Abba Hillel Silver


1916 age 23	1927 age 34	1934 age 41	1942 age 49	1962 age 69
Photo credits:
1916 - found in the archives of Temple Shalom, Wheeling WV, his first pulpit.
1927 - from a photo with Chaim Weizmann at the Hebrew Cultural Garden. see full picture
1934 - courtesy of The Temple - Tifereth Israel
1942 - Probably in London at a Zionist meeting, from www.jewishagency.org
1962 - photo by Yousof Karsh, courtesy of The Temple-Tifereth Israel

ABBA HILLEL SILVER

About this Site	Introduction — how these pages came to be What's New and What's coming Site Guide — how we present information Permissions - Privacy statement Recollections — my memoriess of Abba Hillel Silver
Youth	The family's arrival, photos, maps and 1910 census record
Wheeling	June 1915 - June 1917 in Wheeling, coming to Cleveland
The Temple	The Temple - Tifereth Israel in Cleveland, Ohio
Zionism	Ascent to leadership, success and later. Photos. Tannersville photo - 13 year old Abe Silver in knickers
Publications	Books by AHS Poem: "America" In The Time of Harvest (A festschrift, 1963)
Biography	Biographies of Abba Hillel Silver, on the internet and in-print The work of Ofer Shiff.
Recognition	Welcome, stamp, streets, inauguration, Kfar Silver, Silver chair Abba Hillel Silver Chair in Jewish Studies at CWRU
Photos	A small gallery of personal and family photographs
Video/Audio	May 8, 1947 - Silver reads statement before UN Political and Security Committee 1954 - LP record: What is Judaism
Death	Silver's death, funeral service, gravesite, obituary and Death Notices.
Masliansky	Zvi Hirsch Masliansky, Biography, Photos, Memoirs Silver's Eulogy Birthday
Endnotes	Webkeeper's notes and supplementary information.
Resources	The Abba Hillel Silver Archives Recommended sites on Cleveland and American Jewish history.
In other sections	Porath and Silver: the friendship of two great Cleveland rabbis What inspired the design of The Temple in University Circle?

When Abba Hillel Silver came to Cleveland in 1917, The Temple was on East 55th Street. Its new home at University Circle, completed in 1924, was his vision. It was there that he preached for nearly 40 years. After the move to Beachwood by the Jewish Federation of Cleveland (learn more ...) it is now the last major Jewish facility in the City of Cleveland. (We also note the West Temple on the west side.)

In March 2010 it was announced that the building would begin a new dual life as the Maltz Performing Arts Center at Case Western Reserve University, while remaining sacred space for the members of The Temple - Tifereth Israel. Learn more.

FROM THE WEBKEEPER

This is the only website whose focus is the life of Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver. He is gone more than 50 years now, yet somehow he is still my rabbi.

Please contact me with your comments, recollections, suggestions and reports of any broken links. Send your email to

For some information about me, click here.

I invite you to see the main Cleveland Jewish History website.

Arnold Berger

	CONTENTS