Saturday, October 6, 2007

Ahavath Gerim History




Built in 1885, the Ahavath Gerim Synagogue became a part of the Jewish population that settled near North Street between 1880 and 1920. In 1880, the number of Lithuanian Jews who had arrived in the United States was about 5,000, and by 1882, this number had leaped to 81,000. The pace of emigration continued and by 1907, 260,000 Jews had emigrated most of whom were Russian and Polish. Most Jews stayed in New York City and other large cities, but Burlington received a high number as well. By 1887, enough Jews had settled in Burlington's North End, that they were able erect the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue http://www.ohavizedek.com/ (now know as Ahavath Gerim) at the intersection of Hyde and Archibald Streets, and soon after, in 1889, the Chi Adam Synagogue on Hyde Street and in 1908, the Ahavath Gerim Synagogue on Archibald Street. (Today, Ahavath Gerim Synagogue is the oldest known Jewish building of worship in Vermont and is listed on both the State and National Historic Registries.) The 1890 census listed Burlington's population as 14,590, one percent (160) of whom were listed Jewish. The 1910 U.S. Census listed Burlington's population as 20,468, four percent (920) of whom were Russian Jews. As Eastern Europeans, these Jews were orthodox in their beliefs, as well as in their preservation of the Yiddish language.


Virtual Tour of Ahavath Gerim



Donations to the Synagogue can be made to:
Ahavath Gerim Synagogue
PO Box 5194

Burlington, Vermont 05402-5194

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Membership Information:
Contact:
Ahavath Gerim Synagogue
PO Box 5194
Burlington, Vermont 05402-5194
or
Phone Number: (802) 862-3001
or Alleyn Solomon (President) at - alleyn2020@aol.com