About Edward Ginsberg
Edward Ginsberg
1917-1997
Edward Ginsberg's life exemplified the values of community involvement and active citizenship that the Center seeks to foster. He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio. He received the Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 1938 and the Juris Doctor from Harvard University in 1941. After graduation, he returned to Cleveland where he practiced law for more than fifty years.
Throughout his life, Mr. Ginsberg devoted himself to Israeli and Jewish activities in the U.S. and around the world. After World War II, he played an important role raising funds for the establishment and support of Israel, working directly with world figures, including Golda Meir and Itzak Rabin. In the 1960s and 70s, Mr. Ginsberg was a general chairman and then president of the National United Jewish Appeal, and president of the American Joint Distribution Committee. Mr. Ginsberg was vice president of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and a founder of the Cleveland Jewish News. He served as a life trustee of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and was past president of the Fairmount Temple. He sponsored many educational programs at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which made him an honorary founder. Hebrew Union College and Hebrew University in Jerusalem awarded him honorary degrees, and the Jewish Community Federation awarded him the Eisenman Award for humanitarianism. He was involved in many business activities, including directorships of El Al Israel Airlines and the First Israel Bank and Trust Company. A life long sports enthusiast, he was a partner in the New York Yankees and a past director in the Chicago Bulls.
His son William Ginsberg, said, "My father believed that all of us have an obligation to return something to society, and his own deeds and accomplishments demonstrated his life-long personal commitment to that belief. Our family hopes that the Ginsberg Center will inspire generations of young people to make service and compassion toward others a part of their own lives."