Judaism in New Hampshire
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New Hampshire has a small, but vibrant Jewish community of about 10000, making up 0.7% of the population.[1]
History
William Abrams and Aaron Moses arrived at New Castle or Sanbornton in 1693, coming from Israel, as the first known Jews in New Hampshire.[2] Nearly a century later, in 1789, Abraham and Rachel Isaac arrived at Portsmouth from Prussia. In Manchester, a small Jewish group prayed together on Yom Kippur in 1862. The first record of a synagogue, B’nai Yeshurun, was founded in 1890.[3]
Organizations
- Jewish Libertarians: Promotes libertarianism from a Jewish perspective. Hosts Jewish talks as well as a Kosher Kookout and Shabbat Service at PorcFest. Monthly services and other events are held year round, including new for 5783: self-defense shoots to celebrate Hanukkah and Purim. Website, Facebook.
- Jewish Federation of New Hampshire: Promoting Jewish continuity by enhancing and expanding a connected and vibrant Jewish community in New Hampshire, Israel, and around the world. Many programs online and in person, including an annual Jewish film festival. Library, Israeli Shlichut, and more. Website Facebook
- New Hampshire for Israel: Supporting Israel, Educating New Hampshire. Hosts monthly meetings and annual fundraiser and picnic. Website Facebook
Synagogues and Jewish Centers
Judaism does have denominations, as in Christianity. Instead, there is a spectrum of observance from Orthodox (conservative) to Conservative (moderate), to Reform/Reconstructionist (liberal). Sadly, despite echoes of past restrictions on Jewish religious practices by governments, most Jewish services shut down in 2020, and did not reopen until 2021, or even 2022. Even worse, many maintained the antisemitic view of disease-spreading and required cloth to be worn and medical passes to be shown.
Orthodox
- See also Chabad
There is no permanent Orthodox community in New Hampshire to speak of. Several summer congregations rent space in the North Country, notably Bethlehem.
Chabad
There are three Chabad Centers in New Hampshire, located at Durham, Hanover, and Manchester.
| Synagogue | Location | Notes | Promotes Tikkun Olam? |
Concealed Carry Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seacoast Chabad Jewish Center | 72-1 Main Street Durham, NH 03823 |
Newest Chabad Affiliated with UNH |
No | Likely |
| Rohr Chabad Center at Dartmouth | 19 Allen St Hanover, NH 03755 |
Affiliated with Dartmouth | No | Likely |
| Chabad of New Hampshire | 1234 River Road Manchester, NH 03104 |
Sanctuary faced with gorgeous Jerusalem stone Libertarian friendly |
No | Likely |
Conservative
There are three Conservative synagogues in New Hampshire, located at Manchester, Nashua, and Portsmouth.
| Synagogue | Location | Notes | Promotes Tikkun Olam? |
Concealed Carry Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temple Israel | 66 Salmon Street Manchester, NH 03104 |
Most libertarian-attended | Yes | Yes |
| Temple Beth Abraham | 4 Raymond Street Nashua, NH 03064 |
- | Yes LGBT |
Unknown |
| Temple Israel | 200 State Street Portsmouth |
Female-led services | Yes | Unknown |
Reform
There are five Reform centers in New Hampshire, located at Amherst, Concord, Derry, Laconia, and Manchester.
| Center | Location | Notes | Promotes Tikkun Olam? |
Concealed Carry Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congregation Betenu | 5 Northern Blvd Unit 1 Amherst |
- | Yes | Unlikely |
| Temple Beth Jacob | 67 Broadway Concord |
Lesbian-led services | Yes LGBT |
Unlikely |
| Etz Hayim | 1½ Hood Road Derry |
- | Yes | Unlikely |
| B'nai Israel | 210 Court Street Laconia |
Hosts Jewish Food Festival in June Female-led services |
Yes | No! |
| Temple Adath Yeshurun | 152 Prospect Street Manchester |
Hostile to libertarians Female-led services |
Yes Injection reqd |
Unlikely |
Reconstructionist
There is one Reconstructionist center in New Hampshire, located at Keene.
| Center | Location | Notes | Promotes Tikkun Olam? |
Concealed Carry Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Congregation Ahavas Achim | 84 Hastings Avenue Keene |
Lesbian-led services | Yes | Unlikely |
Unaffiliated
There are three Unaffiliated centers in New Hampshire, located at Bethlehem, Hanover, and North Conway.
| Center | Location | Notes | Promotes Tikkun Olam? |
Concealed Carry Friendly? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bethlehem Hebrew Congregation | 39 Strawberry Hill Road PO Box 395 Bethlehem |
Female-led services | Yes | No |
| Kol HaEmek Upper Valley Jewish Community | 5 Occom Ridge Hanover |
- | Yes | Unknown |
| Kehilat Har Lavan | PO Box 474, Bartlett | Newest congregation in NH | - | Unknown |
Defunct
There are at least four defunct synagogues in New Hampshire, located at Berlin, Claremont, Dover, and Manchester.
| Synagogue | Location | Notes | Disposition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beth Israel | 13 Exchange St Berlin |
- | Dissolved 1987 Now Heritage Baptist Church |
| Temple Meyer David | 25 Putnam Street Claremont |
- | Dissolved 2020[4] |
| Temple Israel | 36 Olive Meadow Lane Dover |
- | Merged with Temple Israel at Portsmouth |
| Anshe Sephard | 293 Central Street Manchester, NH 03104 |
Beautiful Sefardic-design wood structure | Split into Temple Israel and Temple Adath Yeshurun, Building now used for apartments |
