6 Great Jewish Congregations In The Eastern U.S.
Due in large part to the Jewish diaspora in the early- to mid-20th century, the United States is a country rich with the culture and traditions of Judaism. The Eastern and Midwestern US are particularly significant places for the faith, with many immigrants having settled there throughout the century. The congregations included here, all located in those regions, attest to the enduring power of Judaism in America. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
6 Notable Jewish Congregations in the Eastern and Midwestern US
| Congregation | Location |
|---|---|
| Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel | New Haven, Connecticut |
| Congregation Kneseth Israel | Elgin, Illinois |
| Glen Rock Jewish Center | Glen Rock, New Jersey |
| Temple Sholom | Blue Ash, Ohio |
| Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation | Deerfield, Illinois |
| Congregation Ramath Orah | New York City, New York |
The Jewish Diaspora in New York
Important Events in Jewish American History
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1654 | First Jewish communal settlement in North America begins in New Amsterdam |
| 1730 | The first synagogue in America, Shearith Israel, is built in Manhattan |
| 1775 | Francis Salvador is elected to South Carolina Provincial Congress, becoming the first Jew to hold elective office in America |
| 1840 | Abraham Rice emigrates from Bavaria, becoming America's first ordained rabbi |
| 1871 | America's first Hebrew periodical is published in New York |
| 1903 | "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus is added to the base of the Statue of Liberty |
| 1916 | Louis Brandeis is appointed to the Supreme Court, becoming the first Jewish justice to serve on it |
| 1933 | The American Jewish Congress begins a boycott on German goods in protest to Nazi persecution of Jews |
| 1944 | Camp for Jewish war refugees opens in Oswego, NY |
| 1976 | The Jewish feminist magazine Lilith begins publication |
| 1992 | Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer become the first Jewish women to be elected to the U.S. Senate |
What is Shabbat?
In Depth
There are 5.7 million Jews in the United States, with many of the largest and most venerable Jewish communities located in the eastern part of the country. This list, presented in no particular order, surveys places of worship for Jewish Americans in the Eastern US.
At #1, BEKI, or Congregation Beth El-Keser Israel, is located in New Haven, Connecticut. Open to Jews of all ages, races, and gender identities, and without regard to economic status or level of Jewish learning, it began in 1892 when several families came together to create the Rose Street Shul. The institution views community service as essential, and there are a number of volunteer opportunities.
A member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the congregation follows Conservative, or Masorti, theology. Today more than 300 families are members of BEKI, with a larger group regularly attending daily, Shabbat, or festival services. There are an array of adult education classes, as well as a full suite of youth services, including religious school, Benei Mitzva, and Kadima and United Synagogue Youth.
A member of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, the congregation follows Conservative, or Masorti, theology.
#2 brings us to Congregation Kneseth Israel of Elgin, Illinois. It aims to meet the needs of its members through lifelong learning, embracing diversity, building community, and meaningful observance. Founded in 1892, it was the state's first synagogue west of Chicago. Today the congregation is led by Rabbi Margaret Frisch Klein, who left behind a career at Fortune 500 technology companies to join the rabbinate.
The synagogue's members have roots either by birth or through conversion in all branches of Judaism: the Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements. Its worship services take an approach to religious observance that seeks to make attendees feel comfortable and to help people develop the skill and confidence to take an active, participatory role in the faith.
The synagogue's members have roots either by birth or through conversion in all branches of Judaism: the Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist movements.
The #3 entry is the Glen Rock Jewish Center, a Conservative congregation in New Jersey that strives to make the beauty and spirit of the Jewish tradition come alive for all of its members. To execute this mission, the GRJC hosts worship services that mix song and silence, discussion and reflection, as well as education and growth in the tradition of the faith's prayer.
Glen Rock sponsors educational programs for all ages. Early childhood offerings cover nursery school, summer camp, and toddler time. Its Hebrew School is designed to foster a positive Jewish identity and an understanding of Jewish values. Adult education classes provide members with intellectual and spiritual growth, and for the advancement of lifelong learning. The synagogue additionally hosts a number of community initiatives.
In the #4 slot, we've got the Blue Ash, Ohio-based Temple Sholom. It takes a holistic approach to congregational life, seeking to imbue every encounter inside and outside its walls with opportunity for sacred meaning and growth. The congregation has operated in the greater Cincinnati area since 1954, when it was founded as an expression of Reform Judaism by Rabbi Stanley Brav.
The congregation has operated in the greater Cincinnati area since 1954, when it was founded as an expression of Reform Judaism by Rabbi Stanley Brav.
Believing that prayer happens everywhere, Temple Sholom offers a variety of on-demand, online resources in addition to its in-person worship programs. The latter includes regular Friday night and Saturday morning services, as well as those for the high holidays. The congregation also offers youth and adult education programs and hosts community initiatives, including efforts geared towards social justice.
Coming in at #5, Kol Hadash Humanistic Congregation, located in Deerfield, Illinois, operates with the motto "Doing Jewish Differently." This tradition of Judaism dispenses with worship and replaces it with a sense of Jewish identity and culture rooted in human responsibility. Congregants celebrate their shared heritage and engage in educational exploration. Though members reject supernatural stories, they observe religious holidays and life-cycle events.
Friday night Shabbat gatherings include reflections on the week, music, memorial observances, and intellectual stimulation, followed by refreshments and fellowship. There are educational offerings targeting all ages. A youth group is open to students in grades eight through twelve, meeting monthly during the school year. A variety of other regular activities, clubs, and affinity groups provide opportunities to connect with community.
Friday night Shabbat gatherings include reflections on the week, music, memorial observances, and intellectual stimulation, followed by refreshments and fellowship.
Finally, concluding our list at #6, it's Congregation Ramath Orah, a Modern Orthodox synagogue in Manhattan's Upper West Side. Founded in 1941 by Rabbi Dr. Robert Serebrenik, its original membership comprised sixty-one refugees from Luxembourg who escaped the Nazi occupation under extraordinary circumstances. When they arrived in New York they immediately began the work of establishing a place of worship named after the community they had left.
Ramath Orah is intended to be a place where Jews may worship together in an atmosphere that maximizes the ability to forge a relationship with God. The synagogue offers Shabbat children's programming for several age groups. Senior Rabbi Aviad Bodner worked as a corporate attorney at one of Tel Aviv's top firms before moving to New York.
