Central Synagogue (Manhattan)

Central Synagogue (Congregation Ahawath Chesed Shaar Hashomayim;[2] Yiddish: צענטראַל-סינאַגאָגע‎) is a Reform synagogue located at 652 Lexington Avenue, at the corner of East 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. It was built in 1870–1872 and was designed by Henry Fernbach in the Moorish Revival style as a copy of Budapest's Dohány Street Synagogue.[6][7] It has been in continuous use by a congregation longer than any other in the state of New York, except Congregation Berith Sholom in Troy, New York [5][8][9] and is among the oldest existing synagogue buildings in the United States.[10]

For similarly named synagogues, see Central Synagogue.
Central Synagogue
NYC Landmark No. 0276
Seen in 2017
Location646-652 Lexington Avenue[1]
Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates40.759592°N 73.970473°W / 40.759592; -73.970473
Built1870-72
ArchitectHenry Fernbach[2]
Architectural styleMoorish Revival
Websitecentralsynagogue.org
NRHP reference No.70000423 [3]
NYCL No.0276
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 9, 1970 [3]
Designated NHLMay 15, 1975[4]
Designated NYCLJuly 7, 1966[5]

The building was designated a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966[5] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970.[3] It was then designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975.[4][8]

History

The Ahawath Chesed congregation was founded in 1846 on Ludlow Street in Manhattan by German-speaking Jews from Bohemia. It merged in 1898 with Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, which was founded by German Jews in 1839 on Albany Street.[5][1][11] The combined congregation bought the lot at Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street and engaged Henry Fernbach, the country's first prominent Jewish architect, to design it.[2]

The dramatic style of the building was the subject of much debate during the construction. Some felt its excess would inspire envy and stand in the way of assimilation.[12] Construction was completed in 1872.[13]

After a fire in 1886, the building was restored by Ely Jacques Kahn.[2]

The building was restored in the original style after an accidental fire in August 1998,[14] which occurred just as a major renovation was nearing completion.[1][11] The fire destroyed the roof and its supports. During the fire, the firefighters' sensitivity for the building saved all but the central pane in the rose window that dominates the eastern (Lexington Avenue) wall. Marble plaques on the north wall of the foyer honor the firefighters of the 8th Battalion of the New York City Fire Department. The restoration of the building was supervised by Hugh Hardy of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer.[1] Hardy restored some details to the interior that Ely Jacques Kahn had removed during the earlier restoration in 1886. The recent restoration was completed on September 9, 2001.[2]

In March 2019, the mosque of the nearby Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan was damaged by a fire in an adjoining restaurant. A rabbi of the synagogue invited the congregation of the mosque to hold services in the synagogue until its structure could be repaired.[15]

Architecture

Although the brownstone exterior is "the finest extant example of the Moorish Revival style in New York City", the plan of the interior is Gothic in nature. The exterior is dominated by two octagonal towers topped by globular domes, as well as by the rose window of geometric design. A small row of arches just below the cornice, at the roof line, adds to the richness of the facade. The north facade, on East 55th Street, features six stained-glass windows framed by Moorish arches.[5][1] The interior is "stenciled with rich blues, earthy reds, ocher, and gilt – Moorish, but distinctly 19th century American."[2]

Services

Sensitive to the evolving interests and needs of the Reform Judaism community, Central Synagogue explores both traditional and alternative modes of prayer. In addition to daily morning minyan, Shabbat, holiday services, and celebrations of lifecycle events, the synagogue offers "Tot Shabbat" for children, and healing and community services.

Notable clergy
  • Angela Warnick Buchdahl, senior cantor from 2011-2014, senior rabbi since 2014
  • Deborah Prinz, assistant rabbi 1978-1981
  • Daniel Mutlu, senior cantor since 2017
  • Peter Rubinstein, senior rabbi from 1991-2014
  • Richard Botton, senior cantor from 1974-1998
  • Sheldon Zimmerman, senior rabbi from 1972-1985

Notable members

Source:[11]

  • The entrance to the synagogue (2012)
  • Front stained glass and organ pipes (2019)
  • Moorish Revival detail, south tower of the Central Synagogue (2011)
  • Interior (2010)
  • A detail of the interior (2010)

References

Notes
  1. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. p. 122. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1.
  2. White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot & Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. p. 320. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
  3. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  4. "Central Synagogue". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. September 10, 2007. Archived from the original on July 14, 2009. Retrieved September 10, 2007.
  5. (July 7, 1966) "Central Synagogue Designation Report" New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
  6. Krinsky, Carol (January 1, 1996). Synagogues of Europe: Architecture, History, Meaning. New York: Dover Publications. pp. 158–159. ISBN 0-486-29078-6.
  7. Frojimovics, Kinga (January 1, 1999). Jewish Budapest: Monuments, Rites, History. Budapest: Central European University Press. ISBN 978-9639116375.
  8. Pitts, Carolyn (February 2, 1975). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Central Synagogue" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying 5 photos, exterior and interior, from 1973 and undated (1.53 MB)
  9. Bahamón, Alejandro; Losantos, Àgata (2008). New York: A Historical Atlas of Architecture. New York: Black Dog and Leventhal. p. 99. ISBN 978-1579127862.
  10. Gordon, Mark W. (March 1996) "Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues" American Jewish History 84.1 pp.11-27. 2019 article update.
  11. Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p.40
  12. Gray, Christopher (May 1, 2003). New York Streetscapes (1st ed.). Harry N. Abrahams. p. 188. ISBN 978-0810944411.
  13. Stolzman, Henry; Stolzman, Daniel (2004). Synagogue Architecture in America: Faith, Spirit & Identity. Images Publishing. pp. 113–117. ISBN 978-1864700749.
  14. Harris, Bill (May 20, 2002). One Thousand New York Buildings (1st ed.). Running Press. p. 272. ISBN 978-1579122379.
  15. Brewis, Harriet (March 28, 2019). "Muslims invited to worship in synagogue after fire damages mosque". Evening Standard. London.
  16. "Obituary: STEPHEN SUSMAN". The New York Times. July 17, 2020 – via Legacy.

Bibliography
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