Celebrating a Century of Memories at Congregation Ahavas Sholom Anniversary

By Tara Vocino

Congregants traveled from as far as Florida to remember fond memories during Sunday’s 100th Anniversary of Congregation Ahavas Sholom.

“Records show that Louis Yanofsky and Benjamin Pinciss, both leaders of what was to become Congregation Ahavas Sholom, and others, spearheaded the search and found the property at 343 Central St.,” President Maureen Appel said. “On April 8, 1925, a loan of $4,000 was taken from Frank C. Guilford of Guilford Lumber Company and signed by then Congregation Treasurer Jacob Weiner.

Mary and Sidney Saunders were the only couple ever married in the shul — on May 23,1926. The last baby naming ceremony was in 2004, for a descendant of the Pinciss family. They almost closed their doors in May 2000 due to low membership, congregants moving and the building needing many repairs. The shul celebrated 15 years in 2015.

The warm temperatures and lack of air conditioning didn’t stop congregants from sharing their experiences. The conservative shul had a Hebrew school in the 1960s. On Sunday, they enjoyed lunch at Jimmy’s Steer House afterwards.

“What we have always needed most is new members, and we still do,” Appel, who is the first woman to be congregation president, said. “Let’s pray for better days and many more years for the ‘little shul of Saugus.’”