On this first temperate day of 2003 my wife and I decided to dodge bed-headed hipsters, neck-craning tour groups and the occasional cellphone-clutching model and try to enjoy walking around our Lower East Side neighborhood. Since getting married last October at the Angel Orensanz Foundation we've paid particular attention to the area's aging synagogues. Here is a non-comprehensive gallery of pictures.
First stop was the still-active Bialystoker synagogue on Bialystoker Place. Check out this 3-D virtual tour of the interior. How cool is that!
Next, we headed down too-hip Clinton street for brunch, where I had the corned beef hash, and she had the grilled salmon salad. On Clinton just before Houston is Congregation Chasam Sopher.
Like Angel Orensanz (below), Chasam Sopher uses marquee lights for some interesting effects.
Doubling back on Clinton to Rivington (Stanton?) we see the less-elegant Anshei Brezan B'nai Jacob (we think), with the drooping sign inviting people to join.
Back on Norfolk is the beautiful and very red Angel Orensanz Foundation. Occupied by pigeons and the homeless until Spanish artist Angel Orensanz took it over, this is the first synagogue built in New York. Currently run as a cultural center by Angel's friendly brother Al and the super-efficient Maria.
Angel O with a jewish pigeon. Perhaps returning from the diaspora.
On Houston, right across from Katz's is this small former synagogue. Recently renovated into an apartment building. I don't know the name.
We were trying to figure out a mneumonic device for remembering whether Stanton comes before Rivington or vice versa when we get to the massive First Roumanian American synagogue.
Part of the building is now the entrance to a small apartment building. I'd feel bad if every time I went home the 10 commandments were above my mailbox.
This photo belongs on a Jewish greeting card.
The final stop on our improvised tour was the Erste Warshawer Synagogue farther up Rivington, on the SoHo (Nolita?) side of Allen.
This synagogue's most interesting feature is its large stained glass window, which looks like it used to have a Star of David given the 6-sided central figure.
That's all for now. I'll try to add some more the next time we have some nice weather, though I'm not holding my breath.
Updated 4/20/03: In my first trip around the neighborhood I missed one of the most impressive and historic examples in the area, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Deep in the heart of Chinatown, Eldridge can be a little hard to find, but once you're on its block, the building is shockingly ornate compared to the grimy tenaments on either side.
From their website: "The Eldridge Street Synagogue was completed in 1887. It is the first building designed and built to be a synagogue by the Jews from Eastern Europe." This is in contrast to the Angel Orensanz (above) which was the first synagogue built in New York, but was for a Sephardic congregation.
Back towards Delancey street is the Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Synagogue, built in 1850 as the Norfolk Street Baptist Church housed in an hold wooden church. The synagogue houses the oldest congregation of Russian Jews in New York.
The building has seen better times, having been the victim of fire in recent years.
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Ari, I would love to ask you some questions about getting married at Angel Orensanz, as I will be married there next year. please email me if you have the time.
Thank you.
Kenneth Collins
kennethcollins@hotmail.com
Um, maybe you could post how much it cost to rent the space (TONY said $13K?!) and if you had a good experience?
This is a great page. I've been meaning to do my own photo tour of NYC synagogues for some time, and now I'm even more motivated. Thanks!
Congrats on your wedding! Hope all went well. I'm looking into Angel O for mine and would love feedback and info on pricing.
Thanks.
have you heard that Rivington st was renamed
Rabbi Yaakov Spiegel Way after my late father
So quiet lately. More comment please.
What a nice blog.
Thanks for the photo journalism. I have been looking for a source/list of the synogogues on the L.E.S.
Aish HaTorah is having Rosh Hashana services downstairs at the Bialystoker Schul, and they are open to anyone. Maybe during the day we can spend some time visiting the other synogogues on your list.
Since you know about synagogues, could you please help me. My family is trying to sell a family plot in Mt. Hebron cemetery, in Fluching Queens because we have all moved out of N. Y. There are 16 graves in the best part of the cemetery. The going price from the cemetery is $3500.00 per grave. We would like to get our money back at $1800.00 each. Do you know of any synagogue or organization that may be interested.
Thank you kindly
Shirley Yudow. 5699 Royal Lake Circle
Boynton Beach, Fl. 33437
561-637-1759
Hi,
great website. a friend of mine who lived in harlem showed me a small synagogue up there that is still in service. but I don't have the balls do go back there by myself and take a photo-he was a little daring or crazy.
my great-grandparents lived on the lower east side around 1912, give or take. i believe they were married there also. would you know any synagogues near,
306 east 2nd street
or
goerck street(not sure what street it is today)
Thanks,
Laura
email
mylittlejewboy@yahoo.com
The First Warshawer Congregation on 60 Rivington Street retains most of it's original facade. Rabbi Nuta Shainberg O"B, my late father, was the Rabbi from the 1950's to 1975.
