Steubenville and Weirton’s Jewish Heritage

Introduction
Steubenville’s Early Jewish Families
Steubenville’s First Synagogue, B’nai Israel
Weirton’s First Jewish Families and the Establishment of Beth Israel
The Steubenville-Weirton Jewish Community During World War I and the Roaring 20s
Developments in the Steubenville-Weirton Jewish Community During the 1930s
World War II and the Early Postwar Years
Jewish Life in the Tri-State Area From 1950 to 1964
The Merging of Beth El and B’nai Israel and the Closure of Beth Israel of Weirton
The Closing of Beth Israel of Steubenville

Introduction

Steubenville, Ohio, and Weirton, West Virginia, though separated by the Ohio River, have long been interconnected as part of the same metropolitan area. This close relationship also shaped the Jewish communities of both cities, which shared communal services—including a cemetery along Ohio State Route 43—and strong familial and social ties.

While Abraham Shinedling documented the early history of Weirton’s Jewish community in West Virginia Jewry: Origins and History, 1850–1958, much of Steubenville’s Jewish past remained unrecorded until recently. With the closure of the area’s last synagogue in 2013, the rich history of a once-thriving Jewish community—numbering over 1,000 people during the late 1930s—faces the risk of being forgotten.

This need to preserve history is especially urgent as physical reminders of the region’s Jewish presence continue to disappear. Since the late 1990s, the former site of Weirton’s Beth Israel synagogue has remained an empty grassy lot. As of July 2018, Steubenville’s former Beth El Temple on North 5th Street stands in significant disrepair, with water damage taking a severe toll on its once-vibrant sanctuary.

This work aims to provide a meaningful overview of the Jewish community’s development and highlight its members’ contributions to the region’s civic, economic, and social life.

Steubenville’s Early Jewish Families

The Jewish presence in Steubenville, Ohio, predates that of neighboring Weirton, West Virginia. The earliest known Jewish resident, M. Frohman, established a business by the early 1850s. Frohman’s store was referred to in contemporary advertisements as the “Jew store.” By the mid-1850s, more Jewish families had settled in Steubenville, and in 1854, the community contributed to a national fund aiding Jews in Palestine, a sign of early communal organization.

Prominent members of the early Jewish community included William and Joseph May, German immigrants who founded May Brothers, a successful clothing business. They were charter members of Steubenville’s first Jewish congregation, B’nai Israel, established in the 1880s. Another key figure was Jones Munker, who led a thriving clothing business and served on the city council.

Despite instances of local anti-Semitism, including in business advertising, Jewish immigrants continued to settle in Steubenville. The 1880s saw an influx of Eastern European Jews, such as Abraham, Annie Levine, and the Esakovich brothers, who introduced more traditional religious practices, including strict Shabbat observance. Many of these newer immigrants were fleeing persecution in Europe. By the late 19th century, Steubenville’s Jewish community had established itself with businesses, civic involvement, and organized religious life, culminating in the formal incorporation of B’nai Israel.

Steubenville’s First Synagogue, B’nai Israel

Founded in the mid-1880s, B’nai Israel initially held services in rented spaces, including Barclay’s Hall and Pearce’s Hall. A sign of the growing Jewish community was the acquisition of a Torah scroll in 1890, marking a significant milestone. However, a legal dispute in 1896 over the Torah’s ownership reflected internal tensions regarding religious practices. These differences also led to the forming of a separate congregation, B’nai Jacob. The two groups reunited in 1902 under the name B’nai Israel.

Lifecycle events such as weddings, funerals, and religious education became more prominent as the community grew. B’nai Israel established its first cemetery around 1897, relocating it in 1907 to its current site on Sunset Boulevard. In 1903, the B’nai Israel congregation purchased its first synagogue, occupying the former Fifth Street Methodist Protestant Church.

Women played a vital role in the Jewish Ladies’ Aid Society (later the Ladies’ Auxiliary), supporting charitable causes and religious education. B’nai Israel also maintained a mikvah and operated a Sunday School and a daily Hebrew school.

