History of the Jewish Community of the Northeast Kingdom, Vermont, 1971–2019: David Kanell

Photo by Darcie McCann.

With heartfelt thanks to Dr. Erica Andrus of the University of Vermont, here is the interview she recorded with David I. (Dave) Kanell on March 30, 2019. May his name be for a blessing.

Across the Massachusetts Border: Two Resources

from Samuel Gruber's Jewish Art and Monuments

Exploring the family history of Patty (Grodsky) Caplan of St Johnsbury led to this valuable site that includes her home town of Springfield, Mass.: the Jewish Historical Society of Western Massachusetts.

Because North Adams, Massachusetts, is featured on this site (and is just across the border from Vermont), it's of value to share and look, especially at the art from the now vanished synagogue of North Adams: Samuel Gruber's Jewish Art and Monuments.

 

Harvey Caplan (May his name be a blessing): Synagogue Leader, St Johnsbury

At the celebration of Harvey Caplan's life, there was little mention of his role in Congregation Beth El of St Johnsbury. Most people mentioned instead his joy in life, his escapades, his friendships. It was a very good celebration!

But we note here that Harvey also played a major role in the growth of Beth El from its first location upstairs over Love's Department Store in St. Johnsbury, with a few families, to its eventual strength of more than 60 families and its own shul, on Hospital Drive. Whether it was helping raise the enthusiasm to get the land and build the structure, or gathering the community to mark special events, or recruiting a painter, a carpenter, a plumber, from among the many he knew personally, Harvey was excited about connecting and making things happen. He also served as president of the congregation for some years, and with his wife Patty, gave in many ways toward the formation and maintenance of the community.

His obituary is shown here, rich with family stories. For reference, here are some dates that precede him: His father Joseph Robert Caplan was born in Tupper Lake, NY, in 1905, and died in St. Johnsbury in 1993; Harvey's mother, Rhoda (Klasky) Caplan, lived from 1912 to 1972. Joseph Caplan's parents were Moses Caplan (1872-1950) and Dora Feder (1878-1953). Dora's parents were Mikhail Feder (born and died in. Russia, 1841-1890) and Sarah Feder (born in Vilna in 1842, died in Philadelphis in 1930). Sarah's parents were Eliyahu and Yetta Feder.

It is good to be able to say of Harvey that the joy and laughter he shared live on in many.

The Conference on Judaism in Rural New England, 1989

Beth El Synagogue St Johnsbury VT 1993 Dinner

Posting some documents as I sort the Kanell archives.

Relating to the State of Israel, as Vermont Jews, 1992

Vermont Jewish congregations and their members have often wrestled with a relationship with Israel.

Caplan's Army Store, Part 2, from Peggy Pearl

A delightful addendum to Peggy Pearl's earlier write-up of Caplan's Army Store in St. Johnsbury, as printed in the Caledonian-Record on January 23, 2019.

Note on Connections to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington

Here is a small tidbit from Howard Coffin's 2001 book An Inland See: A Brief History of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington.

From page 36, re the 1901 conferral of the title of "monsignor" on Fr. Jerome Cloarec, "34 years pastor of St Joseph's in Burlington and the oldest and most veteran active priest in Vermont":

A great conversationalist, his rectory was a popular gathering place for clergy, and it was said that much gossip was passed there, often during a game of cards or the enjoyment of cigars. Fluent in the Hebraic script, Cloarec often welcomed members of the Jewish community to his home for discussions of the Talmud. He would live only until 1920, at the time Vermont's only monsignor.