Founding and the Building
The Pride of Judea Orphan Home opened officially on April 16, 1923, at 992 Dumont Avenue in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Its name was chosen by its founders — many of them economically successful first-generation Americans who had emigrated from central and eastern European countries — as an expression of communal pride and aspiration.
The Home occupied almost an entire city block. Exterior grounds included a concrete-paved yard with basketball goals, an athletic field and playground, and a wooden shed used solely for plucking freshly slaughtered chickens. The building initially consisted of two stories. In 1937, a third floor was added, providing for the complete separation of boys' and girls' dormitories, as well as day rooms and several staff sleeping quarters.
The main floor and basement were a self-contained world: two kosher kitchens (one meat, one dairy), a dining room, a synagogue that doubled as a multi-purpose room, administrative and business offices, a library, classrooms for religious instruction, an infirmary with medical and dental examination offices, a clothing and shoes stockroom, and mechanical and maintenance shops.
Two details stand out as small windows into daily life. The Home's one pay telephone — very public, with no booth — was mounted directly on the infirmary entrance wall, in full view of anyone passing through. And a "canteen" machine offered a candy bar or pack of chewing gum for a nickel; the proceeds went toward athletic equipment and books for the library.
The Children: Who They Were
The Pride's earliest residents were infants through age five. In January 1924, the age limit was waived when six sisters — ages four to thirteen, whose widowed mother had recently taken her own life — were admitted together. This act of compassion, keeping the siblings united rather than separating them across different institutions, along with other factors, led to a gradual and lasting change in admissions policy. The Home thereafter accepted children from a minimum of five and a half years old to a maximum of eighteen.
In 1933, the name was formally changed from "Pride of Judea Orphan Home" to the Pride of Judea Children's Home, in acknowledgment of two realities. First, many residents were not orphans in the traditional sense: one or both parents might be physically or mentally disabled, institutionalized, separated, divorced, incarcerated, or had abandoned their children. Second, the word "orphan" frequently evoked an unwarranted response of sympathy — a characterization the founders and leadership felt was neither accurate nor helpful to the children in their care.
Education and Daily Life
Education — both religious (Orthodox Judaism) and secular — was central to life at the Home. Younger children attended nearby P.S. 202. The proximity of the New Lots Avenue rapid transit station, combined with a liberal school-selection policy, allowed older residents to choose from approximately fifteen Brooklyn and Manhattan high schools offering academic, commercial, technical, or vocational courses of study. The ability to select a school suited to one's interests and aptitude was a meaningful freedom, and one the Home actively supported.
At weekly assemblies in the P.S. 202 auditorium, students with predominantly immigrant parents sang patriotic songs and learned "what it means to be an American" from Dr. Charles G. Eichel — the school's inspirational principal, who also served on the Pride's Board of Directors. His dual role made him a connecting figure between the Home and the broader neighborhood.
Leadership
Max Blumberg served as president of the organization from 1919 until his death in 1938, which occurred while he was making an on-air appeal for donations — a fitting end, perhaps, for a man whose presidency was defined by tireless advocacy for the Home's children and its mission. He was succeeded by treasurer Jacob H. Cohen, who served as president for the next twenty-one years, guiding the institution through the postwar decline and ultimately overseeing its closure in 1959.
Max Blumberg's widow, Lena, retained a strong interest and active involvement in the Pride's development and operations throughout this period. It was Mrs. Blumberg who intervened to ensure that girls were included in the annual b'nei mitzvah weekend beginning in 1948 — a change that had lasting significance for the young women who came of age at the Home.
The Rockaway Beach Tragedy, 1933
On August 8, 1933, approximately 100 children were taken on a daytrip to Rockaway Beach. The outing turned tragic when seven boys, ages 10 to 14, drowned in an undertow. The loss was front-page news across New York City and remains one of the most devastating events in the Home's history.
B'nei Mitzvah Weekends
For many alumni, one of the most vivid memories of the Pride of Judea was the annual b'nei mitzvah weekend. Beginning in the mid-1930s, it was initially a "boys only" event — until Mrs. Blumberg intervened, and eight girls joined seven boys at the November 1948 affair. Regardless of gender composition, it was always an exciting two days for the participants.
Traditional Saturday morning services were conducted in the Home's synagogue, with family members and friends in attendance. The following day's gala was held at the St. George Hotel and featured a political figure or entertainer as the guest of honor. Most guests were contributors to the Pride, making it also a fundraising event. Each young person received a copy of the Bible and other gifts.
A Sunday edition of The Forward's rotogravure supplement carried a formal group photograph with names included — a permanent, public record of the occasion. The boys wore rented dark suits; the girls appeared in newly acquired white dresses. For children who had little of their own, the weekend represented something rare: a moment of ceremony, recognition, and belonging.
World War II
The 1940 federal census of the Pride recorded 188 children — a decline of 27 from the 215 enumerated in 1930. During World War II, more than 100 former residents and staff members served in the military, and four were killed in action. Upon reaching eighteen years of age, several draftees and enlistees went directly from the Home into the armed forces — the transition from institutional childhood to military service with little in between.
On the home front, the children maintained a victory garden and corresponded with alumni friends in uniform. The resident newspaper served as a bulletin board for military alumni, keeping those still at the Home connected to those who had left it for the war. About half a dozen children from European nations were admitted during the war years. Not surprisingly, the Home endured food shortages and difficulty hiring and retaining employees.
In 1943, Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Scharf donated two large houses in Long Beach, Long Island, in memory of their son. The renovated buildings — in close proximity to the beach and boardwalk — became an anticipated summer "camp" for the Pride's residents and staff, offering a seasonal respite from the Brooklyn institution.
Postwar Years and Decline
Following World War II, two notable administrative title changes took effect: "supervisors" became "counselors," and "superintendent" was replaced with "executive director." The language shift reflected a broader postwar evolution in how child welfare institutions understood their role — less custodial, more developmental.
The number of admissions continued to decline. By 1950, the population stood at 108, including seven children from six different European countries — a small but notable presence of displaced children in the postwar years. By 1954, there were no new admissions at all.
In June 1959, arrangements were made for the placement of the few remaining residents, and the Pride of Judea Children's Home permanently closed its doors.
"Reflecting on their childhood experiences, many former residents considered themselves fortunate that, in time of dire need, there was a place referred to alternatively as 'The Pride,' or 'The Home.'"
About This Archive
This website was created to preserve and share the history of the Pride of Judea Children's Home for descendants of former residents, genealogy researchers, and historians. The records presented here — including federal census data, population analysis, and institutional history — represent the documentary record that survives from the Home's nearly four decades of operation.
If you have a family connection to the Pride of Judea Children's Home, or if you have documents, photographs, or recollections to contribute to this archive, please use the Contact page to get in touch.