Anshei Israel Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anshei Israel Synagogue |
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The former Anshei Israel Synagogue
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue (1936–c. 1980s) |
| Ownership | Town of Lisbon |
| Status | Closed (as a synagogue) |
| Location | |
| Location | 142 Newent Road, (CT 138), Lisbon, Connecticut |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Connecticut
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| General contractor | George Allen & Sons |
| Date established | unknown (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1936 |
| Specifications | |
| Interior area | 20 by 30 feet (6.1 by 9.1 m) |
| Height (max) | 9 feet (2.7 m) |
| Materials | Clapboard |
The Anshei Israel Synagogue is an old Jewish house of worship in Lisbon, Connecticut. It's a special building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. This means it's an important historical site! It used to be a place where Jewish people, following Orthodox traditions, gathered to pray and celebrate holidays.
A group of 15 families started the congregation and built the synagogue in 1936. George Allen & Sons built the synagogue. Inside, it's one big room with five benches in front of the sacred ark. Over time, fewer people joined the congregation. By the 1940s and 1950s, services were only held on holidays. The synagogue finally closed in the early 1980s.
The Town of Lisbon took over the property in the 1980s. Today, the Lisbon Historical Society helps take care of the building.
Contents
Building the Synagogue
In the early 1800s, there were very few Jewish people in Connecticut. In 1843, Jewish public worship was allowed for the first time. Before that, Jewish services were held in homes or rented halls. Later, the first synagogues were often churches that were changed for Jewish worship.
Small, country synagogues like Anshei Israel were simple buildings. They showed that Jewish farming and summer communities needed places to worship that fit their budget and location.
Land and Design
The land for the synagogue was given by Harry Rothenberg around 1936. The congregation put their money together to build it. George Allen & Sons built the synagogue.
The Anshei Israel Synagogue is a building that is 20 by 30 feet (6.1 by 9.1 m) (about 6 by 9 meters). It has a pointed roof and is covered with wooden boards called clapboard. A central tower sticks out 5 feet (1.5 m) (about 1.5 meters) and is 9 feet (2.7 m) (about 2.7 meters) tall. At the top of the tower is a Magen David, which is a Star of David. On each side of the tower, there are two windows. Old paint shows that the window frames used to be a bright blue color.
Inside the Synagogue
When you go through the tower, you enter one main room. At the front of the room, there's a raised platform called a bimah. This is where the Torah is read. There's also a special cabinet called the ark. The original bimah and ark are still there.
A gold curtain, called a parochet, covers the inside of the ark. A menorah (a special candle holder) sits on a stand. For seating, there were chairs and five wooden benches without backs. This was a bit unusual for old Connecticut synagogues. The building had electricity, but it didn't have heat or running water. A wood stove was used for heat, and there was an outhouse behind the synagogue.
How the Synagogue Was Used
The 15 families who started the congregation came from Poland and Russia. They lived in nearby towns like Plainfield, Lisbon, Griswold, and Jewett City. Harry Rothenberg became the first cantor (leader of prayer) for the synagogue. The synagogue served the Orthodox community for many years.
Declining Membership
During the 1940s and 1950s, fewer people were part of the congregation. This meant services were only held on holidays. The synagogue finally closed in 1987. It could no longer gather a minyan, which is the ten men needed for a full Jewish prayer service. The town of Lisbon bought the synagogue from its last six members in the 1980s. In 2004, the synagogue was opened for special "Walking Weekend" events.
Different Rules
Caroline Read-Burns, who leads the Lisbon Historical Society, and Jerome Zuckerbraun, a former member, talked about the congregation's rules. They noted that some rules were not as strict as they were in the "Old World" (Europe). For example, Orthodox members were supposed to walk to the synagogue. But some members who lived far away would drive part of the way and then walk the last mile or so.
Also, this synagogue did not use curtains to separate men and women. This was common for Orthodox services in Poland and Russia. Instead, the women sat at a table on the right side of the main room, near the door. The building is still in good shape, but it's not used for services anymore.
Why the Synagogue Is Important
The Anshei Israel Synagogue is one of fifteen Connecticut synagogues added to the National Register of Historic Places. This happened in 1995 and 1996. It was part of a big effort to recognize many historic synagogues at once.
Architectural Significance
It is important because it's a great example of a "small country Jewish house of worship." Its design is very simple. It's also one of the few Jewish houses of worship built before 1945 that is still in a rural area and looks much like it did originally. The Day newspaper mentioned that it might be "only one of its kind in the country." In 2001, the building was shown on Connecticut Journal, a TV show from Connecticut Public Television.
Recent Repairs
In 2005, the building needed some repairs. It had been neglected, and squirrels had caused some damage. The Lisbon Historical Society received a $5,000 grant to help fix it. Students from the Norwich Regional Vocational Technical School even replaced the electrical wiring for free!
See also
