Congregation Agudath Sholom Explained

Congregation Agudath Sholom should not be confused with Congregation Agudath Shalom.

Congregation Agudath Sholom
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Religious Affiliation:Modern Orthodox Judaism
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Organisational Status:Synagogue
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Functional Status:Active
Location:301 Strawberry Hill Avenue, Stamford, Connecticut 06902
Country:United States
Map Type:Connecticut
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Coordinates:41.0706°N -73.5337°W
Architecture Type:Synagogue
Established:1889
Date Destroyed:-->
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Agudath Sholom Synagogue (former)
Coordinates:41.055°N -73.5336°W
Location:29 Grove Street, Stamford, Connecticut
Added:May 11, 1995
Refnum:95000561

Congregation Agudath Sholom (transliterated from the Hebrew for "association (or guild) of peace") is a Modern Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue located at Strawberry Hill Avenue, in Stamford, Connecticut, in the United States.

The congregation's second building, at 29 Grove Street, was vacated in 1965 and subsequently converted into a Christian church, called the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. This former synagogue was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 as part of a multiple property listing of fifteen historic synagogues in Connecticut.

History

On September 7, 1889, twenty-two members formally declared themselves as "Agudath Sholom Synagogue," meaning "association of peace" or "guild of peace." The congregation constructed their first synagogue, the Greyrock Synagogue, from 1904 through 1908. The congregation used the building until February 1932 when the Greyrock Synagogue was destroyed in a fire.

Grove Street building

Located at 29 Grove Street in Stamford, Connecticut, the Agudath Sholom Synagogue was the second synagogue of the congregation. The ground breaking occurred on September 12, 1933, and the final dedication was on April 27, 1941.[1] The construction delayed by funding difficulties that resulted from the Great Depression. The synagogue is a rectangular brick building constructed on a high basement. The building features a prominent rose window depicting the Star of David.

Strawberry Hill Avenue building

In order to meet the demands of its growing congregation, funds were raised for a new synagogue; and in February 1963 it was announced that $860,000 had been raised, against a goal of $1.2 million.[2] In 1965, the congregation completed and dedicated a new synagogue at 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue.[3]

Senator Joe Lieberman's family were long-time members of Agudath Sholom, and his funeral was held there. He was buried in the congregation's cemetery, alongside his parents.[4]

The Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church now uses the Grove Street synagogue.[5]

Grove Street building significance

While it was originally a synagogue, the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church continues to use the building as a church, however this did not impact the "National Landmark" status bestowed upon the building. For the National Register of Historic Places, it was submitted under Criterion C because it was "Constructed as a Jewish house of worship, located in an urban setting, exhibits integrity of design and workmanship and constructed prior to 1945."[6]

The former Agudath Sholom Synagogue building on Grove Street was one of fifteen Connecticut synagogues added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and 1996 in response to an unprecedented multiple submission, nominating nineteen synagogues.[7] [8]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=95000561}} Agudath Sholom Synagogue ]. National Park Service . 11 May 1995 . 29 January 2014.
  2. News: none . Sunday Herald . 17 February 1963.
  3. Book: The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook . Greenwood Publishing Group . Olitzky, Kerry . Kerry Olitzky . 1996 . 81 .
  4. Web site: Chatelain . Ryan . 'How lucky we were to have him': Former, current senators honor Lieberman at funeral . 1 April 2024 . 1 April 2024.
  5. News: Attanasio . Cedar . Connecticut – Fairfield County . National Register of Historic Places . 29 January 2014.
  6. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=95000561}} National Register of Historic Places Registration, Multiple Property Listing, Historic Synagogues of Connecticut: Agudath Sholom Synagogue / Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church]. August 29, 1994 . Ransom, David F. . National Park Service. (pages 102-110) and
  7. News: Charles, Eleanor . In the Region/Connecticut: 15 Synagogues Gain National Landmark Status . New York Times . 1996-04-07 . 2010-07-31 .
  8. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=64500078}} NRHP Registration Form Multiple Property Listing: Historic Synagogues of Connecticut ]. Ransom, David F. . 1995-03-29 . 2010-07-31 . National Park Service .