Congregation Agudath Sholom

{{short description|Modern Orthodox synagogue and historic former synagogue in Stamford, Connecticut, US}} {{about|the Modern Orthodox synagogue in Stamford, Connecticut|the Open Orthodox synagogue in Chelsea, Massachusetts|Congregation Agudath Shalom}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Congregation Agudath Sholom | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_upright = 1.4 | nocat_wdimage = yes | alt = | caption = | religious_affiliation = [[Modern Orthodox Judaism]] | tradition = | sect = | district = | prefecture = | province = | region = | deity = | rite = | festival =  | organisational_status = [[Synagogue]] | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = {{ubl|Rabbi Daniel Cohen|Rabbi Moshe Kurtz {{small|(Assistant)}}}} | bhattaraka = | patron = | consecration_year = | functional_status = Active | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | location = 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue, [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Connecticut]] 06902 | locale = | municipality = | cercle = | state = | country = United States | map_type = Connecticut | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location of the current synagogue in [[Connecticut]] | grid_name = | grid_position = | sector = | territory = | administration = | coordinates = {{coords|41.0705927|-73.5336742|region:US-CT_type:landmark|format=dms|display=it}} | coordinates_footnotes = | heritage_designation = | architect = | architecture_type = Synagogue | architecture_style = {{nowrap|[[Romanesque Revival architecture|Romanesque Revival]] {{small|(1941)}}}} | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = | established = 1889 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = {{ubl|1908 {{small|(Greyrock)}}|1941 {{small|(Grove Street)}}|{{nowrap|1965 {{small|(Strawberry Hill Ave.)}}}}}} | construction_cost = | date_demolished =  | facade_direction = | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = | height_max = | dome_quantity = | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = | minaret_height = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | site_area = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | shrine_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = | elevation_m =  | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | delisted1_date = | website = {{url|congregationagudathsholom.org}} | module = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Agudath Sholom Synagogue (former) | nrhp_type = | image = Agudath_Sholem_Synagogue_at_Grove_Street.gif | image_size = 250 | caption = The former Agudath Sholom Synagogue, now Baptist church building with the original [[façade]] and [[Star of David]] in the rose window | coordinates = {{coords|41|3|18|N|73|32|1|W|region:US-CT_type:landmark|display=inline}} | area = | location = 29 Grove Street, [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Connecticut]] | added = May 11, 1995 | mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64500078|title=Historic Synagogues of Connecticut MPS}} | refnum = 95000561 }} | footnotes = <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref> }} '''Congregation Agudath Sholom''' ([[transliterated]] from the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] for "association (or guild) of peace") is a [[Modern Orthodox Judaism|Modern Orthodox]] [[Jewish]] congregation and [[synagogue]] located at Strawberry Hill Avenue, in [[Stamford, Connecticut|Stamford]], [[Connecticut]], in the United States.

The congregation's second building, at 29 Grove Street, was vacated in 1965 and subsequently converted into a Christian [[Church (building)|church]], called the '''Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church'''. This former synagogue was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1995 as part of a multiple property listing of fifteen historic synagogues in Connecticut.<ref name=Ransom/>

== History == On September 7, 1889, twenty-two members formally declared themselves as "Agudath Sholom Synagogue," meaning "association of peace" or "guild of peace." The congregation constructed their first synagogue, the Greyrock Synagogue, from 1904 through 1908. The congregation used the building until February 1932 when the Greyrock Synagogue was destroyed in a fire.<ref name="site" />

=== Grove Street building === [[Image:StamfordCT FormerAgudathSholem StarOfDavidWindow.jpg|thumb|left|The Star of David window]]

Located at 29 Grove Street in Stamford, Connecticut, the Agudath Sholom Synagogue was the second synagogue of the congregation. The ground breaking occurred on September 12, 1933, and the final dedication was on April 27, 1941.<ref name="pdf">{{cite web |url={{NRHP url|id=95000561}} |title=Agudath Sholom Synagogue |publisher=National Park Service |date=11 May 1995 |accessdate=29 January 2014}}</ref>{{efn|According to the congregation's website, the Agudath Sholom Synagogue was completed in 1938 and the "Chanukkat Habayit dedication occurred on the [[High Holidays]]."<ref name="site">{{cite web |url=http://www.congregationagudathsholom.org/history.htm |title=History of Congregation Agudath Sholom |work=Congregation Agudath Sholom |accessdate=29 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202121022/http://www.congregationagudathsholom.org/history.htm |archive-date=2014-02-02 | url-status=dead }}{{self-published-inline|date=January 2024}}</ref>}} The construction delayed by funding difficulties that resulted from the [[Great Depression]].<ref name="pdf" /> The synagogue is a rectangular brick building constructed on a high basement. The building features a prominent rose window depicting the [[Star of David]].<ref name="pdf" />

The Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church now uses the Grove Street synagogue.<ref>{{cite news|last=Attanasio |first=Cedar |url=http://www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ct/Fairfield/state.html |title=Connecticut – Fairfield County |work=National Register of Historic Places |accessdate=29 January 2014}}</ref>

=== Grove Street building significance === While it was originally a synagogue, the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church continues to use the building as a church, however this did not impact the "National Landmark" status bestowed upon the building.<ref name=Charles/> For the National Register of Historic Places, it was submitted under Criterion C because it was "Constructed as a Jewish house of worship, located in an urban setting, exhibits integrity of design and workmanship and constructed prior to 1945."<ref name="nrhp_Agudath">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=95000561}} |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration, Multiple Property Listing, Historic Synagogues of Connecticut: Agudath Sholom Synagogue / Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church|date=August 29, 1994 |author=Ransom, David F. |publisher=National Park Service}} (pages 102-110) and {{NRHP url|id=95000561|title=''Accompanying two photos, exterior''|photos=y}}</ref>

The former Agudath Sholom Synagogue building on Grove Street was one of fifteen Connecticut synagogues added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1995<ref name=nris/> and 1996 in response to an unprecedented multiple submission, nominating nineteen synagogues.<ref name=Charles>{{cite news |author=Charles, Eleanor |title=In the Region/Connecticut: 15 Synagogues Gain National Landmark Status |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/07/realestate/in-the-region-connecticut-15-synagogues-gain-national-landmark-status.html?pagewanted=all |work=New York Times |date=1996-04-07 |access-date=2010-07-31 }}</ref><ref name=Ransom>{{cite web |url={{NRHP url|id=64500078}} |title=NRHP Registration Form Multiple Property Listing: Historic Synagogues of Connecticut |author=Ransom, David F. |date=1995-03-29 |access-date=2010-07-31 |publisher=National Park Service }}</ref>

=== Strawberry Hill Avenue building === In order to meet the demands of its growing congregation, funds were raised for a new synagogue; and in February 1963 it was announced that $860,000 had been raised, against a goal of $1.2 million.<ref name="http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2229&dat=19630217&id=GFMmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=EAEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=2295,2634663">{{cite news |title=none |work=Sunday Herald |date=17 February 1963}}</ref> In 1965, the congregation completed and dedicated a new synagogue at 301 Strawberry Hill Avenue.<ref>{{cite book |title=The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |author=Olitzky, Kerry |author-link=Kerry Olitzky |year=1996 |page=81 |isbn= }}</ref>

Senator [[Joe Lieberman]]'s family were long-time members of Agudath Sholom, and his funeral was held there. He was buried in the congregation's cemetery, alongside his parents.<ref>{{cite web |last=Chatelain |first=Ryan |title='How lucky we were to have him': Former, current senators honor Lieberman at funeral |url=https://ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/politics/2024/03/29/sen--joe-lieberman-funeral |date=1 April 2024 |accessdate=1 April 2024}}</ref>

In April 2026, Rabbi Daniel Cohen announced that he was making aliya and would be leading a community in New Katamon, Jerusalem once the development was finished.<ref>https://jewishlink.news/a-synagogue-without-walls-stamfords-rabbinic-couple-to-make-aliyah/</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{portal|Connecticut|Judaism}}}} *[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Stamford, Connecticut]]

== Notes == {{notelist}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Former Agudath Sholem Synagogue}} * {{Official website|http://www.congregationagudathsholom.org/}} * {{Official website|http://www.faithtabct.org/ |Official website of the Faith Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agudath Sholom}} [[Category:1889 establishments in Connecticut]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Baptist churches in Connecticut]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Stamford, Connecticut]] [[Category:Churches in Stamford, Connecticut]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1889]] [[Category:Modern Orthodox synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Stamford, Connecticut]]  [[Category:Romanesque Revival architecture in Connecticut]] [[Category:Romanesque Revival synagogues]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1908]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1941]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1965]] [[Category:Orthodox synagogues in Connecticut]] [[Category:Synagogues on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut]]