Date: Fri 05-Apr-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

Adath-Israel-synagogue-growth

Full Text:

w/photos:Adath Israel: A Growing Congregation Celebrates Tradition

B Y K AAREN V ALENTA

In every generation, each individual should feel that he or she personally had

gone forth from Egypt, as it is said: "And you shall tell your children on

that day saying, this is on account of what the Eternal did for me, when I

went forth from Egypt. For the Lord redeemed not only our ancestors; He

redeemed us with them."

This instruction from the Talmud, observed by Jews for more than 3,000 years,

explains the celebration of Passover as a message of continuing deliverance.

For the 110 families who are members of Adath Israel Synagogue in Newtown,

this weeklong celebration ensures that the thread of memory will be unbroken.

Last Sunday, as the congregation prepared for the start of Passover, children

crowded into the tiny synagogue on Huntingtown Road for instruction at a model

Seder. They listened intently and responded in unison as Rabbi Moshe Beton

asked the Seder's Four Questions, beginning with "Why is this night different

from all other nights?"

"These are the kindergarten through third grade students," explained Michelle

Tenenbaum. "The fourth through seventh grade come later, overlapping with the

younger children for a half hour in between. We're on split sessions because

we are a growing congregation and the synagogue can't hold all of the classes

at the same time."

Recent growth of the congregation is due in part to the boom in residential

development in Newtown, and partly because of an influx of members from

Monroe. There are also members from Southbury, Brookfield and other nearby

towns.

"We're a Conservative synagogue," Mrs Tenenbaum explained. "There's only one

other in the Danbury area - it holds both Conservative and Reform services.

There are, by far, many more Reform synagogues."

Recently Mrs Tenenbaum and Susan Gillis were co-chairpersons of a progressive

dinner held to raise funds for the eventual construction of a new synagogue

planned for a two-acre site near the small wood-frame snyagogue where services

have been held since 1920.

"There's really no space here to hold a wedding or a bar mitsvah," Mrs

Tenenbaum explained. "We now have a building committee chaired by Henry

Danzinger to work on the project.

Cultivating A Tradition

Last year marked the 75th anniversary of the founding of Adath Israel. It was

a quiet celebration compared to the 50th anniversary program 25 years ago.

Then, a committee composed of Samuel Eisenbach, Thomas Goosman (who was then a

town selectman), David Levy, Samuel Nezvesky, Samuel Stern and David Zendels

were joined by many town officials, Bee publisher Paul Smith, and others for a

morning of speeches and good will. During the ceremonies, Mr Zendels recounted

the following history of Adath Israel:

In 1906 a small group of Jewish farmers came to Newtown to plow the earth and

earn their living from the soil. The families came from Russia, Poland,

Austria, Germany and Hungary, leaving their homes to seek freedom and escape

from pogroms and oppression. Settling first in New York City, they were part

of the wave of two million Jews who left eastern Europe to enter the United

States between 1880 and 1920. It was through the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society

that a handful of them came to settle in Newtown.

Israel Nezvesky was one of the first to be beckoned by the promise of the

land. A farmer's son, he owned a tavern in Russia, but the love of the earth

was deep in his heart. Here, he purchased a tract of nearly 100 acres and

started farming it with three of his sons, Jacob, David, and Abraham, all then

in their teens, healthy and hard working.

Soon others came to form a tight community of families by the names of

Rosenberg, Schiemelman, Busker, Goosman, Steinfeld, Sussman, Kaufman, Brier

and Nalven. Following later were Goldstein, Newman, Bernstein, Arnold and

Schopick.

Many of the families engaged in farming. Some of the farmers' produce was used

to feed the family but much was marketed to Bridgeport. This included butter,

eggs, cream, milk, chickens and excellent small "farmer cheeses" made by the

women. During the summer, vegetables were raised and brought into town for

sale.

Every Thursday the horses would be hitched up to the wagons at 4 am to start

out for the market on Pembroke Street in Bridgeport. It was a long haul. More

than 20 wagons made the trek each week from the various farms. Often there

were breakdowns on the way. Rain made the going rough at times and in the

winter snow added further hazards.

Some of the residents engaged in other enterprises. In the center of the area,

a typical New England store was opened in 1907 by the Samuel Nalvens. Besides

the usual stock of food, clothing, hardware and drugs offered, he sold such

favorite Jewish foods such as salami, herring, lox, cream cheese and bagels

and matzos. The store did extremely well and became the focal point of the

area. In 1940, because of his advancing years, Mr Nalvern sold the store to

the Gilberts. A short time later it was resold to Sarah and Morris Levinson

who ran the store until the mid 1960s. The building, no longer a business,

still stands near the intersection of Huntingtown and Meadowbrook Roads.

There was a blacksmith shop, operated by a blacksmith named Feltson, on

Huntingtown Road. Jacob Nezvesky operated a cider mill. The Sussmans ran a

feed store near the Botsford Railroad Station on Botsford Hill Road. The

Twersky's Hotel on Toddy Hill Road was a popular vacation spot in the early

1920s. It burned down in the 1960s.

During the summer months, the Huntingtown area was a haven for city residents

looking for country living. The influx of people was so heavy that the

children often moved out of their houses and slept in hay lofts. Coger's pond

and Bernstein's pond were used for swimming and boating. Singing and dancing

were a part of everyday activities. In the evenings, people would sit on the

large front porches which were a part of every home.

Building The Synagogue

Besides all the fun and games, religion was a strong point in these people's

lives. Sabbath services were held on Friday nights and on Saturday mornings in

various homes. As the community grew, there was a desire to build a synagogue.

In 1919, Israel Nezvesky donated the land on which the synagogue stands today.

The name of the synagogue, Adath Israel, translates as "House of Israel."

On December 4, 1919, $600 was borrowed from the Newtown Savings Bank as the

mortgage for the building. People came from miles around to attend services.

Many had to walk the long miles, as it is against the Orthodox laws to ride on

the Sabbath and at that time the congregation was Orthodox. Families that had

long distances to travel would arrive by horse and wagon late on Thursday

afternoon and would stay with friends for the Sabbath. The father usually had

to walk home to tend the farm animals on Saturday and then return to take the

family honme on Saturday evening.

Samuel Steinfeld, an ordained Orthodox rabbi, served as religious leader for

many years. He also doubled as a farmer to earn extra income. Isadore Kaufman

was the first synagogue president.

For 40 years the synagogue consisted of the upper wooden portion of the

building. There was no running water and the building was heated by a pot

bellied stove. In 1960, $15,000 was raised from the Jewish community for a

rebuilding and rededication of the snyagogue. The building was lifted off its

foundation and the social hall, located downstairs, was constructed. A

kitchen, modern indoor plumbing and heating were installed and the sanctuary

was redecorated.

In 1970, when Adath Israel celebrated its 50th anniversary, the congregation

numbered 35 families from Newtown, Monroe and Bridgeport. Unable to afford a

rabbi because of its small size, the congregation designated its members to

lead services on Friday evenings. On the Jewish High Holidays, a student from

the Jewish Theological Seminary conducted services. That changed as the

congregation grew; Rabbi Moshe Beton been at Adath Isreal for the past six

years.

Education of the children in the Jewish religion, customs, traditions and

language has always been an important part of the snyagogue function. Hebrew

and Sunday schools currently have an enrollment of 85 students, a significant

increase from the 20 students enrolled in 1970.