Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
Leadership | Rabbi Schneur Wilhelm |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | 15-17 Edgefield Avenue, Woodmont, Milford, Connecticut |
Country | United States |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) |
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Architectural type | Synagogue |
Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
Date established | 1920 (as a congregation) |
Completed | 1926 |
The Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. It is located in Woodmont, a part of Milford, Connecticut, USA. This special building was built in 1926. It was a summer synagogue for people visiting the beach. In 1995, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site.
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The Synagogue Building
This synagogue is a small building made of wood. It has a style called Colonial Revival. This style was common for buildings in small towns in New England. It was built for Jewish families who spent their summers at the beach.
In 1946, a social hall was added next to the synagogue. This hall gave the community more space for events.
Fire and Restoration
In 2012, the historic synagogue building was badly damaged. A fire started because of an electrical problem. Luckily, plans were quickly made to fix the building. The main part of the synagogue, built in 1926, was repaired. The social hall, which had only minor damage, was also restored. The social hall was ready for use by the High Holy Days in 2013.
National Recognition
The Hebrew Congregation of Woodmont is a very important building. In 1995, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places in the United States that are important for their history. It was one of fifteen synagogues in Connecticut added to this list around that time.
The Congregation's History
The Jewish community that uses this synagogue started in 1920. At first, they met during the summer in the vacation home of Rabbi Yehuda Heschel Levenberg. They needed a permanent place to worship.
Building a Home
Work on the synagogue building began in 1926. It was finished by the summer vacation season of 1927. This gave the community a dedicated place for their services. In 1936, a summer Sunday school opened. This helped teach children about their faith.
Becoming a Year-Round Community
Over time, fewer people came to Woodmont for summer vacations. The number of people in the congregation became smaller. In 2007, the congregation hired Rabbi Schneur and Chanie Wilhelm. They were from the Chabad movement. The hope was that they could help the synagogue grow. They wanted it to become a place for people to worship all year, not just in summer. By 2014, the synagogue was holding services throughout the year. This included weekly Sabbath services and services for Jewish holidays.