Ohavi Zedek

This article is about the current Conservative synagogue and congregation. For the historic synagogue, see Old Ohavi Zedek Synagogue.

Ohavi Zedek (Hebrew for "Lovers of Justice") is a Conservative congregation and synagogue located at 188 North Prospect Street, in Burlington, Vermont, in the United States.

Ohavi Zedek
The current Ohavi Zedek synagogue
Religion
Affiliation	Conservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Aaron Philmus
Status	Active
Location
Location	188 North Prospect Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401
Country	United States
Location in Vermont
Geographic coordinates	44°29′11″N 73°12′04″W
Architecture
Date established	1876 (as a congregation)
Completed	1885 (Old Ohavi Zedek) 1952 (North Prospect St.)
Website
ohavizedek.org

History

Founded in 1876, it is the oldest Jewish congregation in Vermont.^[1][2] The synagogue's original building, Old Ohavi Zedek Synagogue, a brick Gothic Revival structure erected in 1885, is among the oldest synagogue buildings still standing in the United States.^[3] The building, at the corner of Archibald and Hyde Streets in Burlington, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The congregation moved to its present location on North Prospect Street in 1952. The Archibald Street building is now occupied by Congregation Ahavath Gerim.^[4]

Today, Ohavi Zedek serves as home to a historic mural, known as the "Lost Mural", painted originally in 1910 by Ben Zion Black on the ceiling of another of Burlington's former synagogues, Chai Adam. The mural was moved to its new home in 2015.^[5] Since, the mural has been restored and is a unique surviving example of Eastern European synagogue art.^[6]

In 2019, the building was vandalized with inflammatory posters by Patriot Front.^[7][8]

See also

• Oldest synagogues in the United States