Temple Mishkan Tefila Boston, Massachusetts collection, 1922-1996

Congregation Mishkan Tefila was founded in 1858 as Mishkan Israel, and is considered to be the oldest conservative synagogue in New England. Its founding members were East Prussian Jews who separated from Ohabei Shalom, which was predominately Polish at the time. In 1894, Mishkan Israel and another conservative synagogue, Shaarei Tefila, merged to form Congregation Mishkan Tefila. The synagogue moved its religious school to Walnut Street in Newton in 1955, and began planning for a new building in Chestnut Hill on Hammond Pond Parkway. The groundbreaking ceremony was on November 13, 1955. In 1958, services were held for the first time in the new synagogue building. This collection contains plays, annual reports, programs for events and dinners, and newsletters.

Bill of Joseph Jacobs for baking matzah

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Resolution appointing Jacques Judah Lyons Superintendent of Polonies Talmud Torah School

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Names of boys and girls in the K.K.S.I school, March 8, 1795. Report of the School Committee, February 2, 1794

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Copy of English translation of prayer for peace during the revolution, with note of Reverend Gershom Seixas to Isaac Moses

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Resolution prohibiting the performing of ceremonies at funerals of persons intermarried with Christians

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Petition of Benjamin Jacobs to Hayman Levy to marry a non-Jew

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Contract between K. K. S. I. and Gershom Seixas regarding school

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MACHAL [Mitnadvei Hutz LaAretz] and Aliyah Bet Records, undated, 1930-2011

The MACHAL, the acronym for “Mitnadvei Hutz LaAretz” ("Volunteers from Abroad"), consisted of about 3500 men and women from over 40 countries from a variety of social and religious backgrounds who volunteered to fight for the establishment of Israel. This collection is unique in that it deals specifically with the experience of MACHAL and Aliyah Bet volunteers from Canada and the United States and others living in the United States. The collections consists of files on 500 volunteers, over 2000 original and reproduction photographs, numerous audio-visual material, books, manuscripts, and memoirs.

Hebrew poem on the 78th anniversary of the consecration of the 1st Mill Street synagogue

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Appeal for the persecuted Cretans, issued by the clergy of New York

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Copy of English address given by Gershom Seixas after his return to New York City

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