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Eighty 1 ears of Progress
A History of Ahavath Achim Congregation
by EARLYNE SHANKERMAN LEVITA5
The author, a native of Clarksdale, Miss., is one of those
talented individuals who do well whatever they attempt to
accomplish. She was a staff writer for her high school paper,
taught in the Temple Sunday School herself and played the
piano for assembly programs. After attending Louisiana State
University, she went to
work in Memphis and was
secretary for the Israel
Bonds office.
She married Dr. Ted
Levitas in June, 1955, in
Memphis and has since
made her home in Atlanta
There are three children
Stephen 12 1 /-, Leslie 11 and
Tony 7>/>. The family re
cently moved into a new
home at 4234 Harrogate
Dr., N. Wwhich she large
ly designed herself. Besides
caring for three children, a
husband, a deg named Drey
fus and an occasional cat
(or cats depending on the
finds of the boys), she fol
lows such h ojo bies as
writing, antiques, decorat
ing, art and music.
But mostly she devotes
her free time to organiza
tional effort, on the proven
theory that this is the way to get things done in this modem
day and age. She can always be counted on for “over ana
beyond” service by the United Jewish Appeal, all neighbor
hood drives and especially the Ahavath Achim. The Sisterhood
is very close and dear to her heart. She was one of the
founders of the Mr. and Mrs. Club of A A., serving with
her husband as co-chairmen of the first function of the
then - un-named club. She lends her loyalties to B'nai B'nth
Women, Hadassah, Women’s ORT, Symphony Guild, Service
Guild, Alpha Omega Ladies Auxiliary and the Northern Dis
trict Dental Society Ladies Auxiliary. She is the president
elect and when installed as president this fall w : II become the
first Jewish person to serve in this cavacity. Her husband is
president of the Fifth District Dental Society this year.
Many months of research went into preparation of this
material and The Southern Israelite is honored to be able to
publish her efforts. J
—THE EDITOR
1887-1967
In a single room on Gilmer
Street eighty years ago, eigh
teen devoted and determined
men held the first Shabbat
service for what was to become
one of the largest Conservative
Congregations in America.
Little did those proud and
pious men realize what would
pyramid from that small, sim
ple gathering.
Today, the oldest of At
lanta’s traditional synagogues,
Ahavath Achim stands among
the most • eminent congrega
tions in the country as it cele
brates eight decades of con
tinued progress. While Atlanta
was growing into unquestion
able prominence from the com
fortable little city it was in
1887 to the sophisticated,
metropolitan city of 1967,
Ahavath Achim was marking
progress at the same tempo.
Gazing back to its origin in
<1887, we see the first members
of the congregation. Their
faces showed undeniable satis
faction in having a plac^ to
worship. There was a new
dignity that lifted them above
the poverty of their surround
ings.
From that one room on Gil
mer Street, Ahavath Achim
soon moved to larger quar
ters—a building at the rear of
120 Gilmer Street. These pio
neering years were difficult
13
ones. Small grocery businesses
and rickety carts helped feed
many large families. Relatives
new to America often slept on
the already-filled “day beds.”
Fresh chalah and home-made
wine helped make up for the
hardships. And the group
therapy of that day was called
“Ahavath Achim.”
Yes, the spirit of the early
settlers went a long way! By
the year 1895, the small group
of worshippers had grown to
such an extent it became
necessary to secure larger
quarters, this time a hall on
Decatur Street. During the
years from 1895 until 1900 this
hall served as an early synago
gue for Ahavath Achim. It was
located across the street from
where Atlanta’s Police Station
now stands.
The ingredients present ih
those early leaders were vital
to the consistent growth of the
congregation—their tenacity,
loyalty and love for the Jew
ish traditions built sturdy
foundations for what was to
follow. Men such as I. Balagur,
first president, Leopold Fresh,
F. Rabinovitz, A. Posner and
N. A. Kaplan served as early
presidents and lent much of the
strength and substance neces
sary for a young congregation
to expand.
After five short years on De-
TKe Southern Israelite