The rise and fall of Rhode Island’s YMHAs

Volume II of the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association’s Notes from June 1956 contains a list of Jewish communal organizations and Jewish-owned businesses chartered by the state of Rhode Island from 1855 to 1955.

Each entry has the date of the charter, the name of the organization or business, the petitioners and the purpose. In aggregate, they tell a great deal about the hopes and ideals of the immigrant population, their attempts at self-help, and building a community in a new country.

One of the early organizations to receive a charter was the Young Men’s Hebrew Association of Bristol, in April 30, 1896, “for social and benevolent purposes.” Among the other Jewish Ys to receive a charter prior to World War I were Providence, Jan. 1, 1898; Newport, Oct. 29, 1913; and Woonsocket, July 24, 1914. (The list also includes three YWHAs: Providence, March 13, 1900; Newport, May 13, 1915; and Woonsocket, Dec. 8, 1915.)

It should be noted that a Providence YMHA was mentioned in the minutes of a Philadelphia Y in 1880, and again nine years later, but no further archival material could be found.  Also, with the exception of Bristol, there was already at least one synagogue and some community structure in place in the three other R.I. municipalities that had YMHAs.

The YMHA was “a very American concept” (Goldscheider, Notes, V. 9, p. 285). It was associational and social, and attuned to American culture rather than European traditions. Family origins or religious traditions (if any) did not matter. The Bristol Y was an example of this idea. Social and cultural interaction, rather than religious tradition, seemed more fitting, more compatible to life in a small town.

A synagogue was chartered in Bristol 12 years after the Y formed. The Y provided the seed from which the religious community grew. 

Nationally, the Jewish Ys originated in literary societies prevalent in American Jewish communities of the early 19th century. As they evolved, they became a place to meet for intellectual discussions, debates, chess, social events and calisthenics.  They provided a central place and programs were designed to keep young men in the Jewish fold. Lest the “Hebrew” in its name be overlooked, Jewish-themed lectures and holiday celebrations were in the mix.

In many cities with immigrant populations, the Ys also became a center where Jews and non-Jews learned English and enrolled in Americanization classes.

The Rhode Island YMHAs all underwent at least one reorganization, with at least one new charter listed, before passing into obscurity.

The Providence YMHA and YWHA were folded into the Hebrew Educational Institute in 1916. They moved from their rented quarters on North Main Street two years after the institute purchased the Evans Homestead, at 65 Benefit St. The institute in turn became the Jewish Community Center. An affiliation with the Associated YMHAs of New England continued.

The Woonsocket Y, unlike the others, did leave a record of sorts of the 15 years of its existence. Arthur Kornstein, who was one of its founders, kept a scrapbook of clippings from local and out-of-town newspapers. The articles fill in some of the blanks in the history of the Jewish Ys in our state.

In a conversation with Eleanor Horvitz (Notes, V. 9, p. 329), Kornstein stated that he and his friend Harry Fellman recognized the need for a center where young people in Woonsocket could come together.

The first meetings were held at the home of Samuel Kornstein. As membership grew, they held a fundraiser and were able to rent larger quarters.  Within its first year, the Woonsocket Y had affiliated with the Associated YMHAs of New England, which included Providence, Fall River, New Bedford and towns near Boston.

Kornstein’s scrapbook, as reported by Horvitz, revealed the popularity of debates with Ys from other cities, particularly Providence. They attracted large audiences and prominent judges. Social affairs – an annual ball, picnics, concerts  – as well as athletic events and competitions with other Ys also figured prominently.

Mention was also made of conferences with delegates from other affiliates of the Associated YMHAs of New England. In addition, the education committee arranged lectures on Jewish subjects, as well as general topics, such as economics and citizenship. The educational portion of the programming reflected the wide range of the members’ interests.

The scrapbook ends in 1929. No reason is given.

An association of Jewish Ys in New England no longer exists, and few YMHAs remain even in larger cities in this country. Theories abound as to why. I leave theories to others. Suffice it to say, the Y was an important component of my husband’s youth, and my son – many years later – enjoyed the Y inter-city basketball competitions with the team from the Providence JCC.

For many of us, the YMHAs are the stuff of memory, of a Jewish organization well-suited to America.

NOTE: The YWHAs have not been neglected. They will be the subject of another article.

GERALDINE S. FOSTER is a past president of the R.I. Jewish Historical Association. To comment about this or any RIJHA article, contact the RIJHA office at info@rijha.org or 401-331-1360.