Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Garland delivers food to those in need.
Leah Garland considers Congregation Beth Israel an extension of her family. The lifelong Malden resident has been attending the synagogue her entire life. In fact, her relatives have been members of the congregation for more than 50 years. "My grandfather helped build the new synagogue on the West Side after a fire broke out in the building at the corner of Faulkner Street and Eastern Avenue," Garland said. After that, she said, the majority of the congregation's activities were moved to Beth Israel West although those who stayed on the east side of the city held Shabbat services in the auditorium at Malden Hebrew School for about a year. "We are a relatively small congregation – with about 100 families, not all of whom are active on a …
42.427946
-71.078953
Congregation Beth Israel
10 Dexter St, Malden, MA
/articles/hanukkah-lights-leah-garland
789061
/locations/2761839
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
London-Choate continues to fight for holiday equity in the school system.
Louise London-Choate firmly believes teachers and students in the Malden public schools should be able to take days off, without being penalized, to celebrate their religious holidays. A lifelong resident of the city, the speech and language therapist at Salemwood School remembers a time when Malden had a large Jewish population and the schools were closed on the High Holy days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. "When I was growing up here and when I first started teaching in the system, we had a large number of Jewish students and teachers so it made sense," said London-Choate. "Now, however, the population in Malden has changed dramatically." Consequently, a few years ago the School Committee voted that the High Holy days would no longer …
42.431736
-71.050413
Salemwood School
529 Salem St, Malden, MA
/articles/hanukkah-lights-louise-london-choate
789756
/locations/2761841
Monday, December 6, 2010
Temple Ezrath Israel holds candlelighting celebration
The Temple Agudas-Achim Ezrath Israel on Bryant Street held a candlelighting service this weekend in celebration of Hanukkah. The Candlelighting was also followed by Havdalah, a special ceremony distinguishing the end of Shabbat and the start of the new week. Below is a video showing the significance of each candle as well as members of the congregation explaining what Hanukkah means to them.
42.426519
-71.055369
Temple Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel
245 Bryant St, Malden, MA
/articles/hanukkah-lights-saturday-night-celebration-video
789060
/locations/2761848
Saturday, December 4, 2010
The new mom reaches out to connect with older temple members.
When Hannah Adelman Menzer had her baby a little less than two years ago, she realized she had an opportunity to make a difference in others' lives. Before 22-month-old Jacob was born, she worked full time as the nursing director of a substance abuse center but decided to stay home and take care of her son. "I found I had a lot of time on my hands and started to volunteer at local nursing homes and hospitals," said Menzer. And then she soon took over what is called Caring Circle at Temple Tifereth Israel. "My temple has an aging population," Menzer said. "I am in my 30s and part of the new generation so it's been great to be able to step in and be able to take care of those who once cared for others." A large part of her work running …
Friday, December 3, 2010
The temple cantor also volunteers as a clown to entertain sick children.
Wayne Freedman believes that being a member of Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel has brought his life to the exact spot where he belongs. For the majority of his 42 years, Freedman has been attending services at the synagogue and now is honored to be helping to conduct them as the congregation's cantor. "It gives me such a sense of fulfillment to be part of this Jewish community," he said. "It feels like my life has come full circle, being a member when I was a child and now serving with the rabbi." Three generations of his family has been attending the temple, Freedman said. "And now my children are here and I am helping to instill in them the same values my parents did for me." In fact, when Freedman is singing during services, all the …
42.426519
-71.055369
Temple Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel
245 Bryant St, Malden, MA
/articles/hanukkah-lights-wayne-freedman
789060
/locations/2761864
