Historical Summary of Martha's Vineyard Jewish Community
1905
Samuel Cronig, first Jewish settler on Island
1913
Judel & Eudice Brickman & three children, first Jewish family on Island
1937
Six families start fund raising for community center
1939
Present site of Center purchased from Bishop Lewis Whittemore
1940
MVHC incorporated, building purchased from G.H. Dean, moved to Center St.; Dedication of Center
1940
Rabbi J. Levine of New York hired for High Holy Days
1944
17 families; visiting rabbis & volunteers conduct services; first newsletter
1945
Mortgage burned; five students in religious school
1954
First paid summer Rabbi, Rabbi Maurice Zigmond of Harvard Hillel
1954
First paid Hebrew teacher commutes by airplane
1956
UAHC affiliation; first community Passover seder
1965
Twenty-fifth Anniversary celebration
1980
Fortieth Anniversary; 190 members
1986
Rabbi Rayfield Helman winter Rabbi; adult education program; discussions of Center expansion begin
1990
Fiftieth Anniversary celebration
1993
Installation of Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut
1994
Neighborhood Convention Board position for Center member; President and Mrs. Clinton guests at Rosh Hashanah Services at Old Whaling Church
1995
Ground breaking for new synagogue building
1996
Consecration of new building; over 400 members
2003
Rabbi Caryn Broitman becomes 1st full time, year round Rabbi
1905
Samuel Cronig, first Jewish settler on Island
1913
Judel & Eudice Brickman & three children, first Jewish family on Island
1937
Six families start fund raising for community center
1939
Present site of Center purchased from Bishop Lewis Whittemore
1940
MVHC incorporated, building purchased from G.H. Dean, moved to Center St.; Dedication of Center
1940
Rabbi J. Levine of New York hired for High Holy Days
1944
17 families; visiting rabbis & volunteers conduct services; first newsletter
1945
Mortgage burned; five students in religious school
1954
First paid summer Rabbi, Rabbi Maurice Zigmond of Harvard Hillel
1954
First paid Hebrew teacher commutes by airplane
1956
UAHC affiliation; first community Passover seder
1965
Twenty-fifth Anniversary celebration
1980
Fortieth Anniversary; 190 members
1986
Rabbi Rayfield Helman winter Rabbi; adult education program; discussions of Center expansion begin
1990
Fiftieth Anniversary celebration
1993
Installation of Rabbi Joshua Eli Plaut
1994
Neighborhood Convention Board position for Center member; President and Mrs. Clinton guests at Rosh Hashanah Services at Old Whaling Church
1995
Ground breaking for new synagogue building
1996
Consecration of new building; over 400 members
2003
Rabbi Caryn Broitman becomes 1st full time, year round Rabbi
