The History of Temple Shalom
known to some as
the “Other” Congregation on Aquidneck Island
For almost two hundred years, if asked to name a Jewish congregation on
Aquidneck Island, or specifically in Newport, Rhode Island, the name most
universally mentioned would be that of the venerable Touro Synagogue. The
small Orthodox synagogue, Ahavis Achim, or the Bull Street Shul, was known
only to local residents. It was at Ahavis Achim, however, where the initial
effort to meet the needs of the non‑Orthodox Jewish community of the
Island was born. On May 16, 1961, a meeting of the Jewish community was held
at Ahavis Achim to consider the possibility of founding a Conservative
congregation. At this pivotal meeting, a committee was formed and charged to
study the feasibility of such an undertaking.
At the Muenchinger King Hotel on July 6, 1961, Dr. Simon
Greenberg of the Jewish Theological Seminary addressed a gathering about
creating a Conservative congregation, following a favorable report delivered
by the feasibility committee. At this meeting, thirty five families
pledged to form such a congregation; thus Temple Shalom was born.
The wheels of progress began to turn quickly. The first meeting of the
congregation was held less than two weeks later at the Viking Hotel.At
that meeting officers were elected and committees established. Although this
new congregation was without a name or a place to worship, those involved were
ecstatic about their undertaking, and pledged to have their congregation “up
and running” by the High Holy Days with both a name and a place to assemble
and pray.
On August 7, at Cliff Walk Manor, a most exciting meeting was held. Committee reports reflected that sixty families had pledged to support
the newly-established congregation, that a site had been found for worship,
and that a rabbi and a cantor had been hired for the forthcoming holy days. It was at this meeting that a name was chosen: Temple Shalom, the
Conservative Congregation of Newport County.
The Temple charter was quickly filed with the Secretary of State of
Rhode Island, with seventy‑five individuals and families making up the
list of charter members. After almost two hundred years of exclusively Orthodox Judaism on Aquidneck Island,
the conservative movement became a presence in the Jewish community.
The first High Holy Day services were held at the John Martin Memorial
Center, also known as the Aquidneck Hut, in Newport, conducted by Rabbi Harry
W. Katchen, Director of Community Relations at the Jewish Theological
Seminary, and by Cantor Murray Pine. After the exhilaration of these first High Holy Days, the members of Temple Shalom
had to confront a problem. The fledgling congregation had little money, not
nearly enough to hire a rabbi, so students from the Jewish Theological
Seminary were brought in on a bi‑weekly basis.
A turning point in the history of Temple Shalom came in 1967 when the
congregation purchased the Birdland Cafe, located at 196‑198 Thames
Street in Newport. The membership was enthusiastic and delighted to finally
have a facility which they could mold into a permanent house of worship.
Through the physical labors and financial support of its members, the Birdland
Cafe was fashioned into a beautiful sanctuary, social hall, kitchen, and
study. The Temple had finally come of age with a home of its own. The new
building also brought a new spiritual leader, Rabbi Emanuel Goldsmith of
Brandeis University, who served the congregation on weekends for one year. For
the next six years, the pulpit was filled by students from the Seminary.
In June, 1974, the Temple asked one of these students, Rabbi Marc S.
Jagolinzer, to become its spiritual leader. Rabbi Jagolinzer still holds this position today. The congregation
rejoiced in its new rabbi and looked forward to building a strong and vibrant
membership for the future. However, this joy was to be interrupted when calamity struck early on Sunday morning,
October 14, 1974, Columbus Day. Temple Shalom was completely destroyed by arson. A headline on the front page of the
local newspaper, The Newport Daily News, stated: “Blaze Destroys Synagogue;
Jews Mourn Sacred Tablets. ”The fire devastated not only the members of the Temple, but the entire community
of Newport County. At the height of the blaze, the fire was fought by ninety firefighters and eight trucks.
For over two hours, those involved fought valiantly to extinguish the
flames and prevent them from spreading to adjacent buildings. This tragedy, however, brought together a strong and dedicated
membership, who met that evening with more than one hundred local families to
plan for the future. After much deliberation and consideration of offers from other houses of worship and
civic organizations, it was decided that the congregation would use the
facilities of Congregation Ahavis Achim, the site of the birth, and now the
re-birth, of Temple Shalom. The members worshiped at Ahavis Achim for
three years until 1977. Although Friday night services were conducted
independently, the traditional service at sunset and a later evening service
(both led by Rabbi Jagolinzer), the two congregations united for services on
Shabbat morning, festivals, and High Holy Days. A warm and enduring bond was forged between the two groups.
On Sunday, October20, the Jewish community, as well as the general
community, joined the members of Temple Shalom for a moving and emotional
burial of those religious objects destroyed in the fire. Adults and children assembled to mourn the loss of their temple
building and their artifacts, and to gain support and strength from one
another.
After a period of loss and recovery the Temple began once again to grow
and prosper. Membership began to
increase. With this increased
membership came the need for additional space.
Quarters became cramped at Ahavis Achim and parking was at a premium.
In 1977, the Temple commissioned the architectural firm of Urban Design
to design and supervise the construction of a new building on land purchased
by the congregation on Valley Road in Middletown. A design was submitted to
and approved by the congregation, and ground was broken in July, 1977, by the
Sullivan Construction Company of Newport.
Construction continued until August, 1978.
