2021 Centennial Celebration Events
We delayed our plans for in person celebrations of the 100th Anniversary of Adath Yeshurun Synagogue due to the health risks associated with the Covid-19 pandemic. Our focus in 2021 was on a series of virtual programs.
The first of these sessions was held on March 7th as part of regular virtual programming by the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina. We then held two of our own virtual events this Spring — one in March 14th & one in April 18th. These events were conducted via Zoom conference and included highlights from the “A Source of Light” Exhibit and featured speakers from the community that shared their family stories and personal memories.
These sessions were open to the public and we welcomed everyone interested to participate. For anyone who missed them, you can use the links below to watch a video replay.
jewish historical society of south carolina
march 7th: south carolina Jewish merchants (including aiken)
This event was part of a monthly series of conversations about South Carolina Jewish History hosted by Judge Richard Gergel and Robert Rosen. This session featured Robyn Waites, Executive Director of Historic Columbia speaking about the findings from the Jewish Merchant Project, ongoing research to chronicle the role of Jewish Merchants in towns big & small throughout South Carolina. The event also included a presentation by Steve Silver, “A Source of Light” Project Director on the role of Jewish Merchants in Aiken & the pending Centennial celebrations tied to the 100th anniversary of the Adath Yeshurun Synagogue.
You can watch a replay of this event at: https://youtu.be/ECagdpUmQQY
sunday march 21st, 5:00 - 6:30 PM: early aiken jewish community
We held our first virtual event on Sunday March 21st. This event focused on the early Aiken Jewish community — from the 1850s to the peak of Jewish Merchant activity around 1950. This session highlighted the role of early Aiken Jewish families in establishing this community and in contributing to the commercial growth of the town. We spent approximately 30 minutes sharing highlights from the “A Source of Light” Exhibit and then had featured speakers from the community share their family stories and experiences for 5-10 minutes each. Speakers included Nelson Danish, Stephen Surasky, Mitch Rifkin and Stuart Fine among others. We also had time for Q&A (via chat).
To watch a replay of this meeting, click on the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyyMy3mMiN0
sunday april 18th, 5:00 - 6:30 pm: later aiken jewish community
Our second virtual event focueds on the Aiken Jewish community from the 1950s to today and highlighted the contributions made by the Aiken Jewish community to civic life in Aiken & beyond. In addition, the session traced the changing nature of the Aiken Jewish community during this period as the role of Jewish Merchants declined but was offset by the influx of Jewish engineers at the Savannah River site and more recently by retirees moving to this area. As with the prior session, we spent approximately 30 minutes sharing highlights from the “A Source of Light” Exhibit and then had featured speakers share their family & personal stories for 5-10 minutes each. Speakers included Morris Rudnick, Sharon Baumgarten, Ernie Levinson & Lauren Ellis. Bill Schuster (President of the Synagogue) also spoke about the current state of the Aiken Jewish community.
Use the link below to watch a replay of the meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tvXPNO-RTA
other: tbd
revised schedule of in person events
In person events have been postponed until 2022 as follows:
march - may, 2022: “a source of light” exhibit
aiken county historical museum
tuesday - sunday
10:00 am - 4:00 PM
The “A Source of Light” Exhibit at the Aiken County Historical Museum is now planned from March - May of 2022. This Exhibit will share the story of the Aiken Jewish community from the mid 1800s to today, with a particular focus on the role and contribution of Jewish Merchants & their families. The Exhibit tells this story using archival photos, newspaper articles/advertisements & other artifacts as well as via digital displays that allow a "deeper dive" into family histories and store locations/descriptions.
march 4-6, 2022: centennial celebration weekend
aiken, sc
We have rescheduled the Centennial Celebration weekend to March 4-6, 2022. This event will celebrate the past, present & future of the Aiken Jewish community. Click here for more information.
see “the A SOURCE OF LIGHT Exhibit” at the Aiken County Historical Museum March - May 2022”
433 Newberry Street SW
Aiken, SC 29801
(803) 642-2015
Tuesday - Sunday: 10AM – 4PM
Closed Mondays
Visit the Adath Yeshurun Synagogue
Visit the the Sons of Israel section at the Bethany Cemetery
Click Here for a full listing of the gravesites in this cemetery