Central Talmud Torah
The Central Talmud Torah, also known as the Central Hebrew Free School, was a Jewish parochial school established in 1892 and located at 314-320 Catharine Street from 1911 until 1963 in the Queen Village neighborhood of South Philadelphia.
Central Talmud Torah | |
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![]() 314-320 Catharine Street, Philadelphia on August 29, 2019 | |
Alternative names | Central Hebrew Free School |
General information | |
Architectural style | Beaux-Arts architecture |
Location | Queen Village, Philadelphia |
Address | 314-320 Catharine Street |
Town or city | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Country | United States |
Coordinates | 39.937870°N 75.149020°W |
Inaugurated | October 29, 1911 |
Renovated | 1980s |
Rabbi Bernard L. Levinthal initiated the establishment of the institution to serve the growing number of immigrant Jewish children in the city's Jewish quarter in South Philadelphia.
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Wolf Klebansky served as the school's president and raised $75,000 to build the school's building at 314-320 Catharine Street. The new building was dedicated on October 29, 1911.[1] The building could accommodate 1,000 students with 17 classrooms, a library, an auditorium, a gymnasium, and a swimming pool.[2]
The school had 700 students in 1913.[3]
Central Talmud Torah was a "religious public school," free to those unable to pay, that taught Hebrew, Jewish history, and religious studies.[4] Jewish children attended from 4:00 PM–7:00 PM after public school.[5]
The American Jewish Year Book reported the organization counted 7,000 members and $12,000 in total income in 1919.[6]
It was known as Yeshiva Mishkan Yisroel & Central Talmud Torah in 1936.[7]
The building served as the home of the Beth Jacob Day School in the 1950s.[8] It continued to be used for Jewish education until its closure in 1963.[9] The school building was converted to loft condominiums in the 1980s.
References
- "Talmud Torah Dedication: Elaborate Exercises Will Be Held on Sunday". The Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. October 27, 1911.
- "Talmud Torah's New Home". The Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. November 3, 1911.
- "Talmud Pupils Return; Principal Gains Victory Over Striking Teachers". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. May 7, 1913. p. 7.
- Pennsylvania. Municipal Court (Philadelphia County) (1919). Social Service Directory of Philadelphia. Municipal Court (Philadelphia County). p. 42.
- "History and Activities of the Central Hebrew Free School". The Jewish Exponent. Philadelphia. July 29, 1920.
- Adler, Cyrus; Szold, Henrietta (1919). American Jewish Year Book, Volume 21. American Jewish Committee. p. 550.
- "Woman's Will Aids Jewish Charities". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. June 17, 1936. p. 2.
- "Charities Share in Blume Estate". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. July 14, 1954. p. 20.
- Boonin, Harry (1999). The Jewish Quarter of Philadelphia, A History and Guide 1881-1930. Philadelphia: Jewish Walking Tours of Philadelphia. p. 108.