Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

As I promised in my last post, a more in depth look at Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery in Pittsgrove NJ.

While building that houses the Alliance Synagogue

Alliance Orthodox Synagogue

If you recall, the Alliance Colony was created in the early 1880s when Russian Jews were brought to New Jersey to escape the persecution of the Czar. And if you are new here, you can read about it here: Alliance Colony Pittsgrove NJ. These immigrants needed a place to worship as well as a place to bury loved ones.

White curtain and wood torah scrolls of the ark that holds the torahs at Alliance Synagogue in Pittsgrove NJ

The Ark at Alliance Synagogue

They had outgrown the tiny synagogue that had been built originally, so they built one a bit larger, but still modest by today’s standards. The current synagogue is known by a couple of names. It’s Tifereth Israel, Alliance Synagogue and Shawrith Israel Congregation of Alliance. Whatever you call it, you can attend services there to this day at 9 Shiff Avenue, Elmer, NJ.

Two rows of dark brown wood chairs against a white rail for women at the Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

Women’s seating on second floor of Alliance Synagogue

The congregation was founded in 1884 as Tifereth Israel which means Splendor of Israel. It was built under the leadership of Jacob Greenblatt and William Cohn and finished for the Spring of 1889.

Very worn wood steps to the attic at Alliance Synagogue

Secret Stairs

Moses Bayuk, who you may remember from the mural I told you about in my previous post, had surveyed the land for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society. He lived across the road from the new shul and became very involved with synagogue’s operations.

View of the Alliance Synagogue from the balcony where women sit at Alliance Synagogue Pittsgrove NJ

Birdseye View

By the 1920s, the bema where the rabbi and cantor conduct services, was repositioned to the front from the center. This meant that the religious leaders would no longer face the Holy Ark. Instead they would be facing the congregation. This totally changed the Shabbat service experience.

White velvet torah cover with gold embroidery on display on the wall of the Alliance Synagogue

One of the original Torah Covers on display at the Alliance Synagogue in Pittsgrove NJ

By the 1930s and 40s, German Jews began arriving in Southern Jersey. They were fleeing rising anti-Semitism and Naziism in Europe. Many of these German Jews settled in the Alliance Colony and joined Tifereth Israel. They often gave up or adapted their rituals in order to become part of the congregation.

Red brick pillar and open black wrought iron gate at Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

Old Gate Alliance Cemetery

Red brick pillar with white faceplate commemorating the founders of the Alliance Cemetery. Tombstones visible in background at Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

Founders of Alliance Cemetery

In the next two decades a wave of more religious Polish and Eastern European immigrants influenced Jewish life in the surrounding area after World War II,

Red brick pillar with white faceplate commemorating the original colonists who lived and farmed there. This was at the entrance to the Alliance Cemetery

Alliance Cemetery Entrance pillar Commemorating the Original Colonists

Several tombstones and a walking path with trees in the background at the Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

Tombstones at the Alliance Cemetery

By the 1970s many of the congregation had become elderly or had passed away. There were only a handful of young families which led to more synagogue rituals changing. And in 1976 they began alternating Shabbat services with the nearby Brotmanville Synagogue. In the 1980s, Tifereth Israel remained the only synagogue in the former Alliance Colony holding services on High Holidays. By this time the building needed a lot of repairs including a new roof, and balcony floor had caved in. Prayer books were more than eighty years old and in need of replacement as well. Past members were asked to assist with these repairs, helping keep the Tifereth operational through today. The appeal was answered allowing it to remain at its original location. It continues to be used occasionally for religious services and as a historical resource.

Two rows of tombstones with walking path between and lots of trees at Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

More tombstones at the Alliance Cemetery

Rows of newer tombstones and trees at Alliance Synagogue and Cemetery Pittsgrove NJ

New tombstones at Alliance Cemetery

Nearby, in Norman New Jersey, the Alliance Cemetery was established in 1891. I was dedicated to the memory of the first colonists who migrated from Russian to this area of South Jersey. And on May 9, 1882 the Alliance was founded by the first Jewish farm colony in the United States.