Historical Summary of Martha’s Vineyard Jewish Community

  • 1905

    Samuel Cronig, first Jewish settler on Island

  • Judel & Eudice Brickman & three children, first Jewish family on Island

    1913

  • 1937

    Six families start fund raising for community center

  • Present site of Center purchased from Bishop Lewis Whittemore

    1939

  • 1940

    MVHC incorporated, building purchased from G.H. Dean, moved to Center St.; Dedication of Center

  • Rabbi J. Levine of New York hired for High Holy Days

    1940

  • 1944

    17 families; visiting rabbis & volunteers conduct services; first newsletter

  • Mortgage burned; five students in religious school

    1945

  • 1954

    First paid summer Rabbi, Rabbi Maurice Zigmond of Harvard Hillel

  • First paid Hebrew teacher commutes by airplane

    1954

  • 1956

    UAHC affiliation; first community Passover seder

  • Twenty-fifth Anniversary celebration

    1965

  • 1980

    Fortieth Anniversary; 190 members

  • Rabbi Rayfield Helman winter Rabbi; adult education program; discussions of Center expansion begin

    1986

  • 1990

    Fiftieth Anniversary celebration

  • Installation of Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut

    1993

  • 1994

    Neighborhood Convention Board position for Center member; President and Mrs. Clinton guests at Rosh Hashanah Services at Old Whaling Church

  • Ground breaking for new synagogue building

    1995

  • 1996

    Consecration of new building; over 400 members

  • Rabbi Caryn Broitman becomes 1st full time, year round Rabbi

    2003