Jewish History of Connecticut - Clio

Entries on This Tour

1. Agudath Sholom Synagogue

This historic synagogue was built during the 1930s to replace an earlier synagogue in Stamford that was destroyed in a fire. The congregation's history stretches back to 1889, when 22 founding members first took steps to organize a community of faith. The phrase "Agudath Sholom" may be translated as "knot for peace" or "society for peace." Stamford's Jewish community is part of a larger story of Jewish immigration to the United States and specifically to Connecticut. Agudath Sholom arose from an influx of Eastern European Jews to Stamford during the 1880s, where they congregated in large enough numbers to develop a thriving community. In 1965, the growing congregation moved to a new synagogue in the city, and the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church moved into the former synagogue building.

2. Beth Israel Synagogue (Canaan Institutional Baptist Church)

Now called the Canaan Institutional Baptist Church, this historic, former Jewish temple was built in 1906. It was home to an Orthodox congregation that is now known as Beth Israel of Norwalk/Westport Chabad. The building is the only known Jewish temple in the state featuring Moorish onion domes; it is also likely the only one in the state built out of wood. For these reasons, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

3. B'nai Israel Synagogue (New Hope Missionary Baptist Church)

This Craftsman-style building was originally built in 1911 as a synagogue for Congregation B'nai Israel (CBI), a community of German Jews. The former Orthodox congregation organized during the 1850s, making it one of the oldest in Connecticut. For over 50 years, the congregation did not have a permanent, designated synagogue, however, and members worshiped in homes and workplaces. The 1911 construction of this Park Avenue synagogue provided a stable religious and community space.

4. Bethesda Mission (Congregation Adath Israel)

This 1866 brick building has served numerous purposes over the years. It was first known as the Bethesda Mission Chapel and Sunday School, then became the East Washington Avenue Baptist Church, then Congregation Adath Israel. Under the ownership of Adath Israel, the structure was the earliest Orthodox synagogue in Bridgeport. Since 1997, it has belonged to the Apostolic Worship Center.

5. Ahavas Sholem Synagogue

The Ahavas Sholem Synagogue was built in 1928 for an Orthodox Jewish congregation, which had formed in 1912 and incorporated in 1921. This area of New Haven housed a largely Jewish neighborhood during the early and mid-20th century. The synagogue fell out of use in the 1960s, when many of its members moved away. The building is notable for its Classical Revival architecture and limestone accents, seen on the ground floor facade and around the arched second-story windows. It is now used by the Thomas Hill Chapel Church of Christ.

6. Congregation Mishkan Israel

Founded in 1840, Congregation Mishkan Israel is Connecticut's oldest Jewish congregation. It is comprised of a vibrant, diverse community that is socially active in the community in areas such as LGTBQ issues, interfaith dialogue, and food drives. It was previously located in a former church built in 1896 that is now the ACES Educational Center for the Arts, a public arts school. That building was designed in the Spanish Revival style and is part of the Orange Street Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

7. Adath Israel Synagogue

Congregation Adath Israel began in as an Orthodox community in 1902 with 40 founding families. In 1908, the congregation acquired a building to convert into a synagogue and classroom. By the 1920s, the congregation had expanded to around 75 families and was ready to construct a new synagogue. Designed by Sam Google, Adath Israel Synagogue was built in Middletown, where it still stands today. As time went on, Congregation Adath Israel moved away from its Orthodox roots and became a Conservative congregation instead. The 1940s saw the appointment of a Conservative rabbi and the removal of sex-segregated seating. In addition to providing a spiritual home to Middletown Jews, Adath Israel houses an impressive Judaica Museum with over 250 items. Visitors may view the collection after services or arrange a time with the synagogue administration.

8. Temple B'Nai Israel

Originally built as a Masonic Hall in 1927, this striking building was sold in 1940. Its new owners, the Jewish congregation Aheyu B’Nai Israel (Brethren Sons of Israel), converted it into a synagogue. The congregation had been active since 1889. Though initially Orthodox, it became Conservative in 1924, prompting some members to leave and form their own congregation (Tephereth Israel). In 2007, the synagogue closed. The building is now home to New Hope at Calvary Church.

9. Temple Beth Torah (former Methodist Church)

Now home to a synagogue, this structure was originally built on Main Street in 1824 as a Methodist church. Methodist history in Connecticut dates back centuries. In 1790, Jesse Lee preached the earliest known Methodist sermon in the town. During the 1950s, the expanding congregation moved to a new, larger building, and the recently formed Jewish Community Group of Wethersfield purchased the old church. They converted the former church into a synagogue named Temple Beth Torah and dedicated it in 1961. The temple remains in use today.

