Guide to the Records of Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob (Salem, Massachusetts), undated, 1910-2006 [Bulk 1930-1998]
*I-553
Processed by Lael Dalal
Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS
99-101 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02116
Email: jhcreference@nehgs.org
URL: jewishheritagecenter.org
© 2019 Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS, Boston, MA. All Rights Reserved.
Machine-readable finding aid created by Lael Dalal as MS Word document, October 2013. Finding aid was encoded by Christine McEvilly on May 20, 2014. Description is in English.
Descriptive Summary | |
Creator: | Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob (Salem, Massachusetts) |
---|---|
Title: | Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob (Salem, Massachusetts) Records |
Dates: | undated, 1910-2006 [Bulk 1930-1998] |
Abstract: | Temple Shalom is an Egalitarian Conservative Synagogue in Salem, Massachusetts, formerly called the Sons of Jacob. The congregation was formed by European Jewish immigrants in the Salem area in 1898. This collection includes photographs of congregation members and activities, newspaper clippings, pamphlets, meeting minutes, and various publications. |
Languages: | The collection is in English. |
Quantity: | 2 linear feet [2 Banker's boxes] |
Identification: | I-553 |
Repository: | American Jewish Historical Society |
Location: | Located in AJHS Boston, MA |
Historical Note1
Temple Shalom, or Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob, is an Egalitarian Conservative Jewish Synagogue in Salem, Massachusetts and the longest continuously established synagogue on the North Shore. The congregation was formally called the Sons of Jacob, which was founded by a group of European Jewish immigrants. Salem had a small Jewish community since colonial days, but the first recorded Jewish resident was David Conrad, a member of the Common Council in 1866. On December 29, 1898, a formal religious charter was issued to the Sons of Jacob Congregation. Max Winer was the first president, and services were held at various rented locations, including 4 Derby Square, Salem, MA. In 1899, land was purchased on Buxton Road in Danvers and was used as the Sons of Jacob cemetery. In 1903, the congregation purchased a former church at Essex and Union Streets where a Sisterhood and Brotherhood were formed, also called the Talmud Torah Auxiliary.
In 1936, Temple president Max Goldberg acquired real estate on Lafayette and Ocean Streets, hoping to someday build a bigger temple for the congregation. In 1940, Temple president Ben Axelrod acquired property adjacent to this plot, forming the plot of land Temple Shalom would be built upon. This site was used for 16 years as a Jewish Community Center, and was also used during World War II by the Red Cross and the Civilian Defense.
In 1948, the Sons of Jacob became an affiliate of the United Synagogue of America. After a successful fundraising campaign, the new Temple was built. A dedication ceremony was held on December 12, 1952, renaming the congregation Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob. The 35th anniversary of the building at 287 Lafayette Street was celebrated in 1987 and the 100th anniversary of the congregation in 1998 (counting the 1898 foundation of the Sons of Jacob). The 50th anniversary of the building was held in 2003. In 2013, the congregation’s building was up for sale and Temple Shalom was considering a merger with other conservative congregations in the area. The Jewish Journal reported in January of 2014 that Temple Shalom’s Board of Directors accepted an offer by Salem Renewal LLC to purchase the 287 Lafayette Street synagogue building. Salem Renewal LLC holds a Letter of Intent by Salem State University to lease the property.
Chronology | |
1898 | Formal religious charter issued to the Sons of Jacob Congregation. |
1899 | Land purchased in Danvers for Sons of Jacob cemetery. |
1903 | Essex Street church purchased in Salem. |
1936 | Real estate purchased on Lafayette Street in Salem. |
1940 | Real estate purchased adjacent to Lafayette Street plot. |
1948 | Sons of Jacobs made affiliate to the United Synagogue of America. |
1952 | Dedication of Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob. |
1987 | 35th anniversary of the building. |
1998 | 100th anniversary of the Congregation. |
2003 | 50th anniversary of the building. |
2014 | Temple Shalom’s Board of Directors accepted an offer by Salem Renewal LLC to purchase the 287 Lafayette Street synagogue building. |
Footnotes
- 1Information used in this finding aid is from the following sources:
Forman, Amy. “Temple Shalom Building Sale Moves Forward,” The Jewish Journal. Vol 38 No 11, January 3, 2014.
