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 building in Glen Wild, New York. It used to be a Jewish place of worship, called a synagogue. It is located in Sullivan County.
A group of people started the congregation in 1913. They never had their own rabbi, who is a Jewish religious leader. The building was finished in 1923 and still looks much like it did back then. In 1999, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site.
Since 2013, the building has been used for art shows and performances.
Contents
About the Building
The former synagogue is a one-story building. It sits on a concrete base. The outside walls are covered in stucco, which is a type of plaster. It has a gabled roof, which means it has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. The roof is covered with asphalt shingles.
Outside Features
A small porch is at the front of the building. It has a bell-shaped roof. Two round wooden columns hold up the porch roof. Above the porch, you can see the synagogue's name and a Star of David. This is a common Jewish symbol. The sides and back of the building have large, round-arched windows. These windows have colored and opaque glass.
Inside the Synagogue
You enter through fancy wooden doors. Above the doors is a colorful fanlight, which is a window shaped like a fan. This leads into a small entry area. The main part of the building is the sanctuary. This is a square room with a rounded ceiling, like a barrel. A chandelier hangs from the ceiling.
The layout of the sanctuary follows Orthodox Jewish traditions. The bimah is in the center. This is a raised platform where the Torah is read. Pews, or benches, are arranged around the bimah on three sides. They all face the Torah ark at the back. The Torah ark is a special cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept. Some pews were set aside as the women's gallery.
The ark is beautifully decorated with carved wooden posts. These posts hold up a roof shaped like a triangle. On top, two carved, golden Lions of Judah hold a scroll. This scroll has the Ten Commandments written on it. A large golden crown sits on top. Both the ark platform and the bimah are made of wood.
History of the Synagogue
Jewish families started coming to the Sullivan County area in the early 1900s. They first came for vacations, then many decided to stay.
Founding the Congregation
In 1904, the Jaffe family arrived in Glen Wild. They were from Lithuania, like many other Jewish people in the area. Simon Jaffe was a shochet, someone who prepares meat according to Jewish law. He helped start a small congregation in 1913. It began with only 13 members.
For over ten years, the worshipers met at Simon Jaffe's house. Then, they decided to build their own synagogue. They bought a small piece of land. The first stones were laid in 1921.
Building the Synagogue
A local contractor, Jim Couch and Sons, built the synagogue. They were neighbors of the Jaffe family. The building was finished in 1923. It has some features like Christian churches in Sullivan County, such as the gabled roof. But its windows and stucco walls are similar to other synagogues built around that time. Examples include the former Hebrew Congregation of Mountaindale and the South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue.
In 1955, a member named Louis Rosenblatt gave money for a new part of the building. This new section was added to the back. It was used as a social hall. This was the only change made to the building since 1923.
Later Years and New Use
The Anshei Glen Wild congregation was always small. It never had its own rabbi. Simon Jaffe, who was also a schoolteacher, led the services. He also taught Hebrew to the children. His family continued to take care of the synagogue. 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. Mr. Osterhout also owns the nearby Glen Wild Methodist Church. He renamed it the Church of the Little Green Man.
See also
- Anshei Israel Synagogue, a similar small rural synagogue in Lisbon, Connecticut.