The first shabbat service in the new building was held on Friday
evening, September 7, 1978, with a standing‑room‑only crowd in
attendance. Rabbi Jagolinzer began the service by reciting the Shecheyanu, and
giving thanks for reaching this milestone in the history of Temple Shalom.
The new facility consisted of a sanctuary, a social hall, a combination
board room/chapel, a library, a rabbi’s study, and a kitchen. A formal
weekend of dedication ceremonies was held from Friday evening, October 27,
through Sunday afternoon, October29, 1978. The Friday evening service was
conducted by Rabbi Jagolinzer, with Fannie Nemtzow, the oldest female member
of the congregation, lighting the candles, and Steven Perry, New England
Representative to the National Board of the United Synagogue of America, as
the featured guest speaker. On Shabbat morning, an interfaith worship service
was held. Participants joining in
the celebration included The Reverend Canon Lorne Coyle of Trinity Church,
Newport; The Reverend William C. Graham of Middletown Baptist Church; The
Reverend Brian Robcrge of the United Congregational Church, Middletown; The
Reverend Thomas Lindeman of St. Paul’s Methodist Church, Newport; and The
Reverend H. Nils Berg, Chaplain of Newport Hospital. Torah Aliyot were extended to
past presidents of the congregation, and Harry Nemtzow, the oldest member and
a charter member of Temple Shalom, read from the Torah and chanted the
haftorah. A celebratory kiddush
followed the worship.
A highlight of this weekend was Sunday afternoon.
A colorful and joyous procession of officers, trustees, past
presidents, presidents of Temple affiliates, guests of the congregation, and
members of the Building Committee followed Rabbi Jagolinzer and President
Michael Mendell as they carried the scrolls into the new building up to the
holy ark for placement therein. After
the Torahs were housed, the eternal light, designed by Professor Walter
Feldman of Brown University, was kindled as a prayer was recited.
Edward Goldberg, founding president of the Temple, served as master of
ceremonies. Rabbi Theodore Lewis
of Touro Synagogue offered the invocation.
A host of local dignitaries brought greetings: Mayor Humphrey Donnelly,
III, Newport; Council President Robert M. Silva, Middletown; Council President
Paul Poirier, Portsmouth; The Reverend Gilbert Taverner, Calvary United
Methodist Church, Middletown; Captain Hebert Bolles, CHC, USNR, Senior
Chaplain, NETC, Newport; The Reverend Robert Williams, Community Baptist
Church, Newport; The Reverend John Theodore, St. Spyndon’s Greek Church,
Newport; The Reverend Timothy Gillen, St. Lucy’s Roman Catholic Church,
Middletown; and The Reverend Thomas Lindeman, St. Paul’s United Methodist
Church, Newport. The Dedication Message was delivered by Rabbi Jagolinzer and
the Presentation of the Keys by Edward Rose, Chair of the Building Committee.
Rabbi Jagolinzer and his wife Barbara led the congregation in the Prayer of
Dedication and the Responsive Affirmation. The benediction was delivered by
Rabbi Ely Katz of Touro Synagogue. This afternoon of dedication was one of
beauty, fellowship, and joy. A collation concluded the ceremonies.
In the years that followed, the Temple enjoyed growth and activity.
A Men’s Club, Sisterhood, Tree of Life Seniors Group, Couples Club,
Adult Education Program, Social Action Group, and a wide variety of services
have been offered and supported by the members of the Temple. With Rabbi
Jagolinzer as a leader of interfaith activities on Aquidneck Island and
surrounding areas, the members of Temple Shalom have participated in a wide
variety of programs with members of other faiths.
In 1988, Mrs. Beatrice B. Bazarsky came to meet with Rabbi Jagolinzer
to discuss the possibility of building a religious school on the grounds of
the Temple, dedicated to the memory of her beloved husband, Samuel Zilman
Bazarsky. After a vote by the membership of Temple Shalom, Mrs. Bazarsky
erected a brick building adjoining the Temple, with four fully-equipped
classrooms. The School, open to all students from Newport County and
surrounding areas, was formally dedicated in September, 1989, as The Samuel
Zilman Bazarsky Religious School, with 39 students enrolled, and a faculty of four.
Through the years, both the the Temple and the School have continued to
prosper and flourish. The congregational membership has more than doubled
since its inception, and the School boasts an enrollment of 75 students.
During its 42 years of existence, Temple Shalom, the Conservative
Congregation of Newport County, has become well-known for its services and its
multifaceted activities. The Temple serves as a beacon of spirituality,
collegiality, and education to the Jewish community.
On December 6, the United States Postal Service designated Temple
Shalom as the site for the reissue of the Chanukah Stamp. A framed poster of
the United States Chanukah Stamp, as well as the same stamp issued in Israel,
was presented to Rabbi Jagolinzer at a ceremony attended by a
standing‑room‑only crowd. Second‑day covers with the Stamp
and the Temple logo were cancelled at that time.
On January 9, 1998, after a long and concerted effort on behalf of
Rabbi Jagolinzer and the Temple, a kosher meal site was established at the Temple for the seniors
of Newport County in partnership with Jewish Family Service and the State of
Rhode Island.
Temple Shalom is a strong and growing congregation serving the Jewish
community. As the congregation celebrates its 42nd anniversary of existence the Temple looks
to the continuation of a rich spiritual and religious life as a leading
congregation in Rhode Island. To
this end Temple Shalom is currently undertaking a capital campaign to fund the
expansion of the Temple building (see “Temple Expansion”).
Temple Shalom 