10. Charter Oak Cultural Center

The Charter Oak Cultural Center in Hartford began as a synagogue for Congregation Beth Israel (CBI), one of Connecticut's earliest Jewish communities, which had previously conducted services in homes, workplaces, and a converted church. Built in 1876, the Charter Oak temple drew design inspiration from Berlin's New Synagogue on Oranienburgerstrasse (built 1859-66). It is the oldest synagogue building in Connecticut. During the 1930s, CBI moved to the suburbs of West Hartford and built a new synagogue there, Temple Beth Israel. No longer in use as a synagogue, the Charter Oak building has now become a cultural center.

11. Ados Israel Synagogue and the First Unitarian Church of Hartford

Located in the heart of the Ann Street Historical District of Hartford, CT, the building that once housed the congregations of both Ados Israel and the First Unitarian Church still stands to this day. The home of these two historic congregations is itself considered historically important, as it represents one of the better-preserved examples of Hartford’s colorful architectural legacy.

12. Temple Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) is among the oldest Jewish communities in Connecticut. It began as an Orthodox congregation and is now one of the biggest Reform Jewish congregations in the region. Beth Israel formed during the 19th century and built a prominent synagogue in Hartford in 1876. The congregation is a founding member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now known as the Union for Reform Judaism. During the 1930s, the community relocated to West Hartford and began conducting worship in a new synagogue with a striking Byzantine dome. Designed by Charles R. Greco and built from 1933 to 1936, Temple Beth Israel marks the transition of this Jewish community from the city center out to the suburbs. CBI has continued expanding over the decades and is now a spiritual home for over 700 families.

13. Agudas Achim Synagogue (Glory Chapel International Cathedral)

Founded by Romanian immigrants in 1887, Agudas Achim is an Orthodox congregation. As was typical of newly formed 19th-century Jewish congregations, members initially met in private homes to worship, before opening their first synagogue, a building on Market Street, around 1903. Agudas Achim's Greenfield Street synagogue, designed by Berenson & Moses in a mixture of Romanesque Revival and Colonial Revival style, opened in 1928. During the 1960s, Congregation Agudas Achim moved out of Hartford to the suburbs of West Hartford, reflecting the general suburban relocation of Hartford's Jewish communities during this time. The 1928 Greenfield Street synagogue is now home to a Baptist church.

14. Knesseth Israel Synagogue (Ellington Shul)

This Modern Orthodox synagogue was built in 1913 to serve a community of Eastern European and Russian Jewish farmers. Like Congregation Anshei Israel in Lisbon, CT, Knesseth Israel is a fairly unusual example of a rural Connecticut synagogue. Designed by Leon Dobkin, it is a simple clapboarded wooden building in the Colonial Revival style with a gabled portico and hip roof. The congregation also has an Orthodox cemetery, located within the bounds of Ellington Cemetery.

15. Anshei Israel Synagogue

Built in 1936, this synagogue housed an Orthodox Jewish congregation. Its founding members included fifteen families originally from Poland and Russia. The synagogue is in a rural part of Connecticut, serving the Jewish residents of Lisbon and surrounding towns: Plainfield, Prescott, Griswold, and Jewett City. Anshei Israel remained in use for several decades until it closed in the 1980s as the Jewish population in the area decreased. Lisbon Historical Society now operates the building.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Jewish History of Connecticut

Created by Amelia Kennedy on January 8th 2019, 8:01:51 am.

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Description

This driving tour includes numerous historically significant synagogues and other sites of significance across Connecticut--if you're short on time, you may want to focus only on the synagogues clustered in and around Hartford. Jewish communities have existed in Connecticut for centuries, but very little is known about their early days. Beginning in the 19th century, however, the state's Jewish population expanded significantly and became more prominent. Jewish immigrants from Germany, Eastern Europe, and Russia moved to the United States and established congregations. Furthermore, in 1843, Jewish congregations were finally permitted the freedom to organize and incorporate within the state. Judaism in Connecticut displays considerable variety, including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform congregations, some of which transitioned from one form to another over the decades. Historic congregations' founding members originated both from Germany and Eastern Europe. Hartford, New Haven, and other cities attracted substantial Jewish populations, though synagogues emerged in rural communities as well. These historic synagogues are architecturally varied. Some were converted churches (Temple Beth Torah), one was a converted Masonic Hall (Temple B'Nai Israel), while others were specifically designed by Jewish congregations (Charter Oak, Temple Beth Israel). The current status of all of these synagogues is also variable. While some remain in use, others have been converted into churches or cultural centers. Tour highlights include: *** Charter Oak Cultural Center, the first purpose-built synagogue in Connecticut (Hartford). *** Temple Beth Israel, a suburban synagogue with an impressive Byzantine-style dome (West Hartford). *** Adath Israel Synagogue, home to a Judaica Museum that may be viewed by appointment (Middletown). *** Anshei Israel and Knesseth Israel Synagogues, fine examples of rural Jewish architecture (Lisbon and Ellington). *** Ahavas Sholem Synagogue, a striking Classical Revival buliding (New Haven).

Topics

Jewish History

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