Vilna Congregation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vilna Congregation |
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Hebrew: בית הכנסת אנשי ווילנה
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The synagogue, in 2015
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite |
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| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Menachem Schmidt |
| Year consecrated | 1915 |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 509 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106 |
| Country | United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Chabad |
| Architectural style | Philadelphia Rowhouse |
| Date established | 1904 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1915 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | South |
| Capacity | 75 worshippers |
The Vilna Congregation is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is in the Society Hill area of Center City. This synagogue has traditionally been a lively place for a type of Jewish community called Hasidic Ashkenazi Jews. They held services for Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest) and other holy days. The synagogue is connected with Lubavitch of Center City. In recent years, it also became home to an Orthodox women's mikvah, which is a special bath used for spiritual cleansing.
Rabbi Menachem Schmidt is the main rabbi of the Vilna Congregation. He is in charge of the building and all its activities.
Contents
History of the Vilna Congregation
How the Synagogue Started (1904-1974)
The Vilna Congregation began in 1904. It was started by Jewish immigrants from Lithuania who came to Philadelphia. They called it a "Landsleit shul," which means a synagogue for people from the same hometown. At first, the congregation met in rented rooms.
In 1915, the Shapiro family bought the building at 509 Pine Street. This building then became the synagogue. It was officially registered as a synagogue on February 1, 1922. Before 1915, the building was a home. In the 1920s, the women of the congregation formed a group called the Sara Shapiro Sisterhood.
A stone above the front door has a special message in Hebrew. It says, "The Avraham Aba Bar Shapira and Men of Vilna Synagogue established in the year 5665." This shows the synagogue's history and its founders.
Joseph Hillel Snapir was the synagogue's rabbi in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1956, another synagogue, B'nai Reuben Anshe Sfard, closed. The Vilna Congregation welcomed their memorial plaques.
The synagogue held daily services until 1974. After that, they decided to hold only Shabbat services. By the mid-1980s, the number of members started to get smaller. It became hard for them to gather a "minyan," which is the group of ten adult men needed for a full prayer service.
New Beginnings (Since the Late 1980s)
In 1989, Rabbi Menachem Schmidt became the new rabbi. He started to bring the congregation back to life. He made it a community synagogue where he led services, hosted meals, and taught lessons.
The synagogue held services every Friday night for both the Vilna congregation and Congregation B'nai Abraham until 2018. On Saturday mornings (Shabbos) and holy days, the Vilna shul held a "late morning" minyan. After these services, they had a festive kiddish, which is a light meal, in the building's community space on the second floor.
The building is also the planned location for a new Center City mikvah called Mai Shalva. In 2013, community members, led by Rabbi Menachem Schmidt, formed a group. They chose the site, had architectural plans drawn, and began raising money for this important project.
See also