Rabbis Moses Peiros and Isaac Caplan served the congregation part-time, providing religious leadership while also working as kosher butchers and grocers, respectively. The synagogue became a central hub for Jewish life in Steubenville, hosting significant family and community events, including weddings and religious ceremonies, which reflected the vibrancy and growth of the Jewish population in the early 20th century.

Weirton’s First Jewish Families and the Establishment of Beth Israel

Founded in 1909 alongside the development of Ernest Weir’s steel mill, Weirton’s Jewish community began with the arrival of Bertha and Samuel Geffner, Romanian immigrants who operated one of the town’s first stores. They were soon joined by families like Baer and Dora Rabinovitz, who opened the Baer Department Store, and Dora and Ralph Nach, who ran a hardware and feed store. In 1913, their daughter Sarah became the first Jewish child born in Weirton.

By 1916, around 15 Jewish families—about 70 individuals—held religious services at the Finnish Hall on Avenue D, borrowing a Torah from Steubenville’s B’nai Israel. In 1917, the community formally organized as Beth Israel, led by its first president, attorney Jacob Levy, with Ralph Nach conducting services. Founding families included the Alperts, Caplans, Geffners, Mervises, Nachs, Rabinovitzes, and Wershboles.

In 1922, Beth Israel purchased its first synagogue building and later relocated to a newly constructed two-story brick synagogue and community center at Virginia Avenue and West Street. This sanctuary was dedicated in 1927. Samuel Geffner served as the congregation’s president, and Rabbi Haskel Levendorf became the first full-time rabbi, establishing a daily Hebrew school.

The Beth Israel Ladies’ Auxiliary, founded in 1919 and initially led by Edith Levendorf, played a key role in community life. Members included families from nearby Follansbee, such as Benjamin and Yetta Mervis, Lithuanian immigrants who founded Mervis Furniture Company, a thriving business until 1975. The Mervis family, including brothers Joseph and Nathan, were central to the Jewish community’s growth in the region.

The Steubenville-Weirton Jewish Community During World War I and the Roaring 20s

The Jewish communities of Steubenville and Weirton experienced growth in the early 20th century, with World War I marking a significant period of civic and military engagement. At least 36 local Jews served in the military, including David Alter and Joseph Chest, both wounded in action. Jewish soldiers shared experiences of observing religious traditions abroad, and back home, individuals like Rebecca Altman supported the Red Cross and war relief efforts.

Post-war, local Jews raised over $35,000 (approximately $562,000 today) for Eastern European Jewish relief. Fundraisers were organized through the Jewish Relief Association, whose leaders included Bessie Anathan and Jennie Weinstein. Economically, Jewish-owned businesses flourished as the region grew, and Jews made particularly significant contributions in the grocery, scrap metal, and retail sectors. Major enterprises included Sulzbacher’s Department Store and The Hub, both central to Steubenville’s commercial life.

Religiously, Temple Beth El, the city’s first Reform congregation, was founded in 1922. By 1924, the congregation had a dedicated synagogue. Meanwhile, B’nai Israel continued as the city’s Orthodox congregation, hiring its first full-time rabbi, Henry Goldberger, in 1922.

The 1920s also saw the growth of Jewish fraternal and youth organizations, including B’nai B’rith, the Workmen’s Circle, and Zionist groups like Hadassah and Mizrachi. Jewish youth found community through groups like the Young Men’s and Women’s Hebrew Associations, a Boy Scout troop sponsored by B’nai Israel, and Aleph Zadik Aleph. The Jewish Community House opened in 1921 and served as a community activity hub.

By the late 1920s, the region’s Jewish population reached around 400 in Steubenville and 100 in Weirton. A small number of Jewish families also lived near Mingo Junction. Some, like the Weisbergers, were active in Steubenville’s Jewish community.

