Alan D. Bennett was born on February 15, 1927 and grew up in the Bronx. He attended the
prestigious Bronx High School of Science. He served in the U.S. Navy's medical corps,
then received his bachelor's degree from the City College of New York, and later a
master's degree from the University of Minnesota.
Bennett moved to Cleveland in 1967 to serve as education director at the Anshe Chesed
Fairmount Temple. In 1978 he was appointed executive vice president of Cleveland's
Bureau of Jewish Education, only the second Reform educator ever to head a major central
agency. There, he created a department of synagogue service, inaugurated the special
education department, expanded the Ratner Media and Technology Center, developed an
Israel programs department, and renovated the Bureau of Jewish Education building.
During his career, he published more than 200 articles and teacher guides used in both
Jewish and Christian schools. He served as the executive vice president of the Cleveland
Bureau of Jewish Education for 15 years. He also was the author of Vision and Will, a 50-year history of the National
Association of Temple educators, which was published in 2005.
Bennett's devotion to Jewish education also was manifested in trips he led to Israel.
From 1968 to 1984, Bennett and his wife Florence organized high school and teacher
groups on Israel study programs. In 1997, an award was named for him at the Jewish
Education Center of Cleveland: The Alan D. Bennett Staff Development Award for Israel
Study.
Contains records of Bennett's career in Jewish education, mainly consisting of writings,
publications, and correspondence along with some sermons, addresses, minutes, and
research materials. These records highlight his involvement with Anshe Chesed Fairmount
Temple (Cleveland, Ohio), the Bureau of Jewish Education (Cleveland, Ohio), and the
National Association of Temple Educators, among other organizations dedicated to Jewish
education.
This collection is arranged in a single series.
The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.
Copyright restrictions may apply. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair
use, may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Please address queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For
more information, see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
Bulletins from Temple Emanuel of Great Neck (Great Neck, N.Y.) and Mt. Zion Hebrew
Congregation (Saint Paul, Minn.), 1955-1961, were separated and added to the temple
bulletins collection at the American Jewish Archives.
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Alan D. Bennett Papers and
the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as
follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-874. Alan D. Bennett Papers. American Jewish
Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Alan D. Bennett Papers were received from Daniel Bennett, Denver, Colo., in August,
2012.
Processed by Michelle Wirth Detroit, September, 2012.
This collection was arranged and described according to minimal-processing standards.
Funding, in part, for the arrangement and description of this collection was provided by
the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Series A. Papers. 1937-2010. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
Writings and notes. 1957-1999. |
| 1 |
2 |
Miscellaneous presentations. 1952-2004. |
| 1 |
3 |
Miscellaneous activities. 1952-2005. |
| 1 |
4 |
Brief statements; reviews; columns; etc. 1960-1993. |
| 1 |
5 |
Sermons. Torah commentary. 1956-2006. |
| 1 |
6 |
Sermons. Miscellaneous. 1953-2007. |
| 1 |
7 |
Miscellaneous reports & statements. 1958-2008. |
| 1 |
8 |
"Precious Letters." 1952-1959. |
| 1 |
9 |
"Precious Letters." 1960-1961. |
| 1 |
10 |
"Precious Letters." 1962-1963. |
| 1 |
11 |
"Precious Letters." 1964-1965. |
| 1 |
12 |
"Precious Letters." 1966-1967. |
| 1 |
13 |
"Precious Letters." 1968-1969. |
| 1 |
14 |
"Precious Letters." 1970-1973. |
| 1 |
15 |
"Precious Letters." 1974-1977. |
| 1 |
16 |
"Precious Letters." 1978-1979. |
| 1 |
17 |
"Precious Letters." 1980-1982. |
| 1 |
18 |
"Precious Letters." 1983-1985. |
| 1 |
19 |
"Precious Letters." 1986-1989. |
| 1 |
20 |
"Precious Letters." 1990-1999. |
| 1 |
21 |
"Precious Letters." 2000-2005. |
| 1 |
22 |
"Precious Letters." 2006-2008. |
| 1 |
23 |
"Precious Letters." 2009-2010. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 2 |
1 |
Addresses. Education. 1950s-1990s. |
| 2 |
2 |
Published writings. 1946-1959. |
| 2 |
3 |
Published writings. 1960-1969. |
| 2 |
4 |
Published writings. 1970-1974. |
| 2 |
5 |
"Searching for Me" (with Sally Wertheim). 1971. |
| 2 |
6 |
Published writings. 1975-1976. |
| 2 |
7 |
Published writings. 1977-1979. |
| 2 |
8 |
Published writings. 1980-1989. |
| 2 |
9 |
Published writings. 1990-1994. |
| 2 |
10 |
Published writings. 1995-1998. |
| 2 |
11 |
Published writings. 1999-2007. |
| 2 |
12 |
Published writings. 2008. |
| 2 |
13 |
Vision and Will: Publication matters. 2003-2004.
