Congregation Sons of Jacob: North-End’s hidden jewel

Inside Congregation Sons of Jacob, above. At left, is the exterior of the building.

Standing proudly at the intersection of Douglas and Orms Streets is Congregation Sons of Jacob, the second oldest orthodox synagogue in Rhode Island and the last remaining Jewish house of worship in the North End of Providence. The building at 25 Douglas Ave. is a historical and architectural treasure struggling to remain afloat. Today the congregation is barely able to gather 10 men to form a minyan each morning, said President Harold Silverman.

Founded in 1896 as a place of worship for the large number of Russian and Polish Jews immigrating to the North End, the Sons of Jacob’s first building was on Shawmut Street.  The congregation moved to its current location in 1906; the second floor sanctuary was completed in 1922, and its unusual art deco, hand-painted decorative aspects remain untouched today.

Murals cover the front wall and ceiling. Painted curtains and faux marble surround the ark, trompe l’oeil fixture hangers “hold” an elegant crystal chandelier. The ceiling is a mural of the sky with clouds. The signs of the zodiac around the ceiling were painted by “artistically inclined” Sam Shore (president of Sons of Jacob from 1923-1936).

Orthodox holiday services are held in the main sanctuary and are open to the public, free of charge. Oct. 3 Kol Nidrei services begin at 5:40 p.m. Oct. 4 Yom Kippur Services begin at 8:30 a.m., as do all holiday morning services.

Daily non-holiday davening hours are Monday through Friday at 6:30 a.m., Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and Sunday at 7:30 a.m. throughout the year. These are open to the public at no charge.

Contact President Harold Silverman at 274-5260 or congsons@hotmail.com for additional information. 

Editor’s note: The Touro Synagogue in Newport, founded in 1658, is the oldest Jewish house of worship in Rhode Island and is the oldest Jewish house of worship that is still standing in North America.

TOBY ROSSNER (tobyross@cox.net) was the director of media services at the Bureau of Jewish Education from 1978 to 2002.