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Join us for an afternoon celebrating Chelsea’s rich history and vibrant, diverse community.
Tour our historic synagogue that was built in 1909 and was added to the National Register of Historic Place in 1993. Come see our 1,109-seat sanctuary with its painted ceiling and wall frescoes, murals and carved wood Aron Kodesh. Check out our collection of Judaica, artwork, photos, documents, books, posters and plaques that come from our synagogue, synagogues in Chelsea that have closed along with fraternal, social and educational organizations from Chelsea and elsewhere in Greater Boston. See our Museum page for details.
Explore Chelsea’s history with our speakers, noted Chelsea photographer Arnie Jarmak and writer Joshua Resnek. They will speak about Chelsea’s history from the early 20th century through today, focusing on the city’s cultural melting pot legacy with a focus on political, social, economic and religious insights of the city’s continuing evolution. Chelsea was known as “Little Jerusalem” due to its large Jewish community, but also included Irish, Italian and Polish communities. Jarmak’s stunning black and white photographs of Chelsea’s people, places and events during his tenure at the Chelsea Record will be displayed. Resnek’s, whose family immigrated to Chelsea from Russia in 1885, will present his intuitive knowledge of Chelsea through the decades. Following the presentation, Jarmak and Resnek will lead a discussion tracing the life and times of Chelsea’s Jewish and other ethnic communities. Jewish and other ethnic communities have been present in Chelsea for over a century. They have lived, worked, played sports and attended school together. Lessons can be learned from how different ethnic groups have immigrated to Chelsea and strived to jointly experience the American dream.
Joshua Resnek has been a prolific writer, publishing stories and articles globally for over fifty years. His career spans a wide range of roles, including investigative journalist, bar owner, newspaper editor, and publisher. Arnie Jarmak is a documentary photographer and entrepreneur. He was the photographer for the Chelsea Record for thirteen years and produced over 20,000 photos. Together they have written three books about Chelsea history including its trials and tribulations, The Last Seder in Little Jerusalem, Rugged and Turbulent Years in Chelsea that highlight their depth of research, first person experience and analysis and sense of history about Chelsea. Jarmak and Resnek have been friends since first grade.
DETAILS:
Where – Walnut Street Synagogue, 145 Walnut Street at the corner of Fourth Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts
When – Sunday, October 18, 2:00 to 5:00 pm (Doors open at 2:00 pm, Speakers begin at 3:00 pm)
Registration – No cost to attend, but please let us know if you plan on attending. Registration required
Questions – please contact us at info@walnutstreetsynagogue.org
Enjoy our nosh and schmooze with community members.
Please note that our building is not accessible for those with physical disabilities. We will be having an online version of this program in November. Registration for that program will open soon.
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ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS:
Born in Marblehead, Massachusetts, in 1950, Joshua Resnek moved to Chelsea in 1977 and began reporting for the daily Chelsea Record. His work as a reporter, editor, publisher, and author grew alongside a decades-long creative partnership with photographer Arnie Jarmak. Resnek has written for publications including The Boston Globe, The New York Times, and Boston Magazine. In 1996, he received a regional Emmy Award for investigative reporting for a three-part NBC Boston series on the presidential pardon system. His books include Turbulent Years in Chelsea, Rugged, The Last Seder in Little Jerusalem, and The Evening News with Walter Cronkite. In 2024, he appeared as Vincent “Vinny” Bellini in the Boston short film Mobston.
Arnie Jarmak came to Chelsea as a young photographer drawn to the life in its streets. From 1977–1989, Jarmak worked for the Chelsea Record as a resident and neighbor, building an archive now numbering more than 20,000 negatives. His photographs hold the city’s people, streets, fires, work, politics, businesses, and changing communities. He stayed long enough to become part of that life. His photographs preserve not an outsider’s impression, but the faces, neighborhoods, work, public rituals, and daily turns of a city he came to love. Documentary photography is central to Jarmak’s Chelsea work, but it is not the whole of his practice. He also identifies as a fine-art photographer. The instinct to preserve lived experience and the eye for form, atmosphere, and the finished print have always belonged to the same work.
photos and images courtesy of Joshua Resnek and Arnie Jarmak
Chelsea’s Transition from Little Jerusalem flyer
This program is funded in part by a Creative Experiences Grant from the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.
To support of this program and our ongoing cultural and educational programming, please use the link below.
Chelsea’s Transition from Little Jerusalem Donation Form