Approximately 130 people gathered here as the Beth Joseph Synagogue — the oldest in the Adirondacks — celebrated its 120th anniversary since the articles of incorporation were signed in 1905.

Save for its Rosh Hashanah event — the Jewish New Year celebration that takes place during either September or October, depending on the year — the synagogue is now active during only the busier summer months. Board members decided that a warm July weekend day would make for the perfect occasion for members and the public to come together and commemorate the past, while looking toward the future.

In Judaism, 120 years is a significant milestone. That’s because in the Book of Genesis, part of the Hebrew Bible, Moses — who is considered the religion’s most important prophet — lived to be 120 years old.

Beth Joseph Synagogue’s ceremony included remarks from Board President Lara Kassel, Board Treasurer Jeremy Kassel, village Mayor Mary Fontana and Ken Ritzenberg, a past president who currently serves on the board.

Beth Joseph Synagogue is seen in Tupper Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Ritzenberg was honored for his decades of devotion to the synagogue. An Albany-area attorney, Ritzenberg married Susi (Futterman) Ritzenberg, the daughter of longtime Tupper Lakers Fred and Esther Futterman, more than 50 years ago. Susi introduced Ken to Tupper Lake and the Adirondacks when he was a young adult. Since then, Ritzenberg has volunteered countless hours to the synagogue as it was restored in the 1980s after a two-decade hiatus. Ritzenberg, who specializes in education law, said that while it was fulfilling to give back, he also got a lot out of it.

“It’s very, very nice to be recognized, but the benefits really accrue (by) volunteering,” he said. “My legal skills have been enhanced immeasurably by participation in this synagogue.”

Ritzenberg waded into not-for-profit corporation law, property law, estate and probate law, among other areas, as stewarding the synagogue demanded.

Janet Chapman, who died in 2020, was posthumously recognized for her decades of service. She was recognized for volunteering countless hours to handle the synagogue’s administrative work, with members of her family present at the ceremony in her honor.

Fontana highlighted the importance of the Beth Joseph Synagogue to the community. It frequently serves as a gathering space for both Jews and non-Jews.

Tupper Lake Village Mayor Mary Fontana addresses the nearly 130 people in attendance to commemorate the 120th anniversary of the Beth Joseph Synagogue in Tupper Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

“For over a century, Beth Joseph has offered more than just worship,” she said. “It has been a gathering space, a keeper of stories, traditions and shared values. It has opened doors to generations of families and visitors, standing as a powerful, but quiet reminder of what it means to be rooted in heritage, purpose and community.”

Fontana added that ceremonies like Sunday’s are an example of people coming together from all walks of life at a time when hate and division can leave one feeling despondent.

“Places like this remind us … that across differences of faith, backgrounds or belief, we can still come together in mutual respect and care,” she said. “They remind us that the most important foundations are built not just of stone and timber, but of love, understanding and the willingness to show up for one another.”

The synagogue, located at 57 Lake St., was completed in 1905. In the preceding decades, Jewish families moved to the Adirondacks. The earliest Jewish people in the Adirondacks came in the late 1800s, as the synagogue’s myriad of historical documents note. They often worked as “peddlers” — supplying clothing and other supplies to logging camps and railroad builders on site throughout the Adirondacks at the time.

As the industry continued to grow at the time, some eventually opened up stores. Two of those happened to be Fred and Esther Futterman, who owned and operated Futterman’s Furniture Store for several decades at 106 Park Street — which now houses Tupper Arts. The Adirondack Jewish population was buoyed by vacationers from New York City and surrounding East Coast cities, who would come up for vacation in the summer.

Beth Joseph Synagogue Treasurer Jeremy Kassel addresses the nearly 130 people in attendance to commemorate its 120th anniversary in Tupper Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

Early Jewish prayer services were often conducted in living rooms or around a kitchen table. As the number of families grew, so did the demand for — and ability to sustain — a dedicated space to practice faith and community.

Volunteers have worked to make sure the building stood strong over the decades, which included a significant renovation in the 1980s. While the building has withstood the test of time, the congregation numbers ebbed and flowed, ultimately declining as industry dwindled in the Adirondacks. Without a congregation, Beth Joseph Synagogue closed in 1963 before it was renovated and reopened in the 1980s, where it has since provided seasonal services and served as a community gathering place.

With its first 120 years in the books, Jeremy Kassel ended the ceremony’s remarks with a short Hebrew phrase, “Ad me’ah v’esrim,” which translates to “may you live to 120 years.” He noted that while the synagogue has already made it to this milestone, he was referring to the next 120.

“Ad me’ah v’esrim to the historic Beth Joseph Synagogue, its building, its congregation and its supporters,” he said. “Here’s to 120 more years.”

Beth Joseph Synagogue President Lara Kassel speaks at 120th anniversary celebration in Tupper Lake on Sunday. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)