Anshei Glen Wild Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anshei Glen Wild Synagogue |
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West profile and north elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status |
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| Status | Closed (as a place of worship) |
| Location | |
| Location | Glen Wild Road, Glen Wild, Sullivan County, New York |
| Country | United States |
 Location in New York
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| Architecture | |
| Founder | Jaffe family |
| General contractor | Jim Couch and Sons |
| Date established | 1913 (as a congregation) |
| Groundbreaking | 1921 |
| Completed | 1923 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Materials | Concrete; stucco |
The Anshei Glen Wild Synagogue is a small, historic building in Glen Wild, New York. It used to be a place of worship for people who followed Orthodox Jewish traditions. The congregation started in 1913.
The building was finished in 1923 and still looks much like it did back then. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 because of its importance. Since 2013, the building has been used as an art gallery and a place for performances.
Contents
Exploring the Synagogue Building
Outside the Synagogue
The former synagogue is a one-story building. It sits on a strong concrete base. The outside walls are covered in a material called stucco. The roof has a pointed shape, known as a gabled roof, and is covered with asphalt shingles. A part of the building was added to the back later.
At the front of the building, there is a porch. Its roof is shaped like a bell and is held up by two round wooden columns. Above the porch, you can see the synagogue's name and a Star of David. The sides and the original back wall of the building have large, round-arched windows. These windows have colorful and opaque glass.
Inside the Synagogue
When you enter, you go through fancy wooden doors with a colorful fan-shaped window above them. These doors lead into a small entry area called a vestibule. The main part of the building is the sanctuary. This is a square room with a curved ceiling, like a barrel. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
The layout of the sanctuary follows Orthodox Jewish traditions. In the center, there is a raised platform called the bimah. This is where the Torah is read. Wooden pews, or benches, with curved ends surround the bimah on three sides. All the pews face the Torah ark at the back of the room. A few pews were set aside as the women's gallery.
The Torah ark is a special cabinet where the holy Torah scrolls are kept. It is made of decorated wood. On top of the ark, two carved, gilt (gold-covered) Lions of Judah hold a scroll. This scroll shows the Ten Commandments. A large gold crown sits on top of it all. Both the ark platform and the bimah are made of paneled wood.
A Look at the Synagogue's History
Early Days in Glen Wild
Around the early 1900s, Jewish families started to visit and then settle in areas like Sullivan County. One of these families was the Jaffes, who arrived in Glen Wild in 1904. They were from Lithuania, like many other Jewish people in the area. Simon Jaffe, who was a shochet (a person who performs ritual animal slaughter), helped start a small Jewish community.
In 1913, this community formed a congregation with 13 members. For more than ten years, they met for worship in Simon Jaffe's house.
Building the Synagogue
Eventually, the community decided to build their own synagogue. They bought a small piece of land. In 1921, they laid the first stones, called cornerstones, for the new building. A local company, Jim Couch and Sons, built the synagogue. They were neighbors of the Jaffe family.
The building was finished in 1923. Its design has some features similar to Christian churches in Sullivan County, like the gabled roof. However, its windows and stucco finish are like other synagogues built around that time in the area. Examples include the former Hebrew Congregation of Mountaindale Synagogue and the South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue.
In 1955, a member named Louis Rosenblatt gave money to build a new section at the back. This new part was used as a social hall. This was the only change made to the building since it was first built in 1923.
Later Years and New Purpose
The Anshei Glen Wild congregation was always small. It never had its own rabbi. Simon Jaffe, who was also a schoolteacher, led the services and taught Hebrew to the children. His family continued to take care of the synagogue, even though services were not held very often. The members mostly focused on taking care of the nearby cemetery.
Around 2013, an artist named Mike Osterhout bought the synagogue. He turned it into an art gallery and a place for performances. Mike Osterhout also owns another historic building nearby, the Glen Wild Methodist Church, which he renamed the Church of the Little Green Man.
See also
- Anshei Israel Synagogue, a similar small rural synagogue in Lisbon, Connecticut.
