Kol Israel Synagogue

Congregation Kol Israel is a historic Modern Orthodox[2] synagogue at 603 St. John's Place in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. It was built in 1928 and is a vernacular "tenement synagogue." It is a small, two story rectangular building faced in random laid fieldstone. It was designed by Brooklyn architect Tobias Goldstone.[3] The western side of its midblock lot overlooks the open cut of the Franklin Avenue Line of the New York City Subway.[4]

Kol Israel Synagogue
Location603 St. John's Place, Brooklyn, New York
Coordinates40°40′29″N 73°57′29″W
Arealess than one acre
Built1928 (1928)
ArchitectTobias Goldstone
NRHP reference No.09000966[1]
Added to NRHPDecember 2, 2009

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.[5]

In 2015, "after several failed attempts to bring in new members," the board hired Rabbi Sam Reinstein to "transform his ailing Modern Orthodox synagogue into a place young people consider cool." In addition to adding monthly art shows and after-parties to its programming,[6] the synagogue in 2016 hosted "the first Jewish Comic Con," which featured comics artists Isaac Goodheart of Postal (comics) and Jordan B. Gorfinkel.[7]

In June 2016, an eruv built to benefit the Kol Israel congregation "increased sixfold the area in which observant Jews can carry items, and, most importantly, push strollers during Shabbat," but was opposed by Hasidic Chabad neighbors who believed the neighborhood was geographically and halakhically impossible to enclose in an eruv.[8] Chabad's Crown Heights beth din rabbinical court issued a ruling rejecting the eruv as a "devastation of the Shabbat."[9] A few months after the eruv was repeatedly vandalized and its organizers allegedly harassed,[10] two Chabad members were arrested and charged with criminal mischief, although the New York City Police Department had previously said that they would be charged with criminal mischief as a hate crime and criminal tampering.[11][12]

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. November 2, 2013.
  2. "Congregation Kol Israel: About". Congregation Kol Israel. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  3. Kathy Howe (October 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Registration:Kol Israel Synagogue". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original on 2012-10-19. Retrieved 2011-02-20. See also: "Accompanying 11 photos". Archived from the original on 2012-10-19.
  4. "Congregation Kol Israel". Google Maps.
  5. "National Register of Historic Places". WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 11/30/09 THROUGH 12/04/09. National Park Service. 2009-12-11.
  6. Lokting, Britta (2017-08-31). "Can This 28-Year-Old Rabbi Save A Landmark Brooklyn Synagogue?". Forward. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  7. Sales, Ben (2016-11-15). "At First Jewish Comic Con, Artists and Geeks Revel in Tradition". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  8. Clark, Amy Sara (2016-06-22). "Fight Over New Eruv Erupts In Crown Heights". New York Jewish Week. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  9. "Lubavitch Rabbis Issue Edict Against Modern Orthodox Eruv in Crown Heights". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  10. Smith, Rachel Holliday (2016-07-25). "Newly Built Eruv Repeatedly Vandalized Amid Uproar in Crown Heights". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  11. Smith, Rachel (2016-10-27). "Crown Heights Eruv Vandals Under Arrest, Police Say". DNAinfo. Archived from the original on 2020-02-03. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  12. Kestenbaum, Sam (2016-10-28). "2 Hasidic Jews Charged With Vandalizing Controversial Brooklyn Eruv". Forward. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
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