Iconic Williamsburg: Congregation Ahavas Israel, 108 Noble Street

Roughly a mile from the Williamsburg Bridge lies what is today known as the “Greenpoint Shul,” also known as Congregation Ahavas Israel, at 108 Noble Street in Greenpoint. 

Founded in 1893 by a group of German-Jewish immigrants, Ahavath Israel is today Brooklyn's oldest continuously-operating Shul, serving approximately one hundred households. It has continually served the Yidden of the area for over 130 years, and has since incorporated two waning synagogues in the area. 

Greenpoint 1893

Ahavas Israel came into existence in 1893 when it was incorporated by German-Jewish émigrés in Kings County as an Orthodox shul. As they grew over their first decade in temporary quarters, it was time to acquire a Shul of their own—but this not come easy, as we read in the Brooklyn Times Union in July of 1904, after the shul had managed to acquire their current edifice on Noble Street, directly adjacent to the Reform Congregation Beth El. 

“An orthodox Jewish congregation building their temple close to their Reformed brethren. About two years ago the Congregation Ahavas Israel, an ultra-orthodox Jewish society was thwarted, it is alleged, in their efforts to purchase the old Union Avenue Baptist Church, Manhattan Avenue ,between Meserole and Norman Avenues, by a syndicate composed largely of members of Congregation Beth El, a Reformed society. 

“This angered the orthodox Jews to such an extent that they purchased a dwelling house at 108 Noble Street, which directly adjoins Temple Beth El, and now, to show that they mean business, they have razed the dwelling, and are now erecting a synagogue on the site. 

“The cornerstone of the new synagogue will be formally laid Sunday afternoon, and the ancient customs of Jews for such an event will be rigidly carried out. Circulars have been issued announcing the particulars of the cornerstone laying which state that famous and popular speakers will explain the very important act concerning the Jews of Greenpoint.” 

‘Untiring Labor’  

“An example of what can be accomplished by untiring labor,” wrote the Brooklyn Daily Eagle in December of 1904, as the congregation was preparing to build their new edifice, “is exhibited by the success of the Congregation of Ahawath Israel of Greenpoint. The organization is made up of residents of that section of the city who are of Jewish extraction and are engaged in erecting a synagogue at 108 Noble Street, while at the present they are worshipping in Germania Hall, Franklin Street, near Greenpoint Avenue. 

The new house of worship is the outgrowth of years of struggle in overcoming reverses and obstacles. The building is interesting also in this respect in view of the fact that its erection is upon the architectural lines which are the handiwork of really of one member of the organization, whose knowledge of architecture was of the crudest character. He, with the assistance of other members, managed to work out a design, and prepare drawings without the aid of a professional architect, which were accepted by the Department of Buildings in this borough. 

“According to their mode of worship, the men and women are separated. The men occupy seats on the main floor, while two galleries on each side of the church are set apart for the women…the Sunday school is located in the basement. The school will be under the instruction of the Rev. Max Brody, the pastor,  and the Rev. H.A. Lebovitz.” 

Patriotic Jews 

The shul on Noble Street was dedicated in the spring of 1905, at which time The Sun wrote: “Patriotic Jews. Display of stars and stripes a feature of synagogue dedication. The new synagogue of Congregation Ahavath Israel at 108 Noble Street, Greenpoint, was dedicated yesterday afternoon in the presence of more than one thousand persons. 

A feature was the profusion of American flags both inside and outside the edifice. During the exercises, 100 children who are being instructed in the biblical school, marched into the building each carrying Stars and Stripes.

“The Rev. H. Pereira Mendes, rabbi of Temple Shearith Israel in Central Park West, made the principal address. He referred especially to the patriotic spirit of the congregation. At the conclusion of the services there was a banquet in the basement of the building. The synagogue cost $18,000 and has a seating capacity of 500.” 

During the early 1950’s, the congregation merged with the Hebrew Educational Alliance, and when the latter suffered a fire in 1959, the consolidated congregation moved into the Ahavas Israel shul on Noble Street. 

The Rabbonim 

While we do not know the identity of the early Rabbonim of Ahavas Israel (except for the leadership of Rev. Max Brody at the time of its founding), we know that Rav Elimelech Augenstein—a native of Philadelphia, a talmid of Mesifta Torah Vodaath, and a musmach of RIETS—was its leader during the 1950’s and 60’s. 

Serving the shul first as a cantor and later as a reverend was Rev. Yaakov Zipper. Born in 1910, in Zaboike, Galicia (Ukraine), Rabbi Zipper was Chazzan and Rabbi of Congregation Ahavas Israel between the years of 1949-2007. As a young man, his beautiful voice earned him the title of "Angel of Tarnopol." Having survived World War II fighting in the Polish Army, the rabbi and his wife, Rifcia, settled in Greenpoint in 1949. He assembled a wide circle of friends and admirers that included Chassidim, Polish immigrants, and many new arrivals to North Brooklyn. Rav Zipper passed away on February 5, 2007, in Greenpoint. 

Since his passing, the shul has been led by Rabbi Maurice Appelbaum, and today by Rabbi Ben Greenfield. Thus, the history of this 130-year-old congregation continues to be written on this corner of Greenpoint.