Synagogue to hold anniversary events

Congregation Or VeShalom to mark 100 years starting Feb. 9.

In 1914, two Atlanta synagogues joined forces to form Congregation Or VeShalom, and the union has lasted. While Atlanta now has nearly 40 synagogues, Or VeShalom is still among the oldest, marking its 100th anniversary this year.

“We started on Central Avenue downtown, then went to North Highland Avenue in 1948,” said Hayyim Kassorla, the congregation’s rabbi for the last nine years. “Then in 1970, we broke ground on a new site on North Druid Hills Road in Brookhaven and moved in a year later. And we are still here, with about 450 families.”

That’s not to say that the relationship has been without its ups and downs. “The times are always changing, and with the economic downturn, we, like every synagogue, have struggled to maintain membership and encourage the young to join,” said Kassorla. “But we have had growth by emphasizing family togetherness and warmth. I’m not a native Atlantan, but I’ve been told this is the warmest congregation in Atlanta. It’s definitely a place where we know your name.”

The congregation’s mission has long been to have a synagogue that serves as a gathering place in good and bad times, a center of study and a house of prayer.

“All three of those things have been happening here for 100 years,” said Kassorla. “We have that continuity. We also have members who have been here for years — we even had one who has led a Boy Scout troop here for 70 years. So our challenge now is to build on our past and plan for the future.”

The New York-born Kassorla follows in the footsteps of rabbis from Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco and Uruguay, making him the first leader to have been born in the United States. The heritage of those countries is still well-represented in the Sephardic congregation.

“We are like Heinz ketchup — 57 varieties for all different areas,” said Kassorla. “Our founders were from Rhodes and Turkey, and our members are largely Jews from the Middle East. One of the real joys of being associated with this congregation is the cuisine; it comes from all these different areas.”

This year, the congregation is planning a series of events to highlight its history, starting with a lecture on Feb. 9 by Marc Angel, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Shearith Israel, an historic Spanish and Portuguese synagogue in New York City. Each Saturday, we shine a spotlight on a local neighborhood, city or community. To suggest a place for us to visit, email H.M. Cauley at hm_cauley@yahoo.com or call 770-744-3042.