Shaarai Torah Synagogue (Worcester, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Shaarai Torah Synagogue
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Shaarai Torah in 2011
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 32 Providence St., Worcester, Massachusetts |
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| Architect | Edwin T. Chapin |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| MPS | Worcester MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 90000729 |
| Added to NRHP | May 07, 1990 |
Shaarai Torah Synagogue was an important Jewish place of worship in Worcester, Massachusetts. Its name comes from Hebrew and means "Gates of Learning." This building was once the main synagogue for the city's Jewish community, especially for those who followed Modern Orthodox traditions.
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Building a New Home
The Shaarai Torah community officially started on January 1, 1904. For two years, they held their daily services in a small house they bought. This house was at 32 Providence Street, in the Union Hill neighborhood. This area was where many Jewish immigrants lived in Worcester.
For bigger events, like the important High Holiday services in 1904 and 1905, they used a larger hall nearby. The community worked hard to build a new, special building for their synagogue. This new building was designed by an architect named Edwin T. Chapin. He used a style called Classical Revival, which looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The design was inspired by another synagogue in New York City. The new Shaarai Torah Synagogue opened its doors on September 14, 1906.
Leaders of the Synagogue
Many important religious leaders, called rabbis, guided the Shaarai Torah community over the years. Here are some of them:
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Isaac Werne (orig. Wiernikowski) | 1906–1911 |
| Solomon Golubowski | |
| Gershon Appel | 1943–1947 |
| Meyer Greenberg | 1947–1954 |
| Joseph Gold | 1954–1989 |
Joining Together
Many of the first members of Shaarai Torah had left another older synagogue called Congregation Sons of Abraham. They felt that the Sons of Abraham synagogue was not meeting the needs of younger people. One big reason was the language used during services. Shaarai Torah wanted to use more English, which was important for the younger generation.
For many years, leaders from both synagogues talked about joining. Finally, in 1948, the two communities merged. After this, the synagogue was known by a longer name: Congregation Shaarai Torah Sons of Abraham.
A New Branch on the West Side
By the late 1950s, many Jewish families in Worcester had moved to the west side of the city. This area was considered more upscale. Most of the younger Jewish families on the west side attended different types of synagogues, like Reform or Conservative ones.
To serve these families, Shaarai Torah decided to open a branch on the west side. In 1959, they bought a building at 835 Pleasant Street. This new location was called Shaarai Torah West. The original building on Providence Street then became known as Shaarai Torah East. Shaarai Torah West later became its own independent synagogue in 1964 and is still active today.
The Final Years
The original Shaarai Torah building on Providence Street was recognized as an important historical site in 1990. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
However, the synagogue stopped holding regular services in 1996. It officially closed after a very damaging fire in 1999. At one time, Worcester had at least 12 Orthodox synagogues in its neighborhoods. When Shaarai Torah closed, it was the last one still operating on the east side of the city.
The building had been sold in 1997 to a person who wanted to turn it into a Jewish museum or a community center for different cultures. But these plans were stopped because of the fire. Luckily, the new owner made sure that the Hebrew words carved into the front of the building would be kept safe.
New Life for the Building
After the fire, the old synagogue building was empty and falling apart. It was put on a list of endangered historical properties. In 2003, the building was sold again to a developer. This developer worked to change the old synagogue into 13 apartments. Today, it is known as Red Oak Condominiums.
Famous People from Shaarai Torah
Some talented people who became famous were once part of the Shaarai Torah community:
- S. N. Behrman: A well-known writer for plays and movies.
- Charles Tobias: A lyricist (someone who writes song lyrics) and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
- Harry Tobias: Also a songwriter and a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Shaarai Torah in 2011
