Founded in 1896 by Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, Agudath Achim services were held in various rented halls in downtown Ashland for many years. In the early twentieth century, many began to actively prefer Reform Judaism to Orthodoxy; as early as 1915 biweekly Reform services were conducted by a student rabbi from Hebrew Union College, and in 1921 the congregation joined the Reform movement. This change was not uncontested; the move led to the secession of some members, who founded a new synagogue, the House of Israel. Around this same time, Agudath Achim became a member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.[2][3][4]
It was not until 1938 that a temple was completed and dedicated, at 2411 Montgomery Avenue in Ashland. The building was sold to a Pentecostal Holiness Church in the late 1980s, but it has since been demolished.[5] The temple has been described as "the least handsome of all the commonwealth's pre-World War II synagogues", despite containing "some rather pleasing stained glass."
Agudath Achim closed around 1986, at which point organized Jewish life ceased in Ashland. One member explained that the decision to close had been delayed as long as possible, because the Jews of Ashland "didn't want to lose our identity in the community." The trustees of the congregation invested the proceeds of the sale "in case, miraculously, enough Jewish people moved here to start another congregation."[6] "In 1998, the few remaining members of Agudath Achim met and decided to disperse all of the funds. The money was divided between Hebrew Union College, B'nai Sholom in Huntington, Ashland Community College, and a local charity serving Ashland's needy."[7]
congregation, agudath, achim, ashland, kentucky, this, article, about, kentucky, synagogue, similarly, named, synagogues, agudas, achim, coordinates, 469647, 631963, 469647, 631963, congregation, agudath, achim, hebrew, society, brothers, first, jewish, congre. This article is about the Kentucky synagogue For similarly named synagogues see Agudas Achim Coordinates 38 28 11 N 82 37 55 W 38 469647 N 82 631963 W 38 469647 82 631963 Congregation Agudath Achim Hebrew Society of Brothers was the first Jewish congregation in Ashland Kentucky 1 Agudath AchimReligionAffiliationOrthodox Judaism 1896 1921 Reform Judaism 1921 1986 StatusInactiveLocationLocation2411 Montgomery Avenue Ashland Kentucky United StatesArchitectureCompleted1938History EditFounded in 1896 by Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe Agudath Achim services were held in various rented halls in downtown Ashland for many years In the early twentieth century many began to actively prefer Reform Judaism to Orthodoxy as early as 1915 biweekly Reform services were conducted by a student rabbi from Hebrew Union College and in 1921 the congregation joined the Reform movement This change was not uncontested the move led to the secession of some members who founded a new synagogue the House of Israel Around this same time Agudath Achim became a member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations 2 3 4 It was not until 1938 that a temple was completed and dedicated at 2411 Montgomery Avenue in Ashland The building was sold to a Pentecostal Holiness Church in the late 1980s but it has since been demolished 5 The temple has been described as the least handsome of all the commonwealth s pre World War II synagogues despite containing some rather pleasing stained glass Agudath Achim closed around 1986 at which point organized Jewish life ceased in Ashland One member explained that the decision to close had been delayed as long as possible because the Jews of Ashland didn t want to lose our identity in the community The trustees of the congregation invested the proceeds of the sale in case miraculously enough Jewish people moved here to start another congregation 6 In 1998 the few remaining members of Agudath Achim met and decided to disperse all of the funds The money was divided between Hebrew Union College B nai Sholom in Huntington Ashland Community College and a local charity serving Ashland s needy 7 Notable members EditDavid Aronberg twice mayor of Ashland 8 Notes and references Edit A History of Ashland Kentucky 1786 1954 p 29 Archived from the original on 2011 10 05 Retrieved 2011 05 05 Jewish communities on the Ohio River a history by Amy Hill Shevitz Jewish life in small town America a history by Lee Shai Weissbach Kentucky Jewish Virtual Library Jewish History of Ashland Kentucky by the Institute of Southern Jewish Life The synagogues of Kentucky architecture and history by Lee Shai Weissbach Jewish History of Ashland Kentucky by the Institute of Southern Jewish Life Who s who in world Jewry by Harry Schneiderman and Itzhak J Carim Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Congregation Agudath Achim Ashland Kentucky amp oldid 1059870585, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
