Jewish Community of Newport, Vermont

The late Emily M. Nelson, in her 1977 book Frontier Crossroads: The Evolution of Newport Vermont, provides the following description of the Jewish community of Newport at pages 132-133:

It was recorded by the late Morris Sockol that a Jewish community was formed in 1905 for the purpose of purchasing a Torah and observing the Jewish holidays and festivals.

Prayer meetings were held in various members' homes and Magoon's Hall was used for the High Holy Days.

In 1943 Oscar Skoll donated a building on Clyde Street to be used for a Synagogue. 

The following people were present to accept the offer: William Arkin, Abraham Arkin, Morris Atkins, Jesse Levin, Ed Needleman, Louis Needleman, Oscar Skoll, and Saul Sockol.

There was a public dedication and Open House in September, 1943, of the new Beth Israel  Synagogue. Protestants, Catholics, and Jews joined in the impressive ceremony. Rabbi Herman of Burlington, Vermont, conducted the service assisted by Cantor L. Spiro of Montreal.

Louis Lisman of Burlington delivered an address on the courage of the Newport Jews in founding a Synagogue.

The keynote address for the ceremonies was delivered by the late Rev. Wilson Bugden, pastor of the United Churches of Newport, who spoke on "Our Similarities." Pastors of the other city churches and Mayor O.S. Searles had a part in the public dedication of the new Synagogue.

Sabbath services, holiday festivals and Sunday School classes were held at the Synagogue until September, 1963. At that time the building was returned to Oscar Skill due to the diminishing Jewish population. 

The Torahs were loaned to the Ohavi Zedek Synagogue of Burlington, Vermont, for safekeeping.

In 1964 it became known to the former members of the Beth Israel congregation that a Torah was needed in a Jewish Community in India. A Torah was given and sent to India.

The funds of the treasury were used to purchase and maintain a room at the Orleans County Memorial Hospital in Newport.

The prayer books and menorah were given to Temple Beth El of Quincy, Massachusetts. The remainder of the prayer books and Torah covers were given to a new Temple in Simsbury, Connecticut, which Jason Arkin and his family helped to organize.

[The book also includes a photo, labeled: Beth Israel congregation members (from left) Saul Sockol, Louis and Ed Needleman, and Jack Gladstone, with Torah destined for a community in India.]