Temple Shalom, Temple Shalom, accessed October 2013, <http://www.shalomsalem.org/>.
Tom Dalton, "Salem Temple Considering Merger," The Salem News August 14, 2013, <http://www.salemnews.com/local/x1084954012/Salem-temple-considering-merger>.
Materials from the Collection
Scope and Content Note
The Records of Temple Shalom include correspondence, dedication booklets, extensive organization publications, service programs, and newsletters. There are also many photographs; many from the time of the Temple’s dedication and also portraits of various people from the early 20th century. These people may be associated with the Sons of Jacob by membership or marriage into a member’s family, but some relationships to the collection are unclear. There are also postcards, black and white and color film negatives, newspaper clippings, two audio cassette tapes (one of a speech by Temple President Donald Frye and the other of an annual meeting), certificates of congratulations for anniversaries from congressmen and state representatives, a small book on Jewish thought for a Bar Mitzvah, records of the Hebrew School Committee and a Junior Bible workbook (1926) belonging to Malcolm Racow. There is also a small series regarding past Rabbis’ activities, which include correspondence and speeches about racial tensions within the Temple community, and a photograph of Ethiopian Rabbi David Mathew Doré.
Return to the Top of PageArrangement
The collection is arranged into 6 series as follows:
- Series I: Events, undated, 1954-1998
- Series II: General, undated, 1910-2006
- Series III: Governance, undated, 1956-2005
- Series IV: Photographs, undated, 1915-2008
- Series V: Publications, undated, 1960-2000
- Series VI: Rabbis, undated, 1959-2001
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Collections and Engagement of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.
This collection contains audiovisual or electronic media that requires special equipment to access. Please notify reference staff at reference@ajhs.org 24 hours in advance of needing access.
Use Restrictions
Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email:
reference@ajhs.org
Related Material
Congregation Anshai Sfard Papers (unprocessed)
Congregation Beth Israel (Cambridge, MA,) I-51
Kellerman Synagogue Photographs, P-931
Louis Winer Papers (unprocessed)
Richard Winer Papers (unprocessed)
Temple B’nai Jacob (Lexington, MA,) I-102
Temple Israel (Boston, MA), I-458
Return to the Top of PagePreferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known);
Temple Shalom of the Congregation Sons of Jacob (Salem, Massachusetts) Records;
I-553; box number; folder number; Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS.
Acquisition Information
Donated by the Jewish Heritage Center of the North Shore in 2013.
Return to the Top of PageAccess Points
This collection is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.
Click on a subject to search that term in the Center's catalog.Subject Organizations:
Subject Topics:
Subject Places:
Document Types:
Container List
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series I: Events, undated, 1954-1998 | ||||
English | ||||
Box 1. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged chronologically. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series includes a large amount of items from the Salem Marketplace exhibit and Jewish Heritage Festival which provides historical information about the Temple and includes photographs and negatives of the Temple, history and photographs of Jews of Salem, and photographs of the actual exhibit. It also includes dedication booklets which give a history of the Temple, brochures, fliers, notes and newspaper clippings regarding the anniversaries of the Temple. It also contains photographs from the Salem Temple Shalom Festival, certificates and letters from congressmen and state representatives (including Bill Clinton) congratulating the Temple on their anniversaries, and photographs and invitations to these celebrations. This series also includes a copy of the corporation certificate of the Sons of Jacob from 1898. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 1 | 35th Anniversary of the Building | 1987 | ![]() |
