A Unique Opportunity to Preserve Our Jewish Heritage

Situation

After 136 years as Vermont’s oldest functioning synagogue, the Red Brick Synagogue on Archibald Street in Burlington’s Old North End was sold in June, 2023 to a buyer to be converted into a commercial enterprise.

A group of community members have teamed up to retain and preserve the building’s significant artifacts.

Phase 1 Work

Master craftsman Ray O’Connor has been hired to extract the treasures, including the exquisite (one-of-a-kind) copper ark, parapets, pulpit, bimah rails, Ner Tamid, and memorial plaques. The ark will be erected in OZ’s small sanctuary by December 2023 when there will be a “unveiling” event.

Vision: A Museum

We envision developing a world class museum featuring the Lost Mural and the copper ark (recreating the experience of being in the Red Brick Synagogue) as well as sharing the history of our region’s immigrant history and the story of “Little Jerusalem,” Burlington’s thriving Jewish community of the early 1900s.

Urgent Help is Needed

Please Give: 

We must raise $30,000 to cover Phase 1 expenses for reinstalling the ark in OZ’s Saiger-Samuelson small sanctuary and storing the other ‘treasures.’ Please join us in this extraordinary undertaking and donate. More funds will be needed later.  Donations can be made here or by sending a check to OZ at 118 North Prospect Street, Burlington VT 05401.  (Please specify Red Brick Synagogue Project).

Please Volunteer:

We have a variety of volunteer needs. Express interest here.