|
| 2 |
14 |
Vision and Will: Readers. 2003-2004.
|
| 2 |
15 |
Vision and Will: E. Freeman sample chapters. 2003-2004.
|
| 2 |
16 |
Vision and Will: Photo. 2003-2004.
|
| 2 |
17 |
Vision and Will: Miscellaneous topics, A-Z. 2003-2004.
|
| Box |
Folder |
| 3 |
1 |
American Association for Jewish Education/Jewish Education Service of North America (JESNA). 1979-1982. |
| 3 |
2 |
Professional/Organizational. 1954-1981. |
| 3 |
3 |
Bureau Director's Fellowship. 1980-1992. |
| 3 |
4 |
Center for Jewish Education (CJE) constitutional revision. 1979-1984. |
| 3 |
5 |
JESNA. Agenda. 1990s. |
| 3 |
6 |
CJE/JESNA. 1983-1993. |
| 3 |
7 |
CJE reports. 1990-1993. |
| 3 |
8 |
University of Minnesota. 1945-1949. |
| 3 |
9 |
Zoology. University of Minnesota. 1948. |
| 3 |
10 |
Thesis. 1951. |
| 3 |
11 |
Academic records. 1937-1969. |
| 3 |
12 |
Letters and telegrams of congratulations. Testimonial dinner for Alan D.
Bennett. March 23, 1960.
|
| 3 |
13 |
Great Neck (N.Y.). 1967. |
| 3 |
14 |
Cleveland (Ohio). 1967. |
| 3 |
15 |
The Bureau of Jewish Education (BJE) 65th annual meeting. A. H. Friedland
Award to Alan D. Bennett. September 16, 1990.
|
| 3 |
16 |
BJE. Cleveland (Ohio) scrapbook. 1990. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 4 |
1 |
Career matters. 1950-1999. |
|
|
|
|
[Includes Mt. Zion Hebrew Congregation; Temple Emanuel of Great Neck; Anshe
Chesed Fairmount Temple; Bureau of Jewish Education; hires; job descriptions;
negotiations; searches.]
|
| 4 |
2 |
Ishpeming (Mich.). 1951-1960. |
| 4 |
3 |
Jewish Chautauqua Society. 1957-1960. |
| 4 |
4 |
Human relations. Saint Paul (Minn.) and Great Neck (N.Y.). 1958-1967. |
|
|
|
|
[Includes work addresses, letters, press. Includes letter from Hubert H.
