The Early Synagogue Days

It was Joe Rosenberg who learned of the availability of a church building on West Maxwell Street. The Presbyterian Church was moving to East Maxwell. Ohavay Zion purchased their old building, and at last, in 1914, the congregation had a home.

The newly purchased church building consisted of little more than a sanctuary, and many changes were required before it could be used as a Synagogue. The old organ was removed from the southwest corner of the sanctuary and with the help of many of the: congregants, the building renovated.

For a number of years after the Synagogue was bought there was no full time Rabbi. Although there are no records, it is generally agreed Rabbi Jacob Lowenthal arrived in 1919 to serve as Ohavay Zion's first full time, salaried Rabbi. During the six years he remained in Lexington, Rabbi Lowenthal was Shochet and Mohel as well as Rabbi.

It was about this time that Morris Scherago started a Sunday School and Beryl Kravetz became the second man to serve the congregation as president. Both Sunday School and daily Hebrew School classes held in the basement. As new classes were added, they were placed various sections of the sanctuary.

Since the building consisted of just the sanctuary and the basement, Purim bazaars and Hanukkah parties were held in rented halls over the Water Street produce market, and in rooms over Woolworth's and Skuller's on Main Street.

A few years later, a small house on South Upper Street was bought. With the removal of several walls, it became a Social Hall for the congregation. Hebrew School, Sunday School, and all special functions were held there. Finally, there was a place, small as it was, in addition to the sanctuary, where people could socialize.