Jewish Beacon Hill 

Journey to Beacon Hill’s North Slope at the turn of the 20th century and visit the one synagogue still standing.  We have partnered with Boston by Foot and the Vilna Shul for a two-hour walking, history and sightseeing tour.  

The tour begins at 11 am at the Vilna and continues thereafter with a 3/4 mile walk on the North Slope of the Hill. Please note that the terrain is uneven, with bricks, narrow sidewalks, and cobblestones.  The tour size is capped at 15, with BOLLI members only, unless there are unfilled slots.  Lunch at a nearby restaurant will be available to all participants.

The cost of the combined tour is $30, prepaid to Marsha Semuels mhsemuels@gmail.com, with a payment deadline of September 21. You may purchase nearby parking for $5 at the Charles River Plaza/ Cambridge Street Garage at 165 Cambridge Street. Entrance to the underground garage is between the Charles River Plaza Shopping Center (Whole Foods/CVS) and Au Bon Pain, near the intersection of Blossom St and Cambridge St.  Bring your ticket to the Vilna for validation.

During this tour, we will explore the lives of Beacon Hill's Jewish residents during a period of cultural and architectural change.  Jewish immigrants created an active community that blended customs from Eastern Europe and changes to the new world around them.  You will see where Boston’s Jewish West End residents worked, lived and worshiped, including the sites of three synagogues within a few blocks of each other.