SAUGUS — For a century, Congregation of Ahavas Sholom has been woven into the fabric of Saugus. Members of the synagogue brought that history to life during a presentation with the Saugus Historical Society marking the congregation’s 100th anniversary.
Congregation President Maureen Appel joined Randy-Sue Abber and Ruth Berg to guide attendees through the synagogue’s century-long story in the town.
“More than 100 years ago, Jewish people got together, probably in their homes, and said, ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if we had a place to go to worship instead of having to go to Malden or Lynn to do all of our business,'” Appel said, continuing that this planted the seeds for the start of the Congregation of Ahavas Sholom.
Appel continued, saying that Jewish people in Saugus needed a home and that Ahavas Sholom, which means love of peace, could provide it. She also noted that Louis Yanofsky and Benjamin Pinciss were the spearheads of creating the congregation.
Since then, Ahavas Sholom has been located at 343 Central St.
Appel explained that it was originally known as an Orthodox Shul, another word for synagogue, and that men and women were separated to not distract the men from worship.
“In our synagogue, we have a balcony up in the back where the women sat originally. And I think as time went on, the women just said, ‘Why are we sitting up here, when we could be downstairs?'” she said, continuing that the women made their way down the stairs and started sitting in the back of the sanctuary and eventually into the men’s area.
Today, Ahavas Sholom follows a conservative liturgy and is not an Orthodox or Reformed congregation. The synagogue also only has a sisterhood right now and not a brotherhood like it used to.
Past sisterhood president and active congregation and sisterhood member Berg spoke after Appel.
“I am blessed to be 94 years old and a member of Congregation of Ahavas Sholom for 58 years,” Berg said.
She talked about the synagogue’s Hebrew School, and how her daughter Sharon attended and was “bas mitzvahed there.”
“The synagogue was only open three days a year for the High Holidays. It was built by some of the Saugus Jewish business owners. As years went by, parcels of land securing the synagogue were sold,” she said.
Berg said that the synagogue used to extend across the area, but because it needed money, the congregation would sell pieces of it. She said that many people believe it is located where the movie theater used to be, but this isn’t true.
Abber, who is the vice president of the Ahavas Sholom Sisterhood, began her presentation next, saying that in 2000, a new era began.
“Harry London, president for 23 years, called a meeting in the sanctuary to discuss closing the synagogue. A member of the synagogue’s council came to explain the dissolution of the assets, and the mood was glum,” Abber said.
After discussions with the council and congregation, a vote was taken to keep the synagogue open a little longer.
“Thanks to Ruth Berg, an active sisterhood member, it was decided to vote in some officers to try and restart the congregation,” she said.
William Appel, Maureen Appel’s husband, would soon become the new president, and with changes made, the congregation was uplifted. Appel died in 2024, but remained president until then.
“He and his wife, Maureen, became a force of change, and many things were accomplished,” she said, talking about purchases and repairs that occurred to bring the synagogue more life.
In 2002, Michael Simons became the congregation’s religious leader and still is to this day.
“In 2006, a mock Passover Seder and dinner were held at St. Margaret’s Church. The congregation, the Clergy Association, and St. Margaret’s sponsored it. It was open to the public and was so successful that people were turned away at the door. More than 150 attended,” Abber said.
In 2013, Ahavas Sholom got a new High Holiday leader, Joel Davidson, who continues to lead.
Appel then spoke about how, in 2022, the town invited the synagogue to join the December celebrations at Town Hall, and they continue to light the menorah there to this day.
