Park East Synagogue
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| Park East Synagogue | |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | 163 East 67th Street, New York City |
| Coordinates: | Coordinates: |
| Built/Founded: | 1889-1890 |
| Architect: | Schneider and Herter |
| Architectural style(s): | Byzantine, Moorish Revival, Romanesque |
| Added to NRHP: | 1980 |
Park East Synagogue is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, in New York.
Congregation Zichron Ephraim was established by Bernard Drachman and Jonas Weil to promote Orthodox Judaism as an alternative to Reform Judaism popular on the Upper East Side.[1]
The architects were Schneider and Herter who designed numerous tenements on New York's Lower East Side as well as Hell's Kitchen neighborhoods. The building is similar to other synagogues built at the time which were in the Moorish Revival style that also featured a prominent Rose Window. One of the most unique characteristics is the asymmetrical twin towers with the eastern tower being taller (most other synagougues of the period featured twin towers of similar height). The towers are also adorned differently. Each of the towers originally were also topped by a bulbous dome which have since been removed.[2]
Over the door way engraved in granite and written in Hebrew is a verse from Psalm 100. "Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise."[3]
Since 1962, it has been led by its spiritual leader Rabbi Arthur Schneier. The current Assistant Rabbi (since August 2006), Rabbi Evan Hoffman delivers a Wednesday evening Bible class which fills the hall to capacity.
In 1976, Rabbi Schneier founded the Park East Day School, which now educates children from early childhood through eighth grade. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI visited the synagogue in the midst of a visit to New York City. This was the third papal visit to a synagogue, and the only such visit in the United States of America. The Pope was given a box of matzahs and a silver Seder plate (it was almost Passover when the visit occurred); members of both the Catholic and Jewish religions wore their respective skullcaps. [4][5]
[edit] References
- ^ Application for National Historic Site status
- ^ Application for National Historic Site status
- ^ Application for National Historic Site status
- ^ Garland, Sarah (April 3, 2008). Pope To Visit Upper East Side Synagogue. The New York Sun. Retrieved on 2008-04-04.
- ^ [The New York Times http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/19/us/nationalspecial2/19synagogue.html?ref=us]
[edit] External links
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