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The congregation was founded in 1904 as Beth Israel Anshe Litte ("Children of Lithuania"). Their first home was a former Methodist church on Lombard Court in Malden.
The congregation was founded in 1904 as Beth Israel Anshe Litte ("Children of Lithuania"). Their first home was a former Methodist church on Lombard Court in Malden.


Beth Israel's third and longest-serving rabbi, Charles Weinberg, was a national leader in the [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] movement. He served as President of the [[Rabbinical Council of America]], one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis, from 1960-62.<ref>[http://www.rabbis.org/pdfs/PastPresidents.pdf RCA Past Presidents]</ref><ref>Anonymous. "Rabbinical Convention Calls for Closing Jewish Centers on Saturdays." Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jul 12 1962.</ref>
Beth Israel's third and longest-serving rabbi, Charles Weinberg, was a national leader in the [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] movement. He served as President of the [[Rabbinical Council of America]], one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis, from 1960-62.<ref>[http://www.rabbis.org/pdfs/PastPresidents.pdf RCA Past Presidents]</ref><ref>[http://www.jta.org/1962/07/12/archive/rabbinical-convention-calls-for-closing-jewish-centers-on-saturdays/ Anonymous. "Rabbinical Convention Calls for Closing Jewish Centers on Saturdays." Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jul 12 1962.]</ref>


In 1993 the synagogue was targeted by a [[Neo-Nazi]] group calling itself the Aryan War Council, and threatening adverse consequences if the investigation continued into the recent desecration of a nearby Jewish cemetery.<ref>Jordana Hart, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8225450.html "Two Malden synagogues targeted by hate letters"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', April 29, 1993 {{subscription required|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}.</ref>
In 1993 the synagogue was targeted by a [[Neo-Nazi]] group calling itself the Aryan War Council, and threatening adverse consequences if the investigation continued into the recent desecration of a nearby Jewish cemetery.<ref>Jordana Hart, [http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8225450.html "Two Malden synagogues targeted by hate letters"], ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', April 29, 1993 {{subscription required|via=[[HighBeam Research]]}}.</ref>

Revision as of 17:50, 14 July 2014

Beth Israel
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
LeadershipRabbi: Yitzchak Rabinowitz[1]
StatusActive
Location
Location10 Dexter Street,
Malden, Massachusetts,
 United States
Website
www.bethisraelmalden.com

Congregation Beth Israel ( בית ישראל ) "House of Israel" (officially Beth Israel Anshe Litte - "House of Israel, people of Lithuania"[2]) is an Orthodox synagogue located at 10 Dexter Street in Malden, Massachusetts.[3] Founded in 1904 by Jewish immigrants from Lithuania,[2] in 2005 Beth Israel created Malden's eruv.[4][5]

The congregation's current spiritual leader Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Rabinowitz joined the congregation in 1997.[1]

Beth Israel has roughly 100 member families and holds services three times daily.[6]

History

The congregation was founded in 1904 as Beth Israel Anshe Litte ("Children of Lithuania"). Their first home was a former Methodist church on Lombard Court in Malden.

Beth Israel's third and longest-serving rabbi, Charles Weinberg, was a national leader in the Orthodox movement. He served as President of the Rabbinical Council of America, one of the world's largest organizations of Orthodox rabbis, from 1960-62.[7][8]

In 1993 the synagogue was targeted by a Neo-Nazi group calling itself the Aryan War Council, and threatening adverse consequences if the investigation continued into the recent desecration of a nearby Jewish cemetery.[9]

Beginning around 2000, Beth Israel began an effort to reverse the demographic decline in what had once been a thriving Orthodox community in Malden, making low-interest loans to Orthodox families wishing to remain in Malden. In 2005 the congregation intensified these efforts, advertising the loan opportunities in national publications.[5][10] The synagogue also offers scholarships for students to attend religious schools.[11] The congregation's financial capability to make such offers is credited in part to a sizeable "investment portfolio" derived from a donation of stock by a congregant who was a cofounder of the software company Medical Information Technology, Inc. (MEDITECH).[11][12]

Notable congregants

Singer-songwriter Norman Greenbaum, who wrote and performed the 1969 rock-gospel hit song "Spirit in the Sky", attended Beth Israel as a child.[13]

Rabbinical Leadership

Name Years
Dov Ber Boruchoff 1906–1939[14]
Jacob Lifshitz 1939–1948
Charles Weinberg 1949–1976
Harold Rabinowitz 1976–1980
Michoel Geller 1981–1997[15]
Yitzchak Zev Rabinowitz 1997–

Notes

  1. ^ a b Rabbi's message, Synagogue website, About Us. Accessed August 29, 2009.
  2. ^ a b The beginning, Synagogue website, About Us, History of the Congregation. Accessed Accessed August 29, 2009.
  3. ^ Synagogue website. Accessed Accessed August 29, 2009.
  4. ^ Malden's Eruv, Synagogue website, About Us, History of the Congregation. Accessed Accessed August 29, 2009.
  5. ^ a b Katie Zezima, "A Rebuilding Congregation Seeks Members, and Its Incentives Abound", The New York Times, August 6, 2005.
  6. ^ Liu, Menghan. HOUSE OF WORSHIP SPOTLIGHT Congregation Beth Israel. Malden Observer. Jun 8 2012.
  7. ^ RCA Past Presidents
  8. ^ Anonymous. "Rabbinical Convention Calls for Closing Jewish Centers on Saturdays." Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Jul 12 1962.
  9. ^ Jordana Hart, "Two Malden synagogues targeted by hate letters", The Boston Globe, April 29, 1993  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  10. ^ Juliette Wallack, "Synagogue works to build up small community; Low-interest home loans used to entice potential members", Associated Press in The Columbian, August 20, 2005  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  11. ^ a b Paul Berger, "Malden synagogue pays members to belong", The Jewish Chronicle, June 3, 2010.
  12. ^ Sarah Schweitzer, "In Malden, Synagogue Seeks to Reclaim Its Place", The Boston Globe, June 16, 2005  – via HighBeam Research (subscription required) .
  13. ^ Scott R. Benarde, Stars of David: Rock'n'roll's Jewish Stories (University Press of New England, 2003), ISBN 978-1584653035, pp. 186-187. Excerpts available at Google Books.
  14. ^ Papers of Rabbi Ber Boruchoff, Collection # P-157, Box 1, Folders 1&2: Marriage Records of Rabbi Ber Boruchoff 1906-1939, Collections of the American Jewish Historical Society, Newton Centre, Massachusetts and New York, NY.
  15. ^ Pensak, Margie. "Making Those Golden Years Shine." www.wherewhatwhen.com, 2004.