The Seventy Shuls

For nearly 150 years, these seventy synagogues stood as sanctuaries of resilience and belonging, built by pioneers and immigrants, sustained by farmers and shopkeepers, and revived by Holocaust survivors who found hope in new soil. Though many have vanished, replaced by churches, highways, casinos, and housing developments, their stories linger in the land, waiting to be remembered. Blending investigative journalism, cultural history, and personal reflection, The Seventy Shuls uncovers the hidden legacy of seventy synagogues that once anchored Jewish life across Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem Counties. Through meticulous research and intimate storytelling, it brings these forgotten places to life, not in sepia tones but in full, vivid color, alive with naches, simchas, and the enduring cadence of Yiddishkeit. For historians, seekers of spirit, and anyone tracing the roots of Jewish identity in America, The Seventy Shuls is a powerful testament to community, continuity, and the sacred geography of a spiritual home: the shul.