Temple Ohabei Shalom (Brookline, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple Ohabei Shalom |
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Hebrew: מקדש אוהבי שלום
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Temple Ohabei Shalom in 2022
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
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| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1187 Beacon Street, Brookline, Boston, Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Boston
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Clarence Blackall (Blackall, Clapp, and Whittemore) |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Byzantine Revival |
| Date established | 1842 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
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| Specifications | |
| Capacity |
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| Dome(s) | One |
| Materials | Masonry, copper, stone |
Temple Ohabei Shalom (Hebrew: מקדש אוהבי שלום) is a special Jewish place of worship called a synagogue. It's located in Brookline, near Boston, Massachusetts, in the United States. This temple is very old! It started in 1842, mostly with Jewish people from Germany. It's the oldest Jewish community in Massachusetts and the third oldest in all of New England.
Contents
History of Temple Ohabei Shalom
Temple Ohabei Shalom has a long and interesting history. Over the years, the community has grown and moved to different buildings.
First Steps: A Cemetery and Early Building
The first thing the community did was create a cemetery. This cemetery, called the Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery, is in East Boston. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Today, this cemetery is home to a museum. The museum celebrates the history of Jewish people who lived near the Mystic River.
The first synagogue building was built in 1851 on Warren Street in Boston. It was a nice wooden building with two floors. The windows looked like the tablets of the Ten Commandments. Inside, the main prayer area could hold 400 people. There was also space for a Hebrew School, a meeting room, and a mikveh (a special bath used for religious purposes).
Moving to New Locations
The community used its second building from 1863 to 1886. This building was on Warrenton Street in Boston. It was a beautiful building in the Greek Revival style. It was first built as a church. Today, this building is the Charles Playhouse, a theater.
In 1876, Raphael Lasker became the rabbi (religious leader) for the community.
The third building was a former church on Union Park Street. The famous speaker Edward Everett Hale led this church. He even spoke when the building was opened again as a synagogue in 1887. This building is now a Greek Orthodox Church.
The Current Temple Building
The temple's current building is very grand. It's located on Beacon Street in Brookline. Clarence Blackall designed it in the Byzantine Revival style. It was finished in 1927. A school was also built on the site starting in 1925.
The main prayer area can hold 1,800 people. There is also a smaller chapel that can hold 300 people. The building has a large dome. The architect had planned for a tall tower, but it was never built. The main prayer area was designed to look like Hagia Sophia. This was because people were excited about old synagogues found in Israel from the Byzantine era.
The building also has a big school, an auditorium, and a ballroom. The ballroom can even be used as a gym. There is also a museum, a library, and a reading room.
Community Connections
In 1854, another temple called Temple Israel was started. Some German Jewish people left Ohabei Shalom to form this new community. They did not like the many Polish Jewish people joining Ohabei Shalom. However, today, the two temples are friendly. They work together on projects to help the local Jewish community.
In 2022, the Temple Ohabei Shalom community celebrated its 180th birthday!
Temple Ohabei Shalom is also home to the Diane K. Trust Center For Early Education and the Ansin Religious School. These schools help educate younger children and teach about Jewish traditions.
See also
- History of the Jews in the United States
- Temple Ohabei Shalom Cemetery
