THE HISTORY OF COUNCIL GARDENS
In 1894 the Cleveland Section of the National Council of Jewish Women [website] was established. Over the years it marshaled the energy of Jewish women to help meet the educational and social welfare needs of the community.
In the mid 1950s, Ruth Einstein (Mrs. Jac L Einstein), a civic activist and a leader in NCJW, began to envision a facility such as Council Gardens, which would offer affordable apartments where seniors could live independently and with dignity.
In 1959, NCJW agreed to work toward this goal, but even with its resources committed to the mission, it still took years to achieve success.
Construction began in 1962. Our facility, which we opened in November 1963, was the first development of its kind in the Greater Cleveland area.
Even today, 50 years later, Council Gardens receives funds from NCJW and NCJW members serve on the Council Gardens board.
In 1894 the Cleveland Section of the National Council of Jewish Women [website] was established. Over the years it marshaled the energy of Jewish women to help meet the educational and social welfare needs of the community.
In the mid 1950s, Ruth Einstein (Mrs. Jac L Einstein), a civic activist and a leader in NCJW, began to envision a facility such as Council Gardens, which would offer affordable apartments where seniors could live independently and with dignity.
In 1959, NCJW agreed to work toward this goal, but even with its resources committed to the mission, it still took years to achieve success.
Construction began in 1962. Our facility, which we opened in November 1963, was the first development of its kind in the Greater Cleveland area.
Even today, 50 years later, Council Gardens receives funds from NCJW and NCJW members serve on the Council Gardens board.
Ruth Einstein
In December 1964, Ruth Einstein received the Charles Eisenman Award - the Jewish community's highest honor. From the Cleveland Jewish News story: "For the past ten years she has devoted her energies to working for the precedent-setting Council Gardens apartment project, bringing to fulfillment her dream of a residence for older men and women of moderate means who would live in an atmosphere of dignity, independence and companionship." Read the story in the CJN archive |