Developments in the Steubenville-Weirton Jewish Community During the 1930s

During the 1930s, the populations of Steubenville and Weirton continued to grow, with the area’s Jewish community likely reaching its peak by the late 1930s and 1940s. Despite this expansion, the decade brought significant challenges, including the Great Depression (1929–1939) and the devastating 1937 flood in Steubenville. Many businesses, such as Brown’s Shoes, The E.A. Klein Company, Quality Shop, LaBelle Clothing Company, and Reed’s Shoe Store, closed between 1929 and 1932. Others reassured customers through advertisements that they remained open, reflecting the era’s economic strain. By 1934, the worst of the Depression had passed, and financial recovery began.

The Jewish community’s economic profile evolved during the late 1930s and 1940s. While small businesses—especially in retail clothing and grocery—remained prominent, more Jews entered white-collar professions, including law and medicine.

One of Weirton’s first Jewish doctors, Myer Bogarad, opened a medical practice on Main Street in 1929 after completing his education. He later served as Chief of Medical Staff at Weirton General Hospital. His wife, Mildred, was active in the local Hadassah chapter (founded in 1931), and their sons, Irwin and Martin, pursued careers in medicine and law, respectively. Irwin became an internist, while Martin served as a local judge from 1964 to 1968. Other Jewish medical professionals in the region by 1940 included Jacob Cohen, Samuel Fisher, Israel Freedman, Max Goldfein, David Greenberg, Stanford Press, and Max Rosenblum. Max’s brother, Earl Rosenblum, a surgeon, established a practice in Steubenville after serving in the U.S. Air Force during World War II, earning a Bronze Star for his service.

The Stern brothers—Hyman, Joseph, and Nathan—were influential in law. Joseph began practicing in 1936 and co-founded Fort Steuben Metal Products Company in 1948, serving as its long-time president. His brothers joined him in the law firm Stern, Stern, & Stern, which continues to operate in Steubenville into the 2020s. Nathan Stern had a distinguished career, serving as Jefferson County’s Assistant Prosecutor from 1940 to 1952 and playing a key role in securing funding for the Veterans Memorial Bridge, completed in 1990.

By the late 1930s, Steubenville’s Jewish population reached approximately 1,000—the largest in its history, up about 2.65% from the city’s peak population of 37,651 in 1940. In Weirton, the Jewish community likely peaked in the early 1950s with around 110 families.

Several new Jewish organizations emerged during the 1930s. A chapter of Young Judaea was founded in Steubenville in 1932, working alongside Junior and Senior Hadassah chapters (established in 1929 and 1924, respectively). In 1933, the B’nai Israel Brotherhood was formed, with Myer Freedman as its first president. The Steubenville Jewish Community Council, founded around 1937–1938, provided a centralized structure for communal philanthropy and advocacy, akin to Jewish federations in larger cities. Its founder, Joseph Denmark—a Polish immigrant who arrived in 1925—operated Denmark’s clothing stores in Steubenville and Weirton. His sons, Meyer and Morris, later served as council presidents. Other key figures included Marcus and Sara Ginsburg and David Levite.

The rise of Nazism in Germany did not go unnoticed. As early as 1934, local Jews organized efforts to aid persecuted European Jews. In 1939, Steubenville’s Mayor Earl Applegate intervened to help Anne Marie von Steuben Rosenberg, a descendant of Revolutionary War hero Baron von Steuben, and her Jewish husband, Hugo Rosenberg. Despite these efforts, restrictive U.S. immigration laws from 1924 limited refugee admissions, and Anne’s family was ultimately denied entry. These restrictive immigration policies remained in place until 1965, contributing to the decline of Jewish immigration to the Steubenville-Weirton area after the 1930s. While American-born Jews helped sustain the community, the end of large-scale immigration marked a turning point, curbing further growth.

World War II and the Early Postwar Years

Following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States entered World War II. Like millions of Americans, residents of Steubenville, Weirton, and the surrounding areas contributed to the war effort. Approximately 100 individuals enlisted in the armed forces within the local Jewish community.

Two Steubenville natives, Leslie Caplan and Morris Denmark, were captured and held as prisoners of war by the Nazis. Both survived their imprisonment. After the war, Caplan was awarded the Legion of Merit for providing medical care to approximately 2,600 fellow prisoners from February 6 to April 16, 1945. He had been captured after his aircraft was shot down during a mission over Vienna. In addition to the Legion of Merit, Caplan also received the Purple Heart. Other local Jews who earned military honors during the war include Merrill Levy, Earl Rosenblum, and Lester Zeff.

