Jay Abramson, at The Blogs

Jun 18, 2026, 3:16 AM

Shaarey Zedek, Southfield, Michigan: Learning, Music, and Community Comes Alive

Music, Congregation Shaarey Zedek (Source: Shaarey Zedek of Southfield Michigan)

For more than a century and a half, Congregation Shaarey Zedek (CSZ) has stood as a vibrant center of Jewish life, tradition, and community in Metro Detroit. Founded in 1861, the congregation has grown from a small group of...

Jun 16, 2026, 6:56 AM

Inside Temple Emanu-El, NYC: World’s Largest Synagogue in the Western Hemisphere

Temple Emanu-El NYC (Source: Temple Emanu-El, NYC)

Rising above Fifth Avenue, Temple Emanu-El is the largest synagogue by size in the western hemisphere and one of New York City’s most iconic houses of worship. More than a landmark, it is a living center of faith, history,...

Jun 14, 2026, 5:02 AM

CABI of Boise, Idaho: Oldest Synagogue in Continuous Use West of the Mississippi

Congregation in front of the CABI synagogue Source: (Julie Shaw, CABI, Boise Idaho)

Nestled in the heart of Boise, Idaho, Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel (CABI) stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of Jewish life in the American West. Founded by Jewish merchants and families who helped shape the region in...

Jun 12, 2026, 5:24 AM

Temple Sholom, Vancouver: A cornerstone of Reform Judaism

Open Torah Ark (Source: Temple Beth Sholom, Vancouver Canada)

Temple Sholom stands as a cornerstone of Reform Judaism in Vancouver and a vibrant center of Jewish religious, cultural, and community life. Founded in 1965 as the city’s first and only Reform congregation, it has grown from a small...

Jun 10, 2026, 4:00 AM

United Hebrew Congregation, St. Louis’s first Jewish congregation

Czech Torah Scroll United Hebrew Synagogue. (Source: United Hebrew Congregation St Louis Missouri)

About 30 minutes west of downtown St. Louis, in the suburb of Chesterfield, resides the United Hebrew Congregation, St. Louis’s first Jewish congregation and the oldest congregation in the United States west of the Mississippi. The United Hebrew Congregation...

Jun 8, 2026, 5:36 AM

Congregation Mikveh Israel, Philadelphia: Synagogue of the American Revolution

Torah Ark (Source- Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia)

Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, known as the "Synagogue of the American Revolution," was founded in 1740 and is the oldest continuous synagogue and the second oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. The congregation’s revolutionary ties run incredibly deep:...

Jun 6, 2026, 9:52 AM

Garnethill Synagogue, Scotland’s Oldest Synagogue

Interior Dome of Synagogue (Source: Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre/Sequoia Hearne)

Nestled in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland, is the historic Garnethill Synagogue, home to the Scottish Jewish Heritage Centre and the Scottish Jewish Archives Centre. Opened in 1879, Garnethill Synagogue is the oldest synagogue in Scotland and one of...

Jun 4, 2026, 9:43 AM

Legacy: Belfast Jewish Community, Northern Ireland

Tucked away in the city of Belfast, the capital of Northern Ireland with a population of 350,000, is a synagogue located at 49 Somerton Road with a remarkable legacy. This historic synagogue is the Belfast Jewish Community, formerly known...

Jun 2, 2026, 10:32 AM

Temple Beth Tzedek: A Sanctuary in the Woods in NY

Sanctuary, Temple Beth Tzedek (Source: Temple Beth Tzedek, Williamsville, New York)

Nestled in the village of Williamsville, New York, just outside Buffalo, New York, Temple Beth Tzedek stands as a remarkable blend of history, spirituality, and natural beauty. This Conservative synagogue is home to a vibrant congregation and features a...

May 31, 2026, 9:11 AM

A Legacy of Faith: Temple Emanuel of Pueblo, Colorado

Temple Emanuel, Pueblo Colorado (Source: Temple Emanuel, Pueblo Colorado)

Nestled at 1325 N Grand Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado, Temple Emanuel stands as a remarkable testament to Jewish heritage, perseverance, and community in southern Colorado. As the oldest Jewish house of worship in Pueblo, the synagogue has long served as a...

About Me

Jay Abramson is a mathematics teaching professor at Arizona State University. He has 43 years of teaching experience and is a 4-time Teacher of the Year recipient (from three different schools). He is a published author; his Openstax precalculus series has served over one million students.

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