Ohabei Shalom
Encyclopedia
Temple Ohabei Shalom is a large, Reform
synagogue
in Brookline, Massachusetts
under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Sonia Saltzman (elected May 2011), Cantor Randall Schloss and Rabbi Emerita, Emily Gopen Lipof.
Organized in 1842 with a membership largely of German origin, it is the oldest Jewish congregation
in Massachusetts and the fourth oldest in New England
, following congregations in Newport, New Haven, and Hartford. the congregation’s first act was to establish a cemetery, the Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery
. A registered historic site located in East Boston, Massachusetts. The cemetery will soon be the home of the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts' museum commemorating the Mystic River Jews (Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Malden, Everett and north).
The first synagogue building, erected in 1851 on Warren Street, Boston, was a handsome, two-story wooden structure, with a doorway flanked by a pair of windows on each side, and balanced by three pairs of windows on the second floor. The windows, each set a pair with arched tops, resembled the standard representation of the tablets of the ten commandments. The sanctuary could seat 400 and had space for a Hebrew School, a meeting room, and a mikveh.
The congregation’s second building, in use from 1863–86, was a handsome Greek Revival structure at 76 Warrenton Street, Boston. It had been built as a Universalist church and is today the home of the Charles Playhouse
.
The fourth building was the former home of the Unitarian Church led by Edward Everett Hale
, who spoke at the building’s rededication as a synagogue in 1887. The building is presently the home of a Greek Orthodox church.
The congregation’s present building, an opulent structure at 1187 Beacon Street
in suburban Brookline that combined Byzantine Revival and Moorish Revival
styles, was dedicated in 1925. The sanctuary seats 1,800. The smaller chapel accommodates 300. The domed building was intended to have a tall minaret, architect’s renditions of the building with the minaret survive, although it was never built. The sanctuary was modeled on Hagia Sophia
because of the excitement then felt over recent excavations of Byzantine-era synagogues in the land of Israel. The building includes a large school, an auditorium, a ballroom (that could be used as a gymnasium,) a museum, a library, and a reading room.
Temple Israel, (Boston, Massachusetts) was founded in 1854 when German Jews who disliked the influx of Polish Jews seceded from Ohabei Shalom. The congregations remain friendly and are working together on a number of projects related to outreach and the enhancement of the local Jewish community.
Being the first synagogue in Massachusetts all Massachusetts synagogues trace their roots to Temple Ohabei Shalom. The Temple community has recently started planning for its 175th Anniversary in 2017.
Reform Judaism (North America)
Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
in Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline, Massachusetts
Brookline is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States, which borders on the cities of Boston and Newton. As of the 2010 census, the population of the town was 58,732.-Etymology:...
under the spiritual leadership of Rabbi Sonia Saltzman (elected May 2011), Cantor Randall Schloss and Rabbi Emerita, Emily Gopen Lipof.
Organized in 1842 with a membership largely of German origin, it is the oldest Jewish congregation
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
in Massachusetts and the fourth oldest in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, following congregations in Newport, New Haven, and Hartford. the congregation’s first act was to establish a cemetery, the Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery
Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery
Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery is located at Wordsworth & Horace Streets in East Boston, Massachusetts. In 1844, Boston's first synagogue asked for permission to purchase this then-remote East Boston lot as a burying place. This cemetery was the first legally established Jewish cemetery in the state...
. A registered historic site located in East Boston, Massachusetts. The cemetery will soon be the home of the Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts' museum commemorating the Mystic River Jews (Boston, Chelsea, Revere, Malden, Everett and north).
The first synagogue building, erected in 1851 on Warren Street, Boston, was a handsome, two-story wooden structure, with a doorway flanked by a pair of windows on each side, and balanced by three pairs of windows on the second floor. The windows, each set a pair with arched tops, resembled the standard representation of the tablets of the ten commandments. The sanctuary could seat 400 and had space for a Hebrew School, a meeting room, and a mikveh.
The congregation’s second building, in use from 1863–86, was a handsome Greek Revival structure at 76 Warrenton Street, Boston. It had been built as a Universalist church and is today the home of the Charles Playhouse
Charles Playhouse
The Charles Playhouse is an Off-Broadway theater located at 74 Warrenton St. in Boston, Massachusetts near Beacon Hill.Blue Man Group and Shear Madness currently play there....
.
The fourth building was the former home of the Unitarian Church led by Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale
Edward Everett Hale was an American author, historian and Unitarian clergyman. He was a child prodigy who exhibited extraordinary literary skills and at age thirteen was enrolled at Harvard University where he graduated second in his class...
, who spoke at the building’s rededication as a synagogue in 1887. The building is presently the home of a Greek Orthodox church.
The congregation’s present building, an opulent structure at 1187 Beacon Street
Beacon Street
Beacon Street is a major thoroughfare in Boston, Massachusetts and several of its western suburbs. Beacon Street in Boston, Brookline, Brighton, and Newton is not to be confused with the Beacon Street in nearby Somerville, or others elsewhere.-Description:...
in suburban Brookline that combined Byzantine Revival and Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
styles, was dedicated in 1925. The sanctuary seats 1,800. The smaller chapel accommodates 300. The domed building was intended to have a tall minaret, architect’s renditions of the building with the minaret survive, although it was never built. The sanctuary was modeled on Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia
Hagia Sophia is a former Orthodox patriarchal basilica, later a mosque, and now a museum in Istanbul, Turkey...
because of the excitement then felt over recent excavations of Byzantine-era synagogues in the land of Israel. The building includes a large school, an auditorium, a ballroom (that could be used as a gymnasium,) a museum, a library, and a reading room.
Temple Israel, (Boston, Massachusetts) was founded in 1854 when German Jews who disliked the influx of Polish Jews seceded from Ohabei Shalom. The congregations remain friendly and are working together on a number of projects related to outreach and the enhancement of the local Jewish community.
Being the first synagogue in Massachusetts all Massachusetts synagogues trace their roots to Temple Ohabei Shalom. The Temple community has recently started planning for its 175th Anniversary in 2017.