The first people of the Jewish faith began arriving in Belleville during the 1870's. They
were small in number and worshipped in private homes for many years. In 1924
Belleville's Jews bought land and erected their first synagogue on Washington Avenue
near Holmes Street. Nathan Schwartz, a member of the congregation, acted as its
president, cantor, and rabbi before the first regular rabbi came in 1936. Schwartz was
part owner of the amusement park on Washington Avenue. Congregation Ahavath
Achim built a new synagogue on Academy Street in 1956.

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