On the home front, Jewish community members played vital roles in supporting the war effort. Congregants of B’nai Israel collectively purchased around $13,000 in war bonds, equivalent to approximately $209,000 in 2022. Elias Bloch served as the head of Steubenville’s civilian defense organization, while Dr. Israel Freedman taught first aid classes through the National Defense Program, equipping locals with essential emergency skills.

The postwar years brought significant milestones for the Jewish community in Steubenville and Weirton. In 1948, B’nai Israel voted to affiliate with the Conservative movement, transitioning from its historic Orthodox identity. The following year, the congregation underwent a substantial renovation costing $80,500 (around $943,000 in 2022), significantly altering the building’s exterior. Alex Ginsburgh oversaw the renovation, and the updated synagogue became a hub for daily minyanim (prayer services), reflecting the community’s strong religious engagement.

Meanwhile, Temple Beth El celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1949, and around 125 households were affiliated with the congregation—a testament to its growth and presence in the Jewish community.

In Weirton, Beth Israel welcomed Rabbi Nandor Martin in 1949. Born in what is now the Czech Republic, Rabbi Martin would become the congregation’s longest-serving rabbi, leading until 1962. His wife, Ida, was an active member of the Jewish community, and together they raised four daughters: Esther, Malka, Shifrah, and Zipporah. Under Rabbi Martin’s leadership, Beth Israel reached its peak membership.

In 1950, Beth Israel underwent renovations to accommodate its growing community. The updates included the addition of individual classrooms for the religious school, which met five days a week, a large kosher kitchen, and meeting spaces for the Weirton B’nai B’rith lodge, established in 1946.

The Tri-State region was home to a vibrant and active Jewish community in the early 1950s. However, by the end of the decade, the first signs of demographic decline began to emerge, foreshadowing shifts that would shape the community’s future in the years to come.

Jewish Life in the Tri-State Area From 1950 to 1964

From 1950 to 1964, the United States experienced a postwar baby boom, a trend reflected in the Tri-State area. Jewish life flourished with active religious schools at Beth El, Beth Israel, and B’nai Israel, and coming-of-age ceremonies became standard across the congregations. A particularly noteworthy event was the 1952 bat mitzvah of Janet Glick, the first held at B’nai Israel. Traditionally, in Orthodox Judaism—which B’nai Israel observed until affiliating with the Conservative movement in 1948—only boys celebrated public coming-of-age ceremonies. Janet was the daughter of Sara and Saul Glick. Saul, associated with the Adler-Glick Insurance and Realty Agency in Steubenville, was active in B’nai B’rith and the Elks. His business partner, David Adler, was equally engaged in civic life, serving as president of the local Rotary chapter in 1957, a member of the School Board, and an active figure in the Steubenville Jewish Community Council.

Religious education for children extended beyond bar and bat mitzvahs. B’nai Israel hosted the Tof Ayin Gimul Society, a group for pre- and post-bar mitzvah boys, fostering ongoing Jewish learning and community involvement.

Women’s organizations remained central to Jewish communal life. The Beth El Sisterhood’s annual donor dinners were significant events throughout the 1950s and 1960s, with 125 attendees in 1951. Inspired by this success, the B’nai Israel Sisterhood began hosting similar events in 1953, drawing 110 attendees by 1958. Proceeds supported religious education and charitable activities. The Beth Israel Sisterhood in Weirton held parallel events, contributing to both local Jewish life and broader community initiatives.

Men’s organizations also played vital roles. The Beth El Men’s Club, founded in 1947 and later known as the Beth El Brotherhood, remained active until 1968. B’nai B’rith remained the area’s most prominent Jewish men’s organization. Its Weirton lodge organized annual Heart Fund campaigns and, in 1958, hosted the West Virginia Council of B’nai B’rith’s spring conference, reflecting the chapter’s prominence. By 1957, the Steubenville B’nai B’rith lodge also included a women’s division, B’nai B’rith Women.

