Vilna Shul (Boston, Mass.) Records

In 1893, immigrants from Vilnius, Lithuania began to meet informally at the corner of Cotting and Lowell Streets in Boston’s West End. There they formed a landsmanshaft, a benevolent society formed by people from the same town or region in Europe to assist in mutual and hometown aid and to provide social networks and support for those arriving in America.

A congregation, Anshe Vilna, was formally founded in 1898, and in 1903, it was incorpoated as the the Vilner Congregation (also called the Wilner Congregation), a Massachusetts charitable corporation. During this time, the synagogue operated out of members’ apartments and houses. To meet the needs of its growing membership, the congregation purchased the former Twelfth Baptist Church at 45 Phillips Street in 1906, dedicated the building on September 9, 1906. In 1915 the City of Boston bought the building from the Vilner Congregation for the expansion of the neighboring Wendell Phillips School. From 1915 to 1919 the congregation operated out of 27 Anderson Street.

In 1919 the congregation purchased the property at 14-18 Phillips Street from the heirs of Joshua Bennett. The existing buildings on the L-shaped plot were demolished, and Max M. Kalman, a local architect and attorney, designed the new building. On December 11, 1919 the cornerstone was laid by congregation president Edward B. Lunn. The design incorporated rundbogenstil elements, seen in the large Star of David stained glass window, as well as arched doors and windows.

During Boston’s urban renewal project in the 1950s to early 1960s, the West End was demolished and replaced with residential high rises and government and commercial buildings. The Vilna Shul was located just outside the demolition area, but by the 1970s the decline in membership and attendance as a result of the urban renewal project led to the discontinuation of daily services.

The final service was held by the congregation’s last remaining member, Mendel Miller, in 1985. He then petitioned to dissolve the congregation and give all proceeds of the sale to the State of Israel. In 1986, former worshippers attempted to intervene and be declared members to halt the dissolution. Charles River Park Synagogue (now The Boston Synagogue) also made attempts to claim the Vilna Shul’s assets under the cy pres doctrine; they argued that under cy pres, state-held dissolution profits of a non-profit should go to the nearest similar institution—in this case a synagogue. Attorney Terry Jean Seligman was appointed as Temporary Receiver by Justice Ruth Abrams to manage the shul's assets, sell them at fair market value, and settle the congregation's debts.

In 1989 a petition was filed with the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate the Vilna Shul a Boston landmark. After initial approval from the Commission and Boston Mayor Raymond Flynn, the landmark proceeding was terminated in 1991 amidst concerns that the status could affect the building's market value. In 1990, the Vilna Center for Jewish Heritage was officially incorporated. The Center hoped to raise the necessary funds to purchase the Vilna Shul, restore the building, and create an endowment by actively fundraising and applying for numerous grant programs.

Also during this time there was an ongoing dispute over the ownership of one of the shul's torah scrolls, the Ladies Auxiliary torah, which had been given to Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger for safekeeping by the Receiver during the congregation's legal disputes. Halbfinger later submitted evidence that the torah had been given to and was now owned by his congregation, Kadimah-Toras Moshe; his claim was denied by the courts. In 1994 a Purchase and Sale Agreement was signed and in 1995 the Vilna Center for Jewish Heritage acquired the Vilna Shul. In 2000 the Boston Synagogue became the 100 percent cy pres recipient (therefore recieving the funds from the sale of the Vilna Shul to the Vilna Center for Jewish Heritage), and much of Vilna’s legal proceedings came to a close when the Ladies Auxiliary torah was returned; the event was marked by a gala in 2006. The Vilner Congregation was formally dissolved on April 12, 2001.

Today the Vilna Shul is the last immigrant-era synagogue building in Boston. It operates as a cultural center that celebrates Jewish culture and its intersection with other cultures.

1893

Jewish immigrants from Vilnius, Lithuania form a landsmanshaft and meet informally at the corner of Cotting and Lowell Streets in Boston's West End.

1898

Anshe Vilna is founded.

1903

Anshe Vilna is incorporated as the Vilner Congregation, a Massachusetts charitable corporation, and begins to hold worship services.

1906

The congregation purchases the former Twelfth Baptist Church at 45 Phillips Street.

September 9, 1906

The building is dedicated.

1915

The City of Boston purchases the building at 45 Phillips Street to be used as a school.

1915-1919

The congregation operates out of 27 Anderson Street

1919

Vilner Congregation purchases property on 14-18 Phillips Street.

circa 1919

Anshei Sfard merges with Vilna Shul.

December 11, 1919

The cornerstone is laid at 18 Phillips Street by president Edward B. Lunn.

1920

Construction of the Vilna Shul is completed.

1950s

The West End's urban renewal project begins.

circa 1958

Beth Hackneseth Tiferes Israel merges with Vilna Shul.

1970s

Daily services are discontinued.

1985

Vilna's final service is held by its last remaining member, Mendel Miller, who then petitions the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court to dissolve the congregation with all proceeds from the sale of the synagogue's assets going to Israel; Justice Ruth Abrams is assigned the case.

1986-1987

Former worshippers attempt to intervene in the dissolution and be declared members of the congregation. Charles River Park Synagogue also attempts to claim the Vilna Shul's assets under the cy pres doctrine.

December 1988

Attorney Terry Jean Seligman is appointed as Temporary Receiver by Justice Abrams to manage the Shul's assets, sell them at fair market value, and settle the congregation's debts.

January 1989

A petition is filed with the Boston Landmarks Commission to designate the second floor sanctuary as a Boston landmark; the petition is accepted and a feasibilty study on the preservation of the shul is written for Historic Boston Inc., a nonprofit that supports the preservation of historic buildings.

1989

Vilna's torahs are given to the Receiever, who then gives them to Rabbi Abraham Halbfinger for safekeeping.

November 1989

The Boston Landmarks Commission holds a hearing on the proposed designation with testimonies for and against it.

December 1989

Landmark status is approved by the Boston Landmarks Commission.

January 1990

Mayor Raymond Flynn approves the designation, but the City Council overturns it by one vote. The Boston Landmarks Commission votes to reconsider the designation.

December 1990

The nonprofit Vilna Center for Jewish Heritage is incorporated and fundraising begins to raise funds to buy the Vilna Shul, restore the building, and create an endowment.

August 1991

The Boston Landmarks Commission agrees to terminate the landmark proceeding for the interior after an initial sale and purchase agreement had not been performed.

1994

A Purchase and Sale Agreement is signed.

1995

Vilna Center for Jewish Heritage acquires the Vilna Shul.

1998

Rabbi Halbfinger retains one of the shul's torah scrolls.

2000

The Boston Synagogue becomes the 100 percent cy pres recipient.

April 2001

Vilner Congregation is formally dissolved.

2006

The Vilna Center for Jewish Heritage holds a gala celebrating the return of all seven of its torahs.