Ginsberg, Edward
GINSBERG, EDWARD
GINSBERG, EDWARD (1917–1997), U.S. attorney and business executive. Born in New York City, Ginsberg moved with his family to Cleveland, Ohio. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan (1938) and his Juris Doctor from Harvard University (1941). After graduation, he returned to Cleveland, where he practiced law for more than 50 years. He was a partner in the Cleveland law firm of Gottfried, Ginsberg, Gruen & Merritt. He was also a director of Rusco Industries, and a board member of Orlite, an Israeli company.
Active in Jewish communal life, 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 in raising funds for the establishment and support of the Jewish state. He was a general chairman and then president of the National United Jewish Appeal, president of the *American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and a leader in the Cleveland Jewish Community Federation, and the *United Jewish Appeal. He served as vice president of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency and was the founder of the Cleveland Jewish News. He served as a life trustee of the Jewish Community Federation of Cleveland and was president of the Fairmount Temple. He sponsored many educational programs at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, which made him an honorary founder. Hebrew Union College and Hebrew University in Jerusalem awarded him honorary degrees, and he was awarded the Eisenman Award for humanitarianism by the Jewish Community Federation.
He was also involved in many business activities, including directorships of El Al Israel Airlines and the First Israel Bank and Trust Company. A lifelong sports enthusiast, Ginsberg was a partner in the New York Yankees and a director of the Chicago Bulls.
The Edward Ginsberg Center for Community Service and Learning, named in his memory at the University of Michigan, is dedicated to engaging students and faculty members in a process that combines community service and academic learning to promote civic participation, build community capacity, and enhance education.
[Ruth Beloff (2nd ed.)]