Jewish families first arrived in Pittsburgh in the 1840’s, bringing with them the Jewish tradition of tzedakah—the act of giving to help others. For over 150 years, the Jews of Pittsburgh have worked to care for other Jews and to improve the world at large. They have dropped coins into pushke (collection) cups, visited the sick, built institutions to serve those in need, and raised millions of dollars for many causes in Pittsburgh and beyond. This culture of giving was determined by the Jewish religious commandment to be compassionate, righteous, and just and was shaped by their experiences as Jews in America.

Philanthropic History

View collections from the Rauh Jewish Archives throughout the timeline and learn more about where to research, read, and discover the history of philanthropy and giving among Pittsburgh’s Jewish community.

1929

Did You Know That...

League for the Handicapped is established by the National Council of Jewish Women, Pittsburgh Section, and later merges with the United Business Service, a program funded by the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies of Pittsburgh. The organization later becomes the Vocational Rehabilitation Center, now known as Life's Work.

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Made possible by the generous support of the

J. Samuel and Rose Y. Cox Foundation through PNC Charitable Trust

Simon Hafner Charitable Foundation through PNC Charitable Trust

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