
By Eric Lidji
The Rauh Jewish Archives traces some of its origins to similar work undertaken in Cleveland a half century ago.
Corinne Krause, Bess Topolosky, Selma Berkman, and Allen Berkman announcing the formation of the Western Pennsylvania Jewish Archives in November 1988 with the first artifact donated to the new institution. (Photo courtesy of the Rauh Jewish Archives)
November 11, 2026, 3:55 pm
A Pittsburgh institution, conceived in Cleveland
The Rauh Jewish Archives traces some of its origins to similar work undertaken in Cleveland a half century ago.
By Eric Lidji
Laura Levitt (Photo courtesy of Laura Levitt)
September 8, 2025, 9:51 am
Fine Fellow Levitt highlights how objects help us heal from tragedy in upcoming talk
"Offerings of Grief, Offerings of Rage: Revisiting Tree of Life Synagogue and the George Floyd Square"
By Emma Riva
Jeffrey Cole speaks with docents for the “Americans and the Holocaust” exhibit in Beaver Falls (Photo by Michael Duncan/Geneva College)
July 16, 2025, 9:45 am
When antisemitism hits close to home, partnerships matter
We believe that one of the most effective ways to break down barriers and ultimately dismantle antisemitism is through relationships.
By Eric Lidji and Emily Loeb
From left: Dan Leger, Martin Gaynor, Eric Lidji, Amy Mallinger, Andrea Mallinger Wedner and Jodi Kart (Photo by Toby Tabachnick)
April 28, 2025, 2:57 pm
Synagogue shooting survivors share how global support restored faith in humanity
Each item sent after the shooting, no matter how simple, carried a powerful message: You are not alone.
By Toby Tabachnick
“Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life” exhibit at the Heinz History Center (Photo courtesy of Eric Lidji)
September 3, 2024, 3:19 pm
‘Louise Silk: A Patchwork Life’ encourages curiosity and introspection
As you proceed through the retrospective, Silk’s confidence in her own voice and in her Jewish identity becomes more apparent.
By Emma Riva
Judge Henry Ellenbogen. (Photo courtesy of Rauh Jewish Archives at Heinz History Center)
May 24, 2024, 3:33 pm
Letters of Judge Henry Ellenbogen, now digitized, provide glimpse into Jews’ struggles in pre-war Europe
'Allow the information to sit in your mind, without having to necessarily draw a conclusion'
By Adam Reinherz
Photo of Fourth Avenue, New Kensington by hartjeff12 via Flickr at https://rb.gy/ol6pzt
April 5, 2024, 10:31 am
Tri-City Historical Society and Rauh Jewish Archives detail region’s Jewish roots
Groups partner, share stories, with hope of creating exhibit about New Kensington's Jewish influences
By Adam Reinherz
Screenshot by David Rullo
January 3, 2023, 2:21 pm
New Rauh website provides virtual archive of Oct. 27
Website will be a comprehensive record of material collected
By David Rullo
Eric Lidji presents “A Hidden Gem” at the Downtown Shul on July 10 (Photo by Ethan Beck)
July 11, 2022, 3:55 pm
‘A Hidden Gem’: The history of Beth Hamedrash Hagodol-Beth Jacob Congregation
Eric Lidji of the Rauh Jewish Archives gave a glimpse into the storied past of a local treasure.
By Ethan Beck
Rabbi Hershel Pfeffer completes a Torah scroll at Temple Ohave Israel in Brownsville, Pennsylvania, on May 24, 1964 (Photo courtesy of Rauh Jewish Archives)
August 11, 2021, 3:31 pm
Brownsville to Brownsville
This photo of Rabbi Hershel Pfeffer shows a moment in time — and tells a story.
By Eric Lidji
A photograph of the first Enoch Rauh Club basketball team from the 1919-1920 season, including Wyoming Paris, Shep Gefsky, and Dan Schmidt (Photo courtesy of Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center)
June 16, 2021, 10:28 am
The founding of the Enoch Rauh Club, in four takes
The versions of the club's genesis are disparate, but what remains are the storytellers.
By Eric Lidji
Rabbi Zev Wolf Leiter was one of the leading rabbis of Pittsburgh for decades, and yet few people today remember the details of his intellectual life. (Image provided by Rauh Jewish Archives)
May 12, 2021, 1:11 pm
On the other side of English
'Concerned about the loss of life that war inevitably entails [Leiter] called upon every God-fearing Jew to engage in activism to bring about... the cessation of all warfare.'
By Eric Lidji
A photograph from the Aug. 6, 1970, issue of the Jewish Chronicle, showing graduate students creating an inventory of historic records at Temple Sinai.
November 4, 2020, 12:45 pm
A project 50 years ahead of its time
A half-century ago, a visionary group of local Jews sought to create a comprehensive data bank of community records. Realizing their full vision has yet to occur.
By Eric Lidji
October 15, 2020, 12:08 am
Why tell your story?
"How heartbreaking it would be if, 113 years from now, no one could agree upon the most basic details of the anti-Semitic attack that so upended life in our city on Oct. 27, 2018."
By Eric Lidji
A clipping from the Oct. 17, 1958, issue of the YH&WHA Weekly, advertising a talk by writer Harry Golden. Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project
March 18, 2020, 10:16 am
Squirrel Hill through the eyes of Harry Golden
Author chronicled trek through Squirrel Hill community
By Eric Lidji
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