Congregation Beth Ahabah | |
---|---|
Religion | |
Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | 1121 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia |
Country | United States |
Location in Virginia | |
Geographic coordinates | 37°33′05″N77°27′20″W / 37.551278°N 77.4555°W |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Noland and Baskervill |
Type | Synagogue |
Style | Roman Revival |
Date established | 1789 (as Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome) |
Groundbreaking | March 4, 1904 |
Completed | December 9, 1904 |
Specifications | |
Dome(s) | One |
Materials | Stone |
Website | |
bethahabah | |
Congregation Beth Ahabah | |
NRHP reference No. | 72001528 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | September 14, 1972 |
Designated CP | West Franklin Street Historic District |
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Congregation Beth Ahabah (meaning "House of Love") is a Reform Jewish synagogue at 1121 West Franklin Street, Richmond, Virginia, in the United States. Founded in 1789 by Spanish and Portuguese Jews as Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome (meaning "Holy Congregation, House of Peace"), it is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. [4]
When the congregation was founded, there were 100 Jews in Richmond's population of 3,900. After meeting for some years in leased space, the congregation built its first synagogue in 1822. It was a handsome, if modest, one-story brick building in Georgian style. [5]
The community grew and in 1841 the Ashkenazi members founded a new congregation called Beth Ahabah. In 1846 Beth Ahabah established the first Jewish school in Richmond, and 1846 built a synagogue at Eleventh and Marshall Streets. The Congregation moved toward Reform in 1867 with discussion of acquiring an organ, the decision to switch to family pews (mixing men and women) and allowing women to join the choir. Beth Ahabah joined the Reform Movement Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1875. A new building was erected, also at Eleventh and Marshall, in 1880. In 1898 K.K. Beth Shalome formally merged with Congregation Beth Ahabah. [5]
On March 4, 1904 the congregation laid the cornerstone for its present building, known as the Franklin Street Synagogue. The building was dedicated on December 9, 1904. [1] The domed, Neoclassical synagogue was designed by the Richmond-based firm of Noland and Baskervill (now Baskervill), who also designed nearby St. James' Church and the wings of the Virginia State Capitol. The synagogue has 29 stained glass windows. Most notable is a window on the building's eastern wall created and signed by the Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios in 1923. It depicts Mt. Sinai.
The congregation maintains the Hebrew Cemetery of Richmond, including the Cemetery for Hebrew Confederate Soldiers, as well as the original site of the 1789 Franklin Street Burial Grounds, which was the first Jewish cemetery in Virginia.
Congregation Beth Ahabah is the home of the Beth Ahabah Museum & Archives, located at 1109 West Franklin Street. Established in 1977, the museum's focus is the history and culture of Richmond's Jewish community and the Southern Jewish experience. Three galleries feature changing exhibits. The museum is open from Sunday through Thursday.
The Hebrew Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, also known as Hebrew Burying Ground, and previously the Jew's Burying Ground, dates from 1816. This Jewish cemetery, one of the oldest in the United States, was founded in 1816 as successor to the Franklin Street Burial Grounds of 1789. Among those interred here is Josephine Cohen Joel, who was well known in the early 20th century as the founder of Richmond Art Co. Within Hebrew Cemetery is a plot known as the Soldier's Section. It contains the graves of 30 Jewish Confederate soldiers who died in or near Richmond. It is one of only two Jewish military cemeteries outside of the State of Israel.
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Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome is a former Jewish congregation and synagogue that was located in Richmond, Virginia, in the United States. Established in 1789, the congregation merged with Congregation Beth Ahabah in 1898.
The West Franklin Street Historic District is a national historic district located at Richmond, Virginia. It is located along the northern boundary of the Fan district. The district encompasses 71 contributing buildings built between about 1870 and the 1920. It was originally developed as a primarily residential district with buildings in a variety of popular late-19th and early-20th century architectural styles including Greek Revival, Romanesque, Georgian Revival, Queen Anne, and Italianate. Many of the dwellings have been converted to commercial use. In addition, the district's private houses have been converted into multi-family housing and departmental offices for Virginia Commonwealth University. Notable buildings include Franklin Terrace, the Ritter-Hickock House, First Independent Church, Founder's Hall, the Raleigh Building, The Greyston Apartments, Gresham Court Apartments, and the Beth Ahabah Congregation Hall and Synagogue.