Temple Beth El experienced significant growth during the 1950s and early 1960s, likely bolstered by families transitioning from B’nai Israel to Reform Judaism. In 1952, Beth El purchased a section of Union Cemetery for its members. By 1961, discussions began about relocating the synagogue from downtown to a more suburban area. The building committee, including Louis Berkman, Harvey Monheim, Nathan Stern, and Irving Berkman, selected a site along Lovers Lane. After five years of planning, the new temple’s cornerstone was laid, and the first Shabbat service was held there on November 18, 1966, led by Rabbi Richard Safran. The modern facility featured a sanctuary seating 307 people, a social hall, and educational spaces. Louis and Sandra Berkman donated the land for the synagogue. Beth El’s former building on North 5th Street was sold to a Christian congregation but, as of 2022, is no longer in religious use.

Despite Beth El’s growth, demographic changes signaled the Jewish community’s contraction. The American Jewish Yearbook estimated Steubenville’s Jewish population at 825 in 1966—a 17.5% decline from 1937. Just three years later, the number dropped to 620. Discussions about merging Beth El and B’nai Israel began in 1959, though the merger would not occur until 1990.

The Berkman family played a significant role in Steubenville’s Jewish and civic life. Louis Berkman, originally from Cadiz, Ohio, moved to Steubenville in the 1920s to work in the scrap metal industry. In 1931, he and his father, Hyman, founded The Louis Berkman Company, which expanded into lumber, paper products, and steel. Louis was also involved with Follansbee Steel Corporation and co-founded the NBC affiliate WTOV-TV in Steubenville with his brother, Jack Berkman. Jack, a Steubenville-based attorney in the 1930s, later relocated to New York City, where he helped establish the Jewish Center for the United Nations.

Louis remained deeply rooted in Steubenville, earning induction into the Upper Ohio Valley Hall of Fame. His philanthropic contributions included supporting the creation of St. John Medical Center (now Trinity Medical Center West) and St. John Arena. In 1963, he received the Caritas Medal from the Diocese of Steubenville for his ecumenical spirit and community service, including Franciscan University of Steubenville support.

Irving Berkman, who arrived in Steubenville in the mid-1950s, was associated with Ampco-Pittsburgh, a steel production company. He served as president of Temple Beth El during the dedication of the new synagogue and was active in the Steubenville Jewish Community Council. His wife, Jeanette, contributed to various organizations, including Hadassah, the Beth El Twig, and the Steubenville Women’s Club.

While the Berkmans represented prominent leadership within the Jewish community, Jewish-owned small businesses thrived. In 1959, Weirton businesses included A & S Food Stores (owned by William Abrams), Alpert’s Hardware and Furniture Store (Charles Alpert), Ferber’s Restaurant (Edward Ferber), Home Furniture Company (Benjamin Bushman), and Simon’s Furniture Store (Morris and Samuel Chijner). In Steubenville, notable businesses included Brody Furniture (Sidney Brody), Endich’s Furnishing (Jerome Endich), Greenberg Jewelers (Curtis Greenberg), and Top Value Furniture (Philip Brown).

By the mid-1960s, despite a vibrant community and strong institutional presence, demographic trends hinted at a gradual decline—marking the beginning of a new chapter for Jewish life in the Tri-State region.

The Merging of Beth El and B’nai Israel and the Closure of Beth Israel of Weirton

Between 1960 and 1970, Steubenville and Weirton experienced notable demographic shifts. Steubenville lost approximately five percent of its population and Weirton nearly four percent, amounting to a combined loss of around 2,790 individuals. This general decline mirrored trends within the Jewish community, which had never comprised more than three percent of the region’s population.

Two factors further accelerated this population decline within the Jewish community. First, many young Jews who came of age in the 1950s and 1960s pursued higher education, often choosing not to return to the Tri-State area after graduation due to limited professional opportunities. Second, the rise of big-box stores in the 1960s posed significant challenges to the small, family-owned businesses that had long supported many Jewish families. These shifts prompted younger generations to seek new career paths in larger cities, contributing to a gradual erosion of the local Jewish population.

