Monessen synagogue shuts down
By Kaylie Moore
kmoore@yourmvi.com
After 75 years, Jack Bergstein of Monessen closed the doors to his religious home.
A retired attorney, Bergstein, 79, was part of the final service for Temple Beth Am synagogue in Monessen earlier this month.
“The discussion to close has been going on for a couple of years, maybe even longer,” he said. “Our numbers dwindled, and with everyone getting up in age, no one has the energy or health to carry on. We tried, but it’s clear that we can’t do it anymore.”
The synagogue was first incorporated on Schoonmaker Avenue in 1906. On Dec. 7, 1952, groundbreaking ceremonies were held for a replacement synagogue on Watkins Street, known as the Kneseth Israel Synagogue and Community Center.
To read the rest of this story, please see a copy of Friday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at https://e.monvalleyindependent.com.