1 | 2 | 100th Anniversary of the Congregation | 1998 | ![]() |
1 | 3 | 50th Anniversary of the Building | 2003 | ![]() |
1 | 4 | Corporation | undated | ![]() |
1 | 5 | Dedication | 1952 | ![]() |
1 | 6 | Public Bazaar | 1954 | ![]() |
1 | 7 | Salem Marketplace Exhibit and Jewish Heritage Festival | undated, 1970, 1980, 1982-1986, 1991-1992 | ![]() |
1 | 8 | Salem Temple Shalom Festival | 1988 | ![]() |
Series II: General, undated, 1910-2006 | ||||
English | ||||
Box 1. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged alphabetically by subject. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series includes items from organizations within the Temple or Sons of Jacob, such as the Hebrew School, fundraising committee, Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Rabbinate, Choir, Royal Arcanum, Salem Lodge B’nai B’rith, and Young Men’s Hebrew Association/Young Women’s Hebrew Association. There are graduation exercise programs, a small book for a Bar Mitzvah entitled, Treasury of Jewish Thought, newspaper articles and clippings, various programs for organization activities, a cassette tape of a speech by Temple President David Frye, minutes of the Hebrew School Committee meetings, and Temple Shalom promotional materials and correspondence. There is a list of WWII Honor Roll Veterans within Temple Shalom and a postcard from 1914. There is some information of note about particular members represented in the collection: Dr. Jonas Galper, who wrote an article in a medical journal included in the collection, was a student of Temple Shalom’s Hebrew School; brothers Sam and Ben Axelrod served as presidents of Temple Shalom and purchased land for the new Temple; David Frye was a president of the Sons of Jacob and his wife Ida was a member of the Sisterhood of Temple Shalom; and the Racow, Goodman, and Harris families are related by marriage. There is also some material on a reception to honor two prominent members, Sarah Gass and Theodore Simons. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 9 | Ackerman, Irving | undated, 1973-1998 | ![]() |
1 | 10 | Axelrod Family | 1967-1997 | ![]() |
1 | 11 | Bixby Family | undated, 1930-1965 | ![]() |
1 | 12 | Brotherhood of Temple Shalom | 1952-1960 | ![]() |
1 | 13 | Filenes Family | undated, 2006 | ![]() |
1 | 14 | Frye, David | undated, 1949-1998 | ![]() |
1 | 15 | Galper, Dr. Jonas--Journal Article | 1999 | ![]() |
1 | 16 | Hebrew School Committee | undated, 1946-1960 | ![]() |
1 | 17 | History of Jews in Salem, by Edward Windsor Carberg | undated | ![]() |
1 | 18 | Honor Roll WWII Veterans | undated | ![]() |
1 | 19 | Kaplan, Dr. Israel | 1986-1987 | ![]() |
1 | 20 | Newspaper Clippings | undated, 1903-2004 | ![]() |
1 | 21 | Postcard to Miss E.M. Sutherland | 1914 | ![]() |
1 | 22 | Promotional Materials and Correspondence | undated, 1966-1997 | ![]() |
1 | 23 | Racow, Goodman and Harris Families | 1910-1941 | ![]() |
1 | 24 | Reception to Honor Sarah Gass and Theodore Simons | undated, 1989-1990 | ![]() |
1 | 25 | Sisterhood of Temple Shalom | 1952-1985 | ![]() |
1 | 26 | Speakers at Temple Shalom--Correspondence | 1968-1971 | ![]() |
1 | 27 | YMHA and YWHA-Booklets | 1931 | ![]() |
Series III: Governance, undated, 1956-2005 | ||||
English | ||||
Box 1. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged alphabetically by type of material. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series includes membership lists for various organizations within Temple Shalom such as Board of Directors and the Sisterhood, a copy of the purchase agreement of the Essex Street synagogue from 1903, a copy of the purchase agreement of the Salem Jewish Cemetery in Danvers from 1899, congressional meeting notes from 2005, a copy of a loan and discharge agreement for the Sons of Jacob Cemetery from 1901 and a recording of an annual meeting in 2001. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 28 | Congregational Meeting | 2005 | ![]() |
1 | 29 | Membership Lists | 1956-1976 | ![]() |
1 | 30 | Purchase of Essex Street Synagogue | undated | ![]() |
1 | 31 | Purchase of Salem Jewish Cemetery | undated | ![]() |