As the community contracted, Jewish organizations faced increasing challenges. In 1965, Weirton’s Hadassah chapter merged with the Beth Israel Sisterhood, consolidating efforts. By 1970, even Temple Beth El, which had recently dedicated a modern building, no longer supported a full-time rabbi, relying instead on visiting student rabbis from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati.

The declining enrollment in B’nai Israel’s religious school further illustrated these demographic changes. In 1962, the school enrolled 71 students and maintained a vibrant Junior Congregation. By 1967, enrollment had plummeted to just 32 students, and the congregation could no longer sustain a full-time rabbi, instead employing Rabbi Bernard Gold part-time. While some attrition was likely due to the new Temple Beth El opening, the broader trend reflected the growing difficulty of supporting two congregations in Steubenville.

In Weirton, Beth Israel faced similar challenges. The congregation no longer had a full-time rabbi after Rabbi Max Fox’s departure around 1977. From then until its closure in 1990, Beth Israel relied on visiting rabbis for High Holiday services, with lay members leading all other services.

Despite these challenges, the decision to merge Steubenville’s Jewish congregations proved difficult. Beth El and B’nai Israel members valued their distinct histories and religious practices, and both maintained sizable—though shrinking—membership rosters. In the late 1970s, B’nai Israel still had approximately 93 affiliated households, some belonging to Beth El. Efforts to consolidate even essential functions met resistance; a combined Sunday school launched in 1972 lasted only two years before dissolving due to disagreements, with B’nai Israel withdrawing its six students.

Meanwhile, Weirton’s Beth Israel maintained about 75 affiliated families in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Although the congregation shifted from Orthodox to Conservative Judaism by the late 1950s, Weirton’s Jewish families preferred maintaining their community rather than traveling to Steubenville for services.

As the region’s overall population continued to decline—Steubenville lost 4,371 residents and Weirton 2,395 between 1970 and 1980—local Jewish life remained active in civic, educational, and philanthropic spheres. Notable figures included Judge Michael Button, who served from 1962 to 1970 before resuming his legal practice in Toronto, Ohio; Samuel Cohen, a pharmacist active with the Jefferson County Academy of Pharmacists; and Ida Cohen, an accounting teacher at Steubenville High School. In Weirton, attorney Arthur Recht practiced law from 1952 to 2015, founding Recht Law Offices, which continues to operate. Arthur also served as president of the West Virginia Council of B’nai B’rith, while his wife, Janet, was a lifelong member of Hadassah.

In 1978, Lillian Weis became the first woman to serve as president of B’nai Israel—and ultimately its last. Her tenure focused on facilitating the merger with Beth El, which was finalized in 1980. The new congregation, Beth Israel, occupied the newer temple on Lovers Lane. This merger briefly restored the presence of a full-time rabbi in Steubenville, with David Kaplan serving for about a year. By 1986, however, the congregation again lacked a full-time rabbi, reflecting ongoing demographic challenges. Morris Denmark, a long-time community leader, became Beth Israel’s first president, working to unify the merged congregations. The former B’nai Israel building on South 5th Street was sold to a Christian congregation and, as of 2023, housed Emmanuel Church of God in Christ.

Ten years after the Steubenville merger, Beth Israel of Weirton closed its doors, with its remaining members joining Beth Israel in Steubenville. Sharon Bogarad, an attorney in Weirton as of 2022 and the daughter of Betty and Irwin Bogarad, recalled the Weirton synagogue’s design, which featured three large classrooms, a staging area, a kosher kitchen, a rabbi’s study, and a sanctuary adorned with seafoam green carpeting, wrought iron chandeliers, and stained-glass windows.

The former Beth Israel synagogue in Weirton no longer stands. After the congregation disbanded, the building was sold to a nonprofit intending to convert it into a soup kitchen. However, necessary repairs were neglected, and in the winter of 1994 or 1995, the roof collapsed under heavy snowfall. No injuries occurred, but the city deemed the structure unsafe, leading to its demolition. As of 2022, an empty grass lot marks the site at the corner of Virginia Avenue and West Street.

