Synopses & Reviews
Includes 100 illustrations of magnificent and historic synagogues on New York's Lower East Side.It has often been said that nowhere in the United States can one find a greater collection of magnificent and historic synagogues than on New York's Lower East Side. As the ultimate destination for millions of immigrant eastern European Jews during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the new homeland and hoped-for goldene medinah (promised land) for immigrants fleeing persecution, poverty, and oppression, while struggling to live a new and productive life. Yet to many visitors and students today these synagogues are shrouded in mystery, as
documentary information on them tends to be dispersed and difficult to find.
With The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side, Gerard R. Wolfe fills that void, giving readers unparalleled access to the story of how the Jewish community took root on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Using archival photographs taken by Jo Renee Fine and contemporary shots taken by Norman Borden alongside his text,
Wolfe focuses on the synagogues built or acquired by eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants during the great era of mass immigration, painting vivid portraits of the individual congregations and the new and vital culture that was emerging. For many, the Lower East Side became the portal to America and the stepping-stone to
a new and better life. Today, the synagogues in which these immigrants worshiped remain as a poignant visual reminder of what had become the largest Jewish community in the world.
Originally published in 1978, The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side became the authoritative study of the subject. Now completely revised and updated with new text, photographs, and maps, along with an invaluable glossary, Wolfe's book is an essential and accessible source for those who want to understand the
varied and rich history of New York's Lower East Side and its Jewish population. Its readable and illuminating view into the diversity of synagogues--large and small, past and present--and their people makes this book ideal for teachers, students, museum educators, and general readers alike.
Review
" . . . details the active synagogues (12) and the lost: or endangered synagogues, and also includes a great chronological chart documenting shul mergers and breakaways in New York City 1654-1875." -The Jewish Week
"Wolfe, an architectural historian, unpeels layers of the past behind the congregations and their building. . .[An] excellent new edition . . . " -The Jewish Week
"Gerard R. Wolfe, joined by the photographers Jo Renee Fine and Norman Borden, has completely overhauled "The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side", originally published in 1978. This volume, which is illustrated with black and white photographs and has a foreword by The Times's Joseph Berger, uses historic houses of worship as a prism to explore immigrant life and culture." -Sam Roberts, The New York Times
Synopsis
It has often been said that nowhere in the United States can one find a greater collection of magnificent and historic synagogues than on New York's Lower East Side. As the ultimate destination for millions of immigrant eastern European Jews during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the new homeland and hoped-for goldene medinah (promised land) for immigrants fleeing persecution, poverty, and oppression, while struggling to live a new and productive life. Yet to many visitors and students today these synagogues are shrouded in mystery, as documentary information on them tends to be dispersed and difficult to find. With The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side, Gerard R. Wolfe fills that void, giving readers unparalleled access to the story of how the Jewish community took root on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Using archival photographs taken by Jo Renee Fine and contemporary shots taken by Norman Borden alongside his text, Wolfe focuses on the synagogues built or acquired by eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants during the great era of mass immigration, painting vivid portraits of the individual congregations and the new and vital culture that was emerging. For many, the Lower East Side became the portal to America and the stepping-stone to a new and better life. Today, the synagogues in which these immigrants worshiped remain as a poignant visual reminder of what had become the largest Jewish community in the world. Originally published in 1978, The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side became the authoritative study of the subject. Now completely revised and updated with new text, photographs, and maps, along with an invaluable glossary, Wolfe's book is an essential and accessible source for those who want to understand the varied and rich history of New York's Lower East Side and its Jewish population. Its readable and illuminating view into the diversity of synagogues--large and small, past and present--and their people makes this book ideal for teachers, students, museum educators, and general readers alike.
Synopsis
Includes 100 illustrations of magnificent and historic synagogues on New York's Lower East Side.It has often been said that nowhere in the United States can one find a greater collection of magnificent and historic synagogues than on New York's Lower East Side. As the ultimate destination for millions of immigrant eastern European Jews during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the new homeland and hoped-for goldene medinah (promised land) for immigrants fleeing persecution, poverty, and oppression, while struggling to live a new and productive life. Yet to many visitors and students today these synagogues are shrouded in mystery, as documentary information on them tends to be dispersed and difficult to find.
With The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side, Gerard R. Wolfe fills that void, giving readers unparalleled access to the story of how the Jewish community took root on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Using archival photographs taken by Jo Renee Fine and contemporary shots taken by Norman Borden alongside his text, Wolfe focuses on the synagogues built or acquired by eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants during the great era of mass immigration, painting vivid portraits of the individual congregations and the new and vital culture that was emerging. For many, the Lower East Side became the portal to America and the stepping-stone to a new and better life. Today, the synagogues in which these immigrants worshiped remain as a poignant visual reminder of what had become the largest Jewish community in the world.
