Astoria Center of Israel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Astoria Center of Israel |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Rite | Conservative |
| Notable feature | Murals by Louis Pierre Rigal |
| Location | |
| Location | 27-35 Crescent Street, Astoria, Queens, New York City, New York |
| Country | United States |
 Location in New York City
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Louis Allen Abramson |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Date established | c. 1880s (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1926 |
The Astoria Center of Israel is a special Jewish building called a synagogue. It is located in Astoria, a part of Queens in New York City, New York, United States. This synagogue follows the Conservative tradition.
The Jewish community that started this center began way back in the 1880s. The building you see today was finished in 1926. It's a historic place built in a style called Classical Revival. Because of its importance, it was added to the New York State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places in October 2009.
Contents
Building Design
The Astoria Center was designed by an architect named Louis Allen Abramson. It was one of the first synagogues built in Queens.
Outside Look
The building has a brick front, which is two stories tall and has five sections, or "bays." It has fancy stone decorations. Tall, round columns called Ionic piers stand on either side of the arched windows. These columns hold up a decorative band called an entablature, which is topped by a railing called a balustrade. The main entrance is a round arch with a special carving above it. This carving, called a cartouche, has a Star of David inside it.
Inside Art
Inside the synagogue, you can see beautiful paintings called murals. These were created by a French artist named Louis Pierre Rigal. He added them a few years after the building was completed.
History of the Center
The story of the Astoria Center of Israel began with a Jewish group called Mishkan Israel. They started in the 1880s and built their first building in 1906.
Early Education
In 1921, this group built another building next to their first one. This new building was a Talmud Torah, which is a school for Jewish children. The goal was to teach children about their "noble tradition" and help them love and respect it. This education building later became the home of the Astoria Center of Israel. Sadly, the original Mishkan Israel building was later destroyed in a fire.
Growing Community
By 1926, people started working to make the new Astoria Center of Israel building even bigger. By 1929, the Astoria Center of Israel (ACI) had become a very active place for Jewish life in Queens. Its historical importance was recognized when it was added to the National and State Registers of Historic Places in 2009.
Important Rabbis
In 1926, Rabbi Joshua L. Goldberg became the first rabbi of the Astoria Center. He had a very interesting life.
Rabbi Goldberg's Journey
During World War I, Rabbi Goldberg was forced to join the Russian Army. He later escaped and came to the United States. He then joined the American forces and served in Europe. After the war, he returned to New York to study and become a rabbi. When World War II started, Rabbi Goldberg went back to serve in the U.S. military. This time, he was a chaplain, which is like a religious leader for soldiers. He was the first rabbi to serve with the U.S. Navy during World War II. In 1951, he was honored as the rabbi emeritus of ACI, meaning he was a respected former rabbi.