Humphrey, 1960.]
|
| 4 |
5 |
25th Anniversary. 1975. |
| 4 |
6 |
Books in review columns. 1952-1963. |
| 4 |
7 |
Scrapbook. Saint Paul (Minn.). 1955-1963. |
| 4 |
8 |
The Governor's First Conference on Rehabilitation. May 26, 1960. |
| 4 |
9 |
"In Appreciation" scrapbook. May 1963. |
| 4 |
10 |
Scholar Endowment. National Association of Temple Educators (NATE). 2004-2005. |
| 4 |
11 |
Scholar weekend. April 28-29, 2006. |
| 4 |
12 |
Professional organizations. Activities. 1968-1987. |
| 4 |
13 |
Shaliach & American Advisory Council to the Joint Authority on Jewish/Zionist Education. 1987-1993. |
| 4 |
14 |
Israel and miscellaneous. 1967-2002. |
| 4 |
15 |
COMMUNITIES. Cleveland (Ohio). Undated. |
| 4 |
16 |
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple. Continuing Education Committee. 1973-1993. |
| 4 |
17 |
Doctorate. 2001-2004. |
| 4 |
18 |
Retirement. 1992. |
| 4 |
19 |
Recognitions. 1963-2000. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 5 |
1 |
Reform Judaism's confirmation debate. 1960-1978. |
| 5 |
2 |
Reform Day School debate. 1963-1985. |
| 5 |
3 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC). Commission on Jewish Education. 1970s-2001. |
| 5 |
4 |
Keeping Posted/Reform Judaism1980s-1990s.
|
| 5 |
5 |
UAHC. Correspondence. 1951-1993. |
| 5 |
6 |
Educational Research Survey. Nos. 1-6. 1957-1968. |
| 5 |
7 |
Ziknay NATE. Historical and correspondence. 1993-2009. |
| 5 |
8 |
Israel and American Jewry. 1967 and Beyond. Undated. |
| 5 |
9 |
Ziknay NATE Newsletters. 1992-2009. |
| 5 |
10 |
Reform Jewish Educator (RJE). 1979-1999. |
| 5 |
11 |
RJE. 2000-2010. |
| 5 |
12 |
Association of Reform Zionists of America (ARZA). Regional administration. 1993-1998. |
| 5 |
13 |
ARZA. National. 1995-1998. |
| 5 |
14 |
ARZA. Program ideas, issues. 1994-1998. |
| 5 |
15 |
Zionism/Reform. 1983-1997. |
| 5 |
16 |
ARZA. Jerusalem 3000 Committee work and 31st World Zionist Congress. Jerusalem, Israel.
1987-1996.
|
| 5 |
17 |
UAHC. Israel Curriculum Task Force. 1977-1984. |
| 5 |
18 |
Israel and ARZA. Correspondence. 1986-1994. |
| 5 |
19 |
Reform Judaism curricula. 1950-1976; Undated. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 6 |
1 |
Sisterhood. 1958-1961. |
| 6 |
2 |
Workshop notes. 1950s-1980s. |
| 6 |
3 |
Children's stories. 1947-1950; 1963-1967. |
| 6 |
4 |
Book projects. 1960-1982. |
|
|
|
|
[Includes Midrash; Israel; Children's Travel (1980); Jew and Gentile, 1960] |
| 6 |
5 |
"Teaching in the Intermediate Grades"1970. |
|
|
|
|
[Unpublished] |
| 6 |
6 |
"Israel Today" revision. 1980. |
|
|
|
|
[Unpublished; not required in new UAHC curriculum] |
| 6 |
7 |
"Tough Choices."1995. |
|
|
|
|
[Unpublished] |
| 6 |
8 |
Jewish Educator Services Program.1995-1998. |
| 6 |
9 |
Archaeology. 1992. |
| 6 |
10 |
Bible. 1958-1997. |
| 6 |
11 |
Comparative Judaism. 1989-1995. |
| 6 |
12 |
Reform. Bible. 1995-1999. |
| 6 |
13 |
Reform. History, Development. 1971-2001. |
| 6 |
14 |
Reform. Prayer, worship. 2001-2002. |
| 6 |
15 |
