Ohavi Zedek

{{Short description|Synagogue in Burlington, Vermont, USA}} {{about|the current [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] synagogue and congregation|the historic synagogue|Old Ohavi Zedek Synagogue}} {{Use American English|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Ohavi Zedek | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Ohavi Zedek, Burlington VT.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = The current Ohavi Zedek synagogue | religious_affiliation = [[Conservative Judaism]] | tradition = | sect = | district = | prefecture = | province = | region = | deity = | rite = | festival =  | organisational_status =  | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = Rabbi Aaron Philmus | bhattaraka = | patron = | consecration_year = | status = [[Synagogue]] | functional_status = Active | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | location = 188 North Prospect Street, [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]], [[Vermont]] 05401 | locale = | municipality = | cercle = | state = | country = United States | map_type = USA Vermont | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in [[Vermont]] | grid_name = | grid_position = | sector = | territory = | administration = | coordinates = {{coord|44.486372|-73.20111|region:US-VT_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | heritage_designation = | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = | established = 1876 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = {{ubl|1885 {{small|([[Old Ohavi Zedek Synagogue|Old Ohavi Zedek]])}}|1952 {{small|(North Prospect St.)}}}} | 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|ohavizedek.org}} | module =  | footnotes = }} '''Ohavi Zedek''' ([[Hebrew]] for "Lovers of Justice") is a [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] congregation and [[synagogue]] located at 188 North Prospect Street, in [[Burlington, Vermont|Burlington]], [[Vermont]], in the United States.

== History == Founded in 1876, it is the [[Oldest synagogues in the United States|oldest Jewish congregation]] in Vermont.<ref>{{cite book |author=Samuelson, Myron |title=The story of the Jewish community of Burlington, Vermont: from early times to 1946, with much about the Jewish community in the state |year=1976 |publisher= |location= |isbn= |page= }}</ref><ref name=Chiat31>{{cite book |author=Chiat, Marilyn J. |title=America's Religious Architecture: Sacred Places for Every Community |publisher=[[John Wiley & Sons]] |year=1997 |page=31 |isbn=9780471145028 }}</ref> The synagogue's original building, [[Old Ohavi Zedek Synagogue]], a brick [[Gothic Revival]] structure erected in 1885, is among the [[Oldest synagogues in the United States|oldest synagogue buildings]] still standing in the United States.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues |author=Gordon, Mark W. |journal=American Jewish History |volume=84 |number=1 |year=1996 |pages=11–27 |url=http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/american_jewish_history/v084/84.1gordon.html |issn= |access-date= |doi= }}</ref> The building, at the corner of Archibald and Hyde Streets in Burlington, is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

The congregation moved to its present location on North Prospect Street in 1952. The Archibald Street building is now occupied by Congregation Ahavath Gerim.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jcskiing.wixsite.com/ahavath-gerim/history |title=History |work=Ahavath Gerim Synagogue |access-date= }}</ref>

Today, Ohavi Zedek serves as home to a historic mural, known as the "Lost Mural", painted originally in 1910 by Ben Zion Black on the ceiling of another of Burlington's former synagogues, Chai Adam. The mural was moved to its new home in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kuta |first=Sarah |title=Why Was a Synagogue Mural Hidden Behind a Wall in a Vermont Apartment? |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/synagogue-mural-restoration-vermont-apartment-180980614/ |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Smithsonian Magazine |language=en}}</ref> Since, the mural has been restored and is a unique surviving example of Eastern European synagogue art.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Novak |first=Alison |title=Burlington's 'Lost Mural' Is Restored to Its Original Glory |url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/arts-culture/burlingtons-lost-mural-is-restored-to-its-original-glory-35853053 |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=Seven Days |language=en}}</ref>

In 2019, the building was vandalized with inflammatory posters by [[Patriot Front]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=WCAX |date=2019-02-06 |title=Burlington police investigate white supremacist vandalism |url=https://www.wcax.com/content/news/Burlington-police-investigate-white-supremacist-vandalism-505465891.html |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=WCAX |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Aloe |first=Jess |title=Pride Center, Old North End synagogue hit by 'white nationalist hate group' posters |url=https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/2019/02/07/pride-center-synagogue-patriot-front-burlington-racism-white-nationalist-hate-group-posters/2799437002/ |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=Burlington Free Press |language=en-US}}</ref>

== See also == * [[Oldest synagogues in the United States]]

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{official website|http://www.ohavizedek.org/}}

[[Category:Conservative synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Synagogues in Vermont]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1876]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1885]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Burlington, Vermont]] [[Category:1876 establishments in Vermont]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1952]] [[Category:Jews and Judaism in Burlington, Vermont]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]]