Neziner Congregation

The Neziner Congregation (Hebrew: אהבת אחים אנשי נזין נוסח הארי‎) was a synagogue in the Southwark neighborhood of South Philadelphia. The congregation was founded in 1896 by immigrants from the city of Nizhyn in the Ukraine who met in members’ homes. The congregation purchased the building at 771 S 2nd Street in 1905 and held services and community events there until 1984 when it closed and merged with Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel.

Neziner Congregation
771 S 2nd Street on August 29, 2019
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
RiteSfard
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusCongregation merged with Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel; Building converted to condominiums
Year consecrated1811 (Third Baptist Church); 1905 (Neziner Congregation)
StatusBuilding now condiminiums
Location
Location771 S 2nd Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MunicipalityPhiladelphia
Geographic coordinates39.942200°N 75.145580°W / 39.942200; -75.145580
Architecture
Completed1811
Capacity800

Third Baptist Church

Neziner's building at 771 S 2nd Street was erected in 1811 as a meetinghouse for the Third Baptist Church. The neighborhood was then part of the Southwark district. The church served as a hospital during the Civil War for Union soldiers returning north. Many died and were buried in the burial ground behind the building.

Neziner Synagogue, 1905-1984

Immigrants from Nezhin, Ukraine organized the congregation in 1889. Congregation members purchased the former church building at 771 S 2nd Street in 1905. While never officially affiliating with a Jewish denomination or movement, the congregation generally identified as Conservative by the 1930s.[1]

The congregation was active and had young people's services, drama groups, girls and boys scouts. Its sisterhood was founded in 1930.[2]

Rabbi Alexander Levin led the shul in 1947. Samuel Shore served as Cantor in the 1950s and 1960s for 22 years.[3] Cantor Shore was succeeded by Cantor Abraham Dubow until his passing in December 1972.[4]

Neziner shared an annual brotherhood service with Gloria Dei (Old Swedes') Church. They held one in 1947 [5] and again in 1949.[6] Neziner joined Goria Dei Old Swedes in February 1954 to welcome Governor John S. Fine opening Brotherhood Week.[7] In February 1956, members of Old Swedes attended Neziner for Purim eve services and celebrations, and Neziner attended Old Swedes in support of Brother Week.[8]

The congregation hired Rabbi Saul Wisemon in August 1982 to serve on a part-time basis.[9] Wisemon fled Philadelphia in April 1983 when police searched his apartment for a Torah scroll missing from the synagogue.[10]

Neziner Legacy, 1984-present

The Neziner Congregation closed its doors in 1984 and merged into Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel, a Conservative synagogue in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. Beth Zion-Beth Israel named its youth education program the Neziner Hebrew School.[11]

The former synagogue's building was sold and converted to residential apartments in 1987.[12]

References
  1. Tabak, Robert (1983). "Orthodox Judaism in Transition". In Dubin, Murray (ed.). Jewish Life in Philadelphia 1830-1940. Philaelphia, Pennsylvania: Institute for the Study of Human Issues. p. 56. ISBN 0-89727-050-9.
  2. "Jewish Sisterhood to Meet Tonight". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. January 24, 1949. p. 34.
  3. "Samuel Shore, Cantor, at 73". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. May 23, 1970.
  4. "Abraham Dubow, Cantor, at Age 62". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. December 25, 1972.
  5. "Jews, Christians Join in Worship". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. April 21, 1947.
  6. "Churches Stress Need for US Brotherhood". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. February 21, 1949. p. 13.
  7. "Fine to Attend Service Hre Today Opening Brotherwood Week". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. February 21, 1954. p. 19.
  8. "Purim Festivity Begins Tonight". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. February 25, 1956. p. 7.
  9. https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22799764/rabbi_phillly/
  10. Campisi, Gloria; Racher, Dave (October 21, 1983). "On Thursday the Rabbi had his bail raised to 50G". Philadelphia Daily News. Philadelphia. p. 102.
  11. "Neziner Hebrew School – BZBI". bazbi.org. Temple Beth Zion-Beth Israel. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  12. "R.E. Sale: Center City". Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia. May 15, 1987. p. 14-G.
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