Originally published in 1978, The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side became the authoritative study of the subject. Now completely revised and updated with new text, photographs, and maps, along with an invaluable glossary, Wolfe's book is an essential and accessible source for those who want to understand the varied and rich history of New York's Lower East Side and its Jewish population. Its readable and illuminating view into the diversity of synagogues--large and small, past and present--and their people makes this book ideal for teachers, students, museum educators, and general readers alike.
Synopsis
Includes 100 illustrations of magnificent and historic synagogues on New York's Lower East Side.
It has often been said that nowhere in the United States can one find a greater collection of magnificent and historic synagogues than on New York's Lower East Side. As the ultimate destination for millions of immigrant eastern European Jews during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it became the new homeland and hoped-for goldene medinah (promised land) for immigrants fleeing persecution, poverty, and oppression, while struggling to live a new and productive life. Yet to many visitors and students today these synagogues are shrouded in mystery, as
documentary information on them tends to be dispersed and difficult to find.
With The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side, Gerard R. Wolfe fills that void, giving readers unparalleled access to the story of how the Jewish community took root on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. Using archival photographs taken by Jo Renee Fine and contemporary shots taken by Norman Borden alongside his text,
Wolfe focuses on the synagogues built or acquired by eastern European Ashkenazi Jewish immigrants during the great era of mass immigration, painting vivid portraits of the individual congregations and the new and vital culture that was emerging. For many, the Lower East Side became the portal to America and the stepping-stone to
a new and better life. Today, the synagogues in which these immigrants worshiped remain as a poignant visual reminder of what had become the largest Jewish community in the world.
Originally published in 1978, The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side became the authoritative study of the subject. Now completely revised and updated with new text, photographs, and maps, along with an invaluable glossary, Wolfe's book is an essential and accessible source for those who want to understand the
varied and rich history of New York's Lower East Side and its Jewish population. Its readable and illuminating view into the diversity of synagogues--large and small, past and present--and their people makes this book ideal for teachers, students, museum educators, and general readers alike.
About the Author
Gerard R. Wolfe, Ph.D., is an architectural historian and former professor and administrator at New York University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He was the first to offer historical/architectural walking tours of the Lower East Side, beginning in the early 1970s.
Jo Renee Fine, Ph.D., is Director of Training and Content Development at Harris, Rothenberg International. She is a trainer and educator with more than 30 years of program development and management experience in both the private and nonprofit sectors.
Norman Borden is a contemporary photographer.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Introduction
The Intervening Years
The Discovery
The Active Synagogues:
Street Map of the Active Synagogues
1. Congregation Khal Adas Jeshurun with Anshe Lubz / The Eldridge Street Synagogue / The Museum at Eldridge Street
2. The Bialystoker Synagogue
3. Congregation Chasam Sopher
4. Congregation Bnai Jacob Anshe Brzezan ("The Stanton Street Shul")
5. Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum
6. Congregation Anshe Slonim / Originally Ansche Chesed/ Now: Angel Orensanz Foundation for the Arts.
7. Beth Tomche Torah V'Zikne Yisroel / Formerly: House of Sages; Now: Home of the Sages of Israel
8. East Side Torah Center
9. Erste Lutowisker Chevra
10. Downtown Talmud Torah Synagogue
11. The Community Synagogue
12. Congregation Tifereth Israel / Town and Village Synagogue
13. The Bialystoker Center for Rehabilitation and Nursing ("The Bialystoker Home")
The East Side Mikvah Building
The Shtieblach and Beyond
The "Lost" or Endangered Synagogues
Landsmanshaftn and Banks
The "Lost" or Endangered Synagogues
A. Beth Hamedrash Hagodol
B. First Roumanian-American Congregation, Shaarey Hashomayim
C. Young Israel Synagogue of Manhattan
D. Congregation Beth Haknesseth Mogen Avraham
E. Sons of Israel Kalwarie ("The Pike Street Shul")
F. Erste Warshawer Congregation
G. Congregation Beth Haknesseth Etz Chaim Anshe Wolozin
H. Congregation Senier and Wilno
I. Congregation Kochob Jacob Anshe Kamenetz Lite
J. Congregation Anshe Abatien
K. Congregation Anshe Baranove
L. Congregation Anshe Czernowitz-Bukoviner
M. Congregation Adas Yisroel Anshe Mezeritch
N. Congregation Ahawath Jeshurun Shara'a Torah
O. Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Anshe Ungarn
P. Congregation Bnai Rappaport Anshe Rembrava
Q. Congregation Kehilas Bnai Moshe Yakov Anshe Zavichost veZosmer ("The 8th Street Shul")
R. Congregation Poel Zedek Anshe Illiya ("The Forsyth Street Shul)
S. Congregation Kol Israel Anshe Poland and Mishkan Israel Suwalki
T. Congregation Tifereth Yerushelaim
U. Congregation Chevra Kadisha Ansche Sochesteczewa
Appendix
A. The Lower East Side Tenement Museum
B. The Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy
C. Chronology of Major Hebrew Congregations, 1854-1875
D. Recommended Readings
E. Glossary