Swan Lake Synagogue – Congregation Ahavath Achim

The Swan Lake Synagogue, located in the Catskills, is a traditional Orthodox synagogue that operates seasonally from Passover to Simchat Torah. During the summer, the synagogue is open for services seven days a week. All other times, the synagogue is open based on demand, usually on Yom Tov and Shabbat.

We primarily use the Artscroll Sefard Siddurim, but there is a limited selection of older and alternative prayer books available.

For more info about our Shul, Minyan Schedules, High Holiday Schedule, all year Schedules and
Community links visit our web site at:
http://swanlakesynagogue.org/

The community of Swan Lake in Sullivan County, NY, is visited by almost everyone that either stays in the area for the summer or visits the nearby bungalow colonies or children camps.

Congregation Ahavath Shalom was built in 1924, almost simultaneously as the Stevensville Hotel was built, to accommodate the hotel guests as well as the residents of the Swan Lake’s area. The Stevensville Hotel was built by Rose Levinson, Harry Dinnerstein, Henry Siegel and Jacob Kretchmer. Many other well-known Swan Lake hotelkeepers and families were involved as well, including the Roths and the Levines. In 1952, Rose Levinson sold out to Harry Dinnerstein, whose family ran the hotel until 1990.

The Shul, originally named the Bikur Cholim B’nai Israel Synagogue, was designed and built by a carpenter Sam Goodman, who based its design on local hotels and bungalows. 45 local Jews joined in the building and physically helped in its construction, literally every inch being the handiwork of their own volunteer labor of love.

Before its name was changed to Swan Lake, the lake was Stevensville Pond, and the community was ‘Stevensville.’ The name ‘Stevensville’ was acquired from the Stevens brothers who operated a sole leather tannery until it burned in 1856. One of the brothers, Daniel T. Stevens, rebuilt it and continued conducting business until 1873. In 1895, Alden S. Swan settled in the area and immediately started to purchase area properties, including the lake. Alden Swan died in 1917. In 1927, the post office officially changed its name from Stevensville to Swan Lake. This was three years after the Stevensville Lake Hotel opened and the name was not changed.

Today, The Swan Lake Synagogue – Congregation Ahavath Shalom (or The Swan Lake Synagogue – Congregation Ahavath operates from Passover until after the high Jewish holidays.