Join us for an afternoon to celebrate the nearly 140 years of the organized Jewish community in Chelsea and the 400th anniversary of the founding of Chelsea in 1624!

Tour our historic synagogue that was built in 1909 and was added to the National Register of Historic Place in 1993.  Come see our 1,109-seat sanctuary with its painted ceiling and wall frescoes, murals and carved wood Aron Kodesh. Check out our collection of Judaica, artwork, photos, documents, books, posters and plaques that come from our synagogue, synagogues in Chelsea that have closed along with fraternal, social and educational organizations from Chelsea and elsewhere in Greater Boston.   See our Museum page for details.

Explore the rich Jewish history of Chelsea and Greater Boston and its immigration story with Dr. David E. Kaufman. Dr. Kaufman is an established American Jewish historian who earned his PhD at Brandeis University in 1994.  During his graduate studies, he focused on the history of the Jewish communities of the Boston area and became well known as a popular lecturer and tour guide of Jewish neighborhoods.  In the authoritative volume The Jews of Boston (CJP, 1995), he published his first major article–on the synagogues of Boston.  He is also a ‘son of Chelsea’ as his great grandfather was Asher Bookstein, the unofficial Sofer Stam (Torah scribe) of the Chelsea Jewish community.  Dr. Kaufman is excited to be returning to the Walnut Street Shul to give a talk in which he will give context to his family history by recounting the greater–and often unappreciated–history of the Jews of Chelsea, Massachusetts.

 

Learn about the Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center, our community partner that explores, preserves, and advances the history of Jewish families, institutions, and communities in New England and beyond.

Enjoy our nosh and schmooze with community members.

 

DETAILS

Where – Walnut Street Synagogue, 145 Walnut Street at the corner of Fourth Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts

When – Sunday, September 22, 1:00 to 5:00 pm  (Speakers begin at 3:00 pm)

Registration – No cost to attend, but please let us know if you plan on attending.  Registration required

Questions – please contact us at info@walnutstreetsynagogue.com

Please note that our building is not accessible for those with physical disabilities.

 

Program Partners

 

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This program is funded in part by a Chelsea Heritage Celebrations Grant from the Chelsea Cultural Council 

 

Chelsea Jewish Heritage Day flyer

 

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this series at all giving levels.