Ahavath Torah is a

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synagogue A synagogue, also called a shul or a temple, is a place of worship for Jews and Samaritans. It is a place for prayer (the main sanctuary and sometimes smaller chapels) where Jews attend religious services or special ceremonies such as wed ...

located at 1179 Central Street, Stoughton,

Massachusetts Massachusetts ( ; ), officially the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, is a U.S. state, state in the New England region of the Northeastern United States. It borders the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Maine to its east, Connecticut and Rhode ...

, in the United States. Formed as a merger of two older congregations founded in the 1890s,Lambert, David Allen. ''Stoughton'',

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, 2001, p. 31. it is the oldest synagogue in Stoughton.Our History
Ahavath Torah website. Retrieved September 27, 2010.

History

Congregation Ahavath Achim was formed in Stoughton in 1893. Congregation Talmud Torah was formed in Stoughton soon after, in 1895. Both congregations worshiped in various houses. In 1918, the congregations merged with the Hebrew Benevolent Society to form Ahavath Torah Congregation, with 25 members, and Rev. M. L. Graham as its spiritual head. That year the congregation began construction of its first synagogue building on Porter Street, which was dedicated on October 14, 1919. The congregation was, however, only officially incorporated on September 5, 1930. In 1954, Ahavath Achim opened its religious school. In need of a larger synagogue building, it purchased and moved into the former Congregational Church at 30 Pearl Street in 1958. As Stoughton's Jewish population grew, membership increased to 72 families, and land was purchased in three stages for a new synagogue. The present building at 1179 Central Street was dedicated in 1970. Further growth led to a significant renovation and expansion of the synagogue building, which was completed in 1987.

Overview

The synagogue has hosted many notable guest speakers, including

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, and Dr. Mordechai Kedar, as well as entertainment from singer Sam Glaser, and a

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'', November 14, 1992. , the rabbi is

Jonathan Hausman Jonathan H. Hausman (born June 19, 1957) is an American Conservative rabbi. He is the rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Torah in Stoughton, Massachusetts. Hausman grew up in the Bridgeport, Connecticut area. He holds a BA in Judaic Studies, and an ...

References

External links

* {{Synagogues in the United States Conservative synagogues in Massachusetts Jewish organizations established in 1893 Buildings and structures in Norfolk County, Massachusetts Stoughton, Massachusetts Synagogues completed in 1970 20th-century synagogues in the United States 1893 establishments in Massachusetts