Events
Coming up . . .
Friday, August 8th is the closing reception for the First Immigrants to the Salem Area exhibit, at the Eastern Bank on Washington Street, Salem. Breakfast will be served. Everyone is encouraged to attend to view the display and enjoy coffee, bagels, etc.
We are moving our office and archives to the premises of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore in Salem on Tuesday, August 12th. More news to come.
Sunday, Sept. 14th is the annual Peabody International Festival held in Peabody Square, Peabody, Mass. We will participate and display exhibits from our archives. (Rain date is Sept. 21.)
Our annual meeting, which is open to the public, will be held on Sunday, October 26 at 2:00 pm. Election of officers will be held and a speaker/entertainment will be provided. Details to follow.
Spring 2008 Program at Brooksby Village
The Spring Meeting of the Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore took place on Sunday, May 18, 2008, at Brooksby Village, Peabody, Mass.
Richard Winer and Alan Pierce presented a program focusing on the history of the Jewish communities of Marblehead, Salem and Peabody. A video entitled Reasons to Remember was also be shown at the meeting.
Richard Winer is a retired dentist from Salem. His family was one of the first Jewish families to settle in Salem. Dr Winer is a founder and past president of both the Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore and Temple Shalom in Salem.
Alan Pierce is the current president of the Jewish Historical Society of the North Shore. Along with the late Avrom Herbster, he authored the book The Jewish Community of the North Shore, published by Arcadia Publishing Company in 2004.
30th Anniversary Celebration
On Sunday, November 4, 2007 the annual meeting and 30th Anniversary Celebration of our Society, combined with a tribute to the late Avrom Herbster, was held at 7:00 pm, at Woodbridge Assisted Living in Peabody. The archives room was dedicated in Avrom’s memory. One hundred people came to celebrate our anniversary and enjoy hot and cold hors d’ouevres, served by eight volunteers from the Youth to Israel group, funded by the Robert Lappin Foundation. Wine and soft drinks accompanied the food during the cocktail hour, and pastries, fruit, coffee and tea were served simultaneously in the adjoining café room. The facility’s community room was decorated with a selection of boards from our past exhibits, and Donna Pierce made exquisite centerpieces for the round tables which had been set up for the guests.
After a short “Welcome” by Alan Pierce, past President Alan Radack conducted the installation of officers, followed by an invocation from Rabbi Avraham Kelman, of Congregation Ahabat Sholom, Lynn. Greetings were offered by Marta Sturm, of the JRC/Woodbridge, Liz Donnenfeld, on behalf of the Jewish Federation of the North Shore and Mayor Michael J. Bonfanti, who offered greetings from the City of Peabody and presented us with a “Recognition Award” plaque from the Peabody City Council. Mayor Bonfanti also presented us with a beautiful citation from the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Alan Pierce then dedicated our Archives Room in Avrom Herbster’s memory and presented Merrill Herbster with a plaque, which she then returned to us to affix to the Archives Room.
JHSNS President Alan Pierce presents the plaque commemorating the Avrom J. Herbster archives to Merrill Herbster.
Michael Goldman was featured as guest speaker. A well-known political consultant and radio talk show host, Goldman recently left his position as co-host of the national radio program, “Simply Put,” in New York City, to help form GIG, The Government Insight Group, which provides a wide range of communications and lobbying services for political and private-sector clients. He is a senior consultant for GIG and is also working on the John Edwards presidential campaign. The topic for the evening was “Jews in Politics.” After his interesting and entertaining speech, Goldman took questions from the audience. The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 pm. Everyone enjoyed the evening so much that they lingered on past 9:00 pm to sip coffee and tea and mingle with each other.