Remarkably, a stained-glass window bearing a quote from the Book of Isaiah survived the collapse unscathed. This window is now preserved in a shadowbox at the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center, serving as a tangible link to the town’s Jewish heritage. Weirton’s Hadassah chapter remained active until 1997, and the town’s B’nai B’rith chapter likely disbanded around the same time. Although no organized Jewish groups remain in Weirton, a small Jewish presence endures into the 2020s.

The Closing of Beth Israel of Steubenville

Throughout the 1990s, even as the Jewish community of the Tri-State area continued to contract, its members remained committed to organizing and supporting charitable causes. The Steubenville Jewish Community Council served as a key vehicle for these efforts. Once housed in its offices within the First National Bank Building on Market Street, the Council had relocated to Beth Israel by 1989.

Lee Weisberger, the son of Mark and Melva Weisberger, served as the Council’s last president. Dr. Weisberger, an anesthesiologist who continues to practice in Steubenville as of 2022, reflected on his time with the organization. Among the causes supported were the Jewish Institute of the Blind, the Hadassah Medical Center in Jerusalem, and an annual Holocaust survivor lecture series.

By 2010, Steubenville’s population had declined to 18,659, and only 35 families remained affiliated with Beth Israel. Recognizing the congregation’s unsustainable future, its members decided to disband in 2012. Arthur Recht and Sandy Berman were its final co-presidents, guiding the community through this transition. Myron Chijner, a past president of Beth Israel and the son of Carol and Samuel Chijner, chaired the committee responsible for thoughtfully distributing the synagogue’s assets.

The last High Holiday services at Beth Israel were held in September 2013, ending the region’s organized Jewish life after over 120 years. Tri-State Health Services had acquired the building by then, transforming it into the Prime Time Center, a senior center serving the broader community. Yet, even as the physical space was repurposed, the spirit of Beth Israel found new expressions. Proceeds from the sale of the building and other remaining assets were used to establish the Tikkun Olam Scholarship of Temple Beth Israel through the Community Foundation for the Ohio Valley. This scholarship reflects the Jewish value of tikkun olam—“repairing the world”—by supporting local students pursuing careers in healing professions such as medicine, social work, counseling, and education.

Additional funds were allocated for the perpetual care of the B’nai Israel Cemetery, ensuring that the community’s remaining sacred spaces would be preserved with dignity. Donations were also made to support Jewish educational initiatives, extending Beth Israel’s legacy to future generations.

The congregation’s religious artifacts found new homes, continuing their sacred purpose in other communities. One of Beth Israel’s Torah scrolls and 100 prayer books was donated to Temple Am Shalom, a Reform congregation in Mentor, Ohio. Another Torah was entrusted to a synagogue near Phoenix, Arizona. A sizeable religious sculpture that once stood on the grounds of Beth Israel was gifted to Rodef Shalom Congregation in Pittsburgh, symbolizing the close connection between the communities. Jennie Bernstein, Beth Israel’s last secretary, helped transfer much of the congregation’s archival materials to Beth El Congregation in Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Many former Beth Israel members joined Beth El after the Steubenville synagogue’s closure. In tribute, a room at Beth El was dedicated to the memory of Beth Israel, preserving its story within a living Jewish community.

Although Steubenville no longer has an active synagogue, a Jewish presence endures. Despite never constituting more than three percent of the Tri-State’s population, the Jewish community has left an indelible mark on the region’s civic, cultural, and economic history. The remaining families continue a tradition that began in the mid-nineteenth century—a legacy of faith, resilience, and community woven into the fabric of Brooke, Hancock, and Jefferson counties.

This legacy deserves to be remembered. While this work does not encompass every Jewish family that has called the Tri-State area home, it aims to provide an overview of how the local Jewish community emerged, evolved, and shaped the lives of its members.

Sources:

Primary sources:

Tabachnick, Toby. “Steubenville Synagogue to Close; Sale Completed on Building.” Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. June 26, 2013.

Temple Beth El, 25th Silver Anniversary, 1924-1949. Public Library of Steubenville and Jefferson County.

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