Reform. Theology. 1988-2000. |
| 6 |
16 |
Reform. Practices, holidays, Tzedakah. 1995-1998. |
| 6 |
17 |
Judaism and Christianity, Jewish history. 1957-1997. |
| 6 |
18 |
Miscellaneous general. Undated. |
| 6 |
19 |
Education. 1959-1973. |
| 6 |
20 |
Exploration into Jewish Values. PTA home study. 1969. |
| 6 |
21 |
Gilmour Courses. 1973-1977. |
| 6 |
22 |
Zionism and Israel including Reform. 1988-1998. |
| 6 |
23 |
Correspondence re: publications. 2005-2010. |
| 6 |
24 |
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple. Education Board (historical data). 2000-2009. |
| 6 |
25 |
Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple. 2005-2010. |
| 6 |
26 |
"Libbie L. Braverman: Woman for all Seasons (1900-1990)."2006-2010. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 7 |
1 |
NATE. Constitution. Mission statement. 1958-2010. |
| 7 |
2 |
NATE. Founding Conference. 1956. |
| 7 |
3 |
NATE. Fiftieth Conference (and 40th). 1994-2005. |
| 7 |
4 |
NATE. Fundraising. Endowments. Investments. 1995-2008. |
| 7 |
5 |
NATE. Inter-organizational. 1955-2002. |
| 7 |
6 |
NATE. Long range planning. 1978-1988. |
| 7 |
7 |
NATE. Long range planning. 1998-2000. |
| 7 |
8 |
NATE. Membership. 1955-2003. |
| 7 |
9 |
NATE. Miscellaneous correspondence. 1963-2010. |
| 7 |
10 |
NATE Name change. 1988-1990. |
| 7 |
11 |
NATE. News/Listserv. 2004-2008. |
| 7 |
12 |
NATE. Organizational. 1978-2005. |
| 7 |
13 |
NATE. Policy handbook. 1955-2010. |
| 7 |
14 |
NATE. Placement outreach. 1953-2005. |
| 7 |
15 |
NATE. Professional development, Recruitment. 1960-2002. |
| 7 |
16 |
NATE. Projects. 1972-2001. |
| 7 |
17 |
NATE. Resolutions. 1962-1984. |
| 7 |
18 |
NATE. Mid-West Region. 1955. |
| 7 |
19 |
NATE News. 1955-1961. |
| 7 |
20 |
NATE News. 1962-1975. |
| 7 |
21 |
NATE News. 1976-1989. |
| 7 |
22 |
NATE News. 1990. |
| 7 |
23 |
NATE. Board minutes. 1957-1963. |
| 7 |
24 |
NATE. Board. 1964-1969. |
| 7 |
25 |
NATE. Board. 1970-1974. |
| 7 |
26 |
NATE. Minutes. 1975-1980. |
| 7 |
27 |
NATE. Board minutes. 1981-1991. |
| 7 |
28 |
NATE. Board. 1992-1999. |
| 7 |
29 |
NATE. Minutes. 2000. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 8 |
1 |
NATE. Anniversary volumes. 1954-1994. |
| 8 |
2 |
NATE. Programs. 1955-1965. |
| 8 |
3 |
NATE. Programs. 1966-1980. |
| 8 |
4 |
NATE. Programs. 1981-1992. |
| 8 |
5 |
NATE. Programs. 1993-2003. |
| 8 |
6 |
NATE. Programs. 2004. |
| 8 |
7 |
NATE. Ad book and membership directory. 2003-2004. |
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the
AJA Online Catalog.
Bennett, Alan D.
American Association for Jewish
Education.
Anshe Chesed Congregation (Cleveland,
Ohio)
Association of Reform Zionists of
America.
Bureau of Jewish Education (Cleveland,
Ohio)
Center for Jewish Education.
Jewish Education Service of North
America.
Mount Zion Hebrew Congregation (Saint Paul,
Minn.)
National Association of Temple
Educators.
United States. National Historical
Publications and Records Commission.
Jews -- Ohio -- Cleveland.
