The Sam (Simche) Katz Collection

Sam Katz was a prolific woodworker whose work is in many early 20th century Boston-area synagogues. Sam Katz was born Simche Katz in Veshnevets, Russia (modern-day Ukraine) on August 1, 1884. On September 9, 1905, he married Anna (née Chaie) Riter in Berschev, Russia. The couple had two children in Russia: Sydney (Simon, b. November 29, 1906) and Frances (Feiye, b. February 18, 1910). Katz left his family when his daughter was only a few months old, immigrating to the US on the SS Finland, departing from Antwerp, Belgium and arriving in Ellis Island, New York, New York on July 25, 1910. Upon arrival in the United States, Sam initially lived with a cousin in Troy, New York, where he manufactured refrigerator cases for shops and restaurants, then began working as a carpenter. In 1910, Katz designed and built the aron kodesh, or holy ark- where the Torah scrolls are stored- for a local shul in Albany, New York, and another in 1912 for Congregation Shaara Tfillein in nearby Saratoga Springs, New York.

In the summer of 1912, Anna and their two children joined Sam in Troy. The Katzes welcomed daughter Adeline in 1914 before moving to the Chelsea neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts where they had sons Maurice (b.1916) and Hyman (b.1923). The family later lived in Boston’s Dorchester neighborhood. Once in the Boston area, Sam Katz was hired to create arks for many congregations throughout eastern Massachusetts and one for Congregation Beth Israel in New Haven, Connecticut, including the Adam Street Shul (Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard) in Newton, Massachusetts and the Walnut Street Shul (Agudas Sholom) in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Katz arks are distinguished by their artisanship and stylistic use of exposed round bulb lighting. In 1944, Katz became a naturalized United States citizen, followed by the naturalization of wife Anna in 1945. Sam Katz died in 1953 and was laid to rest at the Boston Workmens Circle Cemetery in Melrose, Massachusetts. In 1962, he was joined by Anna, with whom he shares a headstone.

In 1957, the Anshai Poland Synagogue in Boston’s South End, home to one of Katz’s arks, was demolished. Three years later, a donor gave the Museum of Fine Arts Boston one of a pair of gilded lions from that ark.

In April 2023, Rabbi David Whiman (of Houston, TX and East Hampton, NY) gifted to the MFA the c.1920s holy ark from Shaare Zion Synagogue on Orange Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts. Shaare Zion closed in May of 1999 when the congregation gifted the Torah Ark to Rabbi Whiman.

1884-August-01

Simche Katz born in Veshnevets, Russia (modern day Ukraine).

1905-September-19

Marries Anna (Chaie) Riter in Berchsev, Russia.

1906-November-29

Son Sidney (Simon) Katz is born in Berchsev, Russia.

1910-February-18

Daughter Frances (Feiye) Katz is born in Berchsev, Russia.

1910-July-25

Simche emigrates to the United States from Antwerp, Belgium on the SS Finland destined for Ellis Island, New York, New York and begins to go by Sam.

1910

Katz completes the aron kodesh for an unidentified synagogue in Albany, New York.

1912-July-16

Anna (Chaie), Sidney, and Frances emigrate to the United States from Russia on the S.S. Kroonland.

1912

Katz completes the aron kodesh for an unidentified shul in Saratoga Springs, New York

1914-September-09

Daughter Adeline Katz is born in Troy, New York.

1916-April-20

Son Maurice Katz (now Maurice Kates) is born in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

1920

Katz completes the ark for the West End Congregation on Chambers Street in Boston Massachusetts.

circa 1922-1923

Katz completes the aron kodesh for Congregation Anshai Poland of Warsaw on Oswego Street in Boston Massachusetts.

1922

Katz completes the ark for Congregation Ahavas Achim Anshei Sfard on Walnut Street in Revere, Massachusetts

Katz completes the ark for Congregation Anshe Sfard - the "little shul" in Peabody, Massachusetts.

1923-May-26

Son Hyman Katz is born in Chelsea, Massachusetts.

1924

Katz completes the aron kodesh for Congregation Agudas Achim Anshei Sfard - the Adam Street Shul, on Adams Street in Newton, Massachusetts.

1925

Katz completes the aron kodesh for Congregation Sons of Israel - the "big shul" on Park Street in Peabody, Massachusetts.

Katz completes the aron kodesh for Congregation Agudas Achim-Ezrath Israel on Bryan Street in Malden, Massachusetts.

1926

Katz completes the ark for Congregation Tifereth Israel on Malden Street in Everett, Massachusetts.

1930

Katz completes the ark for Congregation Agudath Israel Anshe Sfard at 220 Woodrow Avenue in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

1932

Katz completes the ark for Congregation Ahavath Israel on Blue Hill Ave in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

1933

Katz completes the ark for Congregation Chaim Oden on Nightingale Street in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Sidney (Simon) Katz naturalizes.

1942

Frances (Feiye Katz) Rutstein naturalizes.

1944

Sam (Simche) Katz naturalizes.

1945

Anna (Chaie Riter) Katz naturalizes.

1953

Sam Katz dies and is buried at the Workmens Circle Cemetery in Melrose, Massachusetts.

1962

Anna Katz dies and is buried with Sam.

Published citations should take the following form: Identification of item, date (if known); JHCP-019: Samuel Katz Collection; box number; folder number; The Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS, Boston, Mass.