A History of the Congregation Beth Israel of Malden
New Buildings - Weiner Community Center and Salem Towers
By now, space in the synagogue's main building was becoming scarce. In 1952, a new community house was constructed on the land purchased under the urging of Rabbi Boruchoff.
Weiner Community Center
The 1960s was a decade of prolific growth for the congregation. In 1965, in the name of urban renewal, the shul's original building was demolished to allow the city to widen Eastern Avenue. The community house was remodeled as a synagogue, and the empty lot that had housed the original building became a parking lot.
Salem Towers
That same year, the congregation was granted a low interest loan by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to construct Salem Towers -- an 81-unit apartment block for low- to middle-income senior citizens. Beth Israel scored a considerable coup in becoming the first synagogue in the United States to undertake this type of building project.
With its unusual architectural design and prominent location in the center of town, Salem Towers was one of the factors in Malden receiving Look Magazine's award for All-American City in 1969.