1 | 32 | Recording of Annual Meeting | 2001 | ![]() |
1 | 33 | Sons of Jacob Cemetery Loan and Discharge | undated | ![]() |
Series IV: Photographs, undated, 1915-2008 | ||||
English. | ||||
Box 1. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged alphabetically subject of photograph. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series includes black and white and color photographs from the old Essex Street location of Temple Shalom, the dedication ceremony, and Temple members and organizations. It also includes photographs of people and places which are unknown and whose connections to the Temple remain unclear. Photographs of various groups, such as the Royal Arcanum and Hebrew School, are included, as well as a photograph of the 5th Annual Convention of the Young Paolo Zion (Poale Zion), member of Histadut, in Albany, New York in 1926 (Box 1, Folder 45). Please note that folder 38 (Box 1), for Hymen Marcus, does not include the flier for “Round the Family Table” as it indicates in the donor letter within the folder. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 34 | Aronson Family | undated | ![]() |
1 | 35 | Bentley School -- Salem High School | 1916-1959 | ![]() |
1 | 36 | Choir | 1955 | ![]() |
1 | 37 | Cohen, Phillip (Pesach) and Eva | undated | ![]() |
1 | 38 | Dedication | undated, 1951 | ![]() |
1 | 39 | Essex Street Location | undated, 1951 | ![]() |
1 | 40 | Fundraising Committee | undated | ![]() |
1 | 41 | Gordon, Max | 1915 | ![]() |
1 | 42 | Hebrew School | undated, 1948-1969 | ![]() |
1 | 43 | High Holy Days | 1977 | ![]() |
1 | 44 | Kerr Family | undated | ![]() |
1 | 45 | Lander, Celia “Tsipps”--Article | 1998 | ![]() |
1 | 46 | Marcus, Hymen | undated, 1938-1980 | ![]() |
1 | 47 | Miscellaneous | undated, 1926-2008 | ![]() |
1 | 48 | Rogers, Norman | 1931 | ![]() |
1 | 49 | Royal Arcanum -- Masons | undated | ![]() |
1 | 50 | Salem Lodge B’nai B’rith | undated, 1935 | ![]() |
1 | 51 | Salem Temple Shalom | undated, 1951-1952 | ![]() |
1 | 52 | Schacht, Rose | undated | ![]() |
1 | 53 | Scholnick, Dora Galper | undated, 1926 | ![]() |
1 | 54 | Winer Family | undated | ![]() |
Series V: Publications, undated, 1960-2000 | ||||
English | ||||
Box 2. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged alphabetically by type of publication. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series includes various newsletters and programs that the Temple published such as bulletins, directories, programs for services, booklets of remembrance, and Temple Shalom news. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
2 | 1 | Activities | 1975-1998 | ![]() |
2 | 2 | Book of Remembrance | 1997-2000 | ![]() |
2 | 3-5 | Bulletins | 1969, 1971, 1982-1983 | ![]() |
2 | 6 | Directory | 1975-1978 | ![]() |
2 | 7 | Friday Services | 1960, 1982 | ![]() |
2 | 8 | News | 1973-1975 | ![]() |
2 | 9-10 | Newsletters | 1971-1974 | ![]() |
2 | 11-12 | Services | 1984 | ![]() |
Series VI: Rabbis, undated, 1959-2001 | ||||
English. | ||||
Box 2. | ||||
Arrangement:Arranged alphabetically by personal name. | ||||
Scope and Content:This series contains papers pertaining to activities conducted under five Rabbis at Temple Shalom. These include correspondence, newspaper clippings, photographs, and newsletters. Of particular interest is the Rabbi Dov Pikelny folder which includes information on the Brotherhood, kindergarten at the temple, various speakers, and many other activities. There are letters and speeches reflecting social and racial issues (such as a speech by Harry Golden), urban development, law enforcement, and a photograph of Ethiopian Rabbi David Mathew Doré from Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. There is a folder with information on the first female Rabbi hired on the North Shore, Rabbi Ilana Rosansky. There are also lists of the Rabbinate of Temple Shalom. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
2 | 13 | Rabbi Dov Pikelny | undated, 1971-1976 | ![]() |
2 | 14 | Rabbi Gerald Goldstein and Rabbi Samuel Klein | undated, 1959-1975 | ![]() |
2 | 15 | Rabbi Ilana Rosansky | undated, 2001 | ![]() |
2 | 16 | Rabbi Sam Kenner | 1998 | ![]() |
2 | 17 | Rabbinate | undated, 1961-1981 | ![]() |