Building Jewish Pride on the North Shore

Every few weeks, as the sun dips below the horizon on Friday night, casting a glow over the historic streets of Salem, Massachusetts, you might find a group of people sitting at a bar. But before they raise their glasses, a rabbi standing among them raises his glass and recites the traditional Kiddush prayer, welcoming the holy day of Shabbat. Between lively conversation, sips of craft beer, and bites of homemade challah, something special happens. Amid the charm of colonial buildings and curious onlookers a centuries-old tradition is revived.

This is Shabbat at the Bar, one of the many unique ways Rabbi Mendel and Fraidy Barber have helped make Judaism come alive since they, along with their three children, moved to the North Shore in August 2023 to establish Chabad of Beverly-Salem, the third Chabad center serving the area under the aegis of Rabbi Yossi and Layah Lipsker, who founded Chabad of the North Shore in 1992.

While Salem might be best known for its infamous witch trials of 1692 and the throngs of tourists that pour in every October, Rabbi Mendel sees the city through a different lens. “For us, it’s a place of connection,” he says. “We have the opportunity to reach both the 1,600 Jewish residents here and the countless Jewish tourists who pass through.” Home to waterfronts, museums, and art galleries, Beverly’s and Salem’s historic charm are the backdrop of a vibrant Jewish revival.

Chabad’s impact extends beyond local outreach. Chabad collaborates with local universities like Salem State and Endicott, bringing down speakers such as Holocaust survivor Endre Sarkany and survivor of the Nova Festival attack Daniel Vaknin. Programs like these help offer support and pride for Jewish students and locals.

For Sara Pouladian, a lifelong resident of the area, Chabad’s arrival couldn’t have come at a more crucial moment. She remembers the day she sold the Barbers their new home, unaware that they would soon become central figures in her life. “After October 7th, something shifted,” Sara reflects. “We needed Chabad more than ever – it’s really brought our community together.”

One of the first programs Sara connected with was the Jewish Women’s Circle, led by Fraidy Barber. “There’s something so special about coming together with other women to cook, to learn, to create,” Sara says. The Barbers, she adds, “are some of the best people I’ve ever met.”

David Finger, who moved to the area a few years ago, shares a similar sentiment. “Chabad makes Judaism feel real,” he says. For someone who long felt that the idea of keeping Shabbat “was slightly antiquated, Rabbi Mendel helped me understand the freeing nature of ‘disconnecting’ once in a while.” David’s wife Michaella now lights Shabbat candles every week, as they sit back and appreciate life’s blessings for a little bit.

David says that he’s noticed a rising tide of Jewish pride since October 7. “People are searching for connection now more than ever, and Chabad makes it possible. Without them, we wouldn’t have such an accessible way to explore it.”