MUSEUM AND HISTORIC SITE 

   

                

     

When you enter the historic Walnut Street Synagogue, you feel as if you have stepped back in time to the early 20th century, when thousands of Jewish immigrants began to arrive in Chelsea from Eastern Europe.  Our 1,109-seat sanctuary on the second and third floors is intact and appears just as it did when the shul opened in 1909.  The carved wood Aron Kodesh (Torah Ark) was built by Boston-area cabinetmaker Sam Katz.  The ceiling is embellished with a painting of the sky, complete with clouds, and a sunrise at the east end. At the west end is a painting of the tomb of Rachel. The wall frescoes include painted columns and symbols from Solomon’s Temple.

On the first floor of our synagogue, you will find our daily minyan and Shabbat chapels where we share the stories of our congregation, the Jewish community of Chelsea and other Jewish communities throughout Greater Boston.

Our collection of photos and artifacts come from synagogues, fraternal organizations and others including the following –

Chelsea
Ahavas Achim Anshe Sfard – Elm Street Synagogue
Chelsea Hebrew Free Loan Association
Chelsea Hebrew School
Chelsea Young Women’s Hebrew Association
Chevra Shas of Chelsea
Congregation Agudas Sholom – Walnut Street Synagogue
Congregation Shomrei Linas Hazedek – Shurtleff Street Shul
Congregation Zemach Zedek Anshe Lubavitz
Arnie Jarmak Chelsea Photo Exhibit from the 1970s and 1980s
Jewish Family Society of Chelsea
Jewish War Veterans
Knights of Pythias
Shaare Zion – Orange Street Shul
United Brothers of Onikchty

Lowell
Montefiore Synagogue

Lynn
Congregation Ahabat Shalom
Jewish War Veterans

Marblehead
Marblehead Jewish History – families and businesses exhibit

Revere
Hebrew Educational Centre
Revere and Revere Beach History

Worcester
Jewish War Veterans

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We welcome your visit.  For more information –
VISITOR INFORMATION HERE

Video Tour (from the Orange County Jewish Community Scholar Program) –
WALNUT STREET SYNAGOGUE VIDEO

Blog Post Description of the Walnut Street Synagogue (from Samuel Gruber’s Jewish Art and Monuments)
WALNUT STREET SYNAGOGUE POSTING