PORATH, ISRAEL (3 July 1886-11 Apr. 1974), "dean" of Cleveland's Orthodox rabbis for almost 5 decades, was born in Jerusalem, Palestine, received a traditional Talmudic education, and graduated from Jerusalem's Etz Chaim Yeshiva. In Palestine, Porath was responsible for negotiating with Turkish rulers regarding school affairs, and administered relief efforts for Jews during and after WORLD WAR I. In 1923 he immigrated, accepting a pulpit in Plainfield, N.J. Two years later he became the rabbi at Cleveland's Congregation OHEB ZEDEK, a position he held for 14 years, afterwards serving Congregation Neveh Zedek for 6 years. In 1945 Porath became dean of Salanter Yeshiva in New York City, however he returned to Cleveland within a year to become rabbi of the HEIGHTS JEWISH CENTER, remaining there until his retirement in 1972.
Porath represented the Orthodox in Cleveland's Jewish community, serving as a trustee of the ORTHODOX JEWISH CHILDREN'S HOME and Orthodox Old Home, and as chairman of the education committee of YESHIVATH ADATH B'NAI ISRAEL. He was a founder and chairman of Cleveland's Orthodox Rabbinical Council, and also served on councils and boards of the Jewish Community Council, Jewish Welfare Fed., and B'NAI B'RITH. In 1960, became an honorary life trustee of the JEWISH COMMUNITY FEDERATION and honorary president of Cleveland Histadrut Ivrit. He received the A. H. Friedland Award of the BUREAU OF JEWISH EDUCATION in 1968. Porath wrote an 8-volume outline of the Talmud. He married Miriam Tiktin in 1905 and had 7 children: Shoshana, Samuel, Tzve, Benjamin, Ben Zion, Joseph, and David. Porath was buried in Israel.
Finding aid for the Rabbi Israel Porath Papers. WRHS.Last Modified: 31 Jul 2012 06:01:41 PM
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