Congregation Ahavas Achim, one of the oldest Jewish congregations in Massachusetts, will continue the year-long celebration of its 125th anniversary with a program on the Jewish history of Newburyport and the North Shore on Sunday, June 12, at 4 p.m. at the synagogue’s historic building at 53½ Washington St. in Newburyport.
The program will feature longtime community synagogue members Anna Smulowitz, the renowned playwright of “Terezin, Children of the Holocaust” who has been chronicling Jewish life in Newburyport for decades; and Joel Grossman, a past President of the Board and Kristine Malpica, whose family was among the earliest Jewish settlers of Newburyport along with a panel of longtime members and descendants of the founders of CAA discussing Reflections on 125 Years of Rich Jewish History in Newburyport.
Newburyport Mayor Sean Reardon will present a proclamation and there will be a display of historical artifacts and a slide show.
This event is free and open to the community. There will be a livestream of the program for those who are unable to attend in person. Registration by visiting https://caa-history.eventbrite.com is requested for in person attendance and to access the livestream.
CAA, as the congregation is familiarly known, was formally established in 1896, although Jews had been living in Newburyport and holding services in their homes for at least 25 years previously. The first “official” home synagogue was a rented room in Market Square. In 1907, the members purchased a house on Liberty and Independence streets, and in 1933 the congregation bought the current building, on the corner of Washington and Olive streets.
For more information about this and other anniversary events and CAA, email CAA125@caa-newburyport.org or call 978-255-3144
