Beth David Synagogue (Amenia, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beth David Synagogue |
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North elevation and west profile of synagogue with sukkah in front, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Dr. Jon Haddon (Emeritus) |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 3344 East Main Street (NY 343), Amenia, New York 12501 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in New York
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival influences |
| Date established | c. 1920s (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1929 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North |
| Materials | Concrete, brick, asphalt |
Beth David Synagogue, also known as Congregation Beth David, is a Jewish place of worship (a synagogue) in Amenia, New York. It is located at 3344 East Main Street, which is also NY 343. This small brick building was built in the late 1920s. It follows the Reform Jewish tradition.
The synagogue was built by a small group of Russian Jewish families who had moved to the area. Over the years, the synagogue changed its style of worship. It started as Orthodox, then became Conservative, and finally Reform. Beth David Synagogue is an important historical building. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. It is the only synagogue in New York, east of the Hudson River and north of New York City, to be listed on the Register.
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About the Synagogue Building
The synagogue is on a piece of land about 46 feet wide and 124 feet long. It is on the south side of East Main Street in Amenia. The building is surrounded by houses, a woodlot, and evergreen trees. A small concrete sidewalk leads to the front steps.
Outside the Synagogue
The building is a tall, one-story structure. It has a concrete base and is covered with brick. The corners of the front and sides have brick pilasters, which are like flat columns. The roof is gabled, meaning it has two sloping sides that meet at a ridge. A narrow brick chimney sticks out from the roof. There is also a rear section that was added later.
Three concrete steps lead to the main entrance. There are double wooden doors with a stone frame. Above the doors, a glass panel says "CONGREGATION BETH DAVID" in gold letters. On either side of the doors are tall, narrow, round-arched windows. Above the door is a larger round-arched window. A gold Star of David is placed in the triangular part of the roof (the gable).
The sides of the building also have long, narrow windows, separated by pilasters.
Inside the Synagogue
When you enter, you step into a small entrance area called a vestibule. From here, you can go up a staircase to an upstairs gallery or into a bathroom. Another set of doors leads into the main worship area, called the sanctuary.
The sanctuary is a square room with a high ceiling. It has a traditional layout, with a central bimah (a raised platform for reading the Torah). The bimah is surrounded on three sides by theater-style pews, which are like benches with upholstered seats. The pews and bimah are made of dark-stained pine wood. Everyone faces the Torah ark, which is a special cabinet at the back of the room where the Torah scrolls are kept. The ark is painted with pictures of candlesticks and scrolls.
Above the ark, there are two golden Lions of Judah holding a scroll, with a lighted crown hanging above them. Two stairs lead up to the bimah, and a large chandelier hangs above it.
Along the sides of the sanctuary, there are lights (sconces) and windows. The lower parts of the windows have stained glass with geometric designs and Jewish symbols. Under the balcony, you'll find bookcases and special plaques that remember people or events.
Behind the sanctuary, there's a kitchen on the first floor and the rabbi's study on the second floor. The smaller back wing has bathrooms and a storage room. The larger addition is used as a classroom.
History of Beth David Synagogue
Beth David Synagogue was started by about 12 to 15 Russian Jewish families. Many of these families had moved to Amenia from nearby Ellsworth, Connecticut. They used to farm and rent rooms to visitors during the summer. By the 1920s, many moved to Amenia because it had better schools, electricity, and easy train access to New York City. Some families even opened their own hotels around Lake Amenia.
This was a small Jewish community compared to larger ones in the Catskills. At first, members worshiped in their homes. They saved money for several years to build their own synagogue. A small piece of land was given to them. The cornerstone was laid on April 5, 1929, during a ceremony that even Christian community members attended. Everyone present donated money, raising a total of $240 for the building.
The synagogue opened later that year. It originally had a flat roof, similar to buildings in Eastern Europe. The inside of the synagogue, with its central bimah and an upstairs gallery for women, followed the Orthodox traditions of the founding families. The outside brickwork shows some influence from Georgian style.
For the next 20 years, the synagogue and the Jewish community in Amenia did well. However, after World War II in the 1950s, people's vacation habits changed, and the summer resorts began to close. A flood after Hurricane Diane in 1955 destroyed the dam and drained Lake Amenia, ending the resort business in the area. Many children of the founding families moved away. In 1960, the gabled roof was added to the synagogue.
By 1970, the synagogue had only 12 members. To keep the synagogue going, it changed its practices. It became Conservative first, and then Reform. Even with changes in membership, the congregation celebrated the synagogue's 75th anniversary in 2004. Today, Beth David is a lively Reform Congregation. Its members come from both local residents and weekend visitors in Dutchess and Litchfield Counties.
See also
