Congregation Agudas Achim (Livingston Manor, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Agudas Achim Synagogue |
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Synagogue south profile and east elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Fred Pomerantz |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Rock Avenue, Livingston Manor, Sullivan County, New York 12758 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in New York
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| Architecture | |
| General contractor | Izzy Brooks |
| Date established | 1913 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1924 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Materials | Concrete, stucco, wood |
The Agudas Achim Synagogue is a special Jewish house of worship. Its name, "Agudas Achim," means "Gathering of Brothers" in Hebrew. It is located in Livingston Manor, New York.
This building was built in the 1920s. It served many Jewish families who came to the Catskills for summer vacations. The synagogue is made of wood and covered in stucco.
The community started in 1913. At first, it was a mix of different Jewish traditions. The synagogue building itself was finished in 1924. It mixes styles from Eastern European synagogues with features from local churches.
After World War II, fewer people vacationed in the Catskills. The synagogue changed to Reform Judaism to welcome more members. Today, it holds services all year. The building still looks much like it did when it was first built. In 1998, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historic site.
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What the Synagogue Looks Like
The Agudas Achim Synagogue is a one-story building. It sits on a raised concrete basement. The outside walls are covered in rough stucco. Small pieces of glass are set into the stucco. The roof has a pointed shape called a gable and is covered with asphalt shingles.
The Front (East) Side
The front of the synagogue has a two-story section that sticks out. It has concrete steps leading up to a porch. The porch roof is also gabled. Large letters on the front say "AGUDAS ACHIM."
On top of this section is a smaller, enclosed part. It has a sloped roof and two small, square towers with pointed roofs. The front of this part has a large round window with a Star of David design. Two smaller windows are on either side. There are also two small round windows with Stars of David on the main building.
The Sides and Back
The back of the synagogue looks similar to the front. It has a smaller section that holds the Torah ark. This part also has three Star-of-David windows. A brick chimney is on the roof.
Both sides of the building have five tall windows. These windows have pointed arches at the top. Inside the arches, there are colored glass Stars of David. The basement also has windows.
Inside the Synagogue
When you enter, you go into a small entry area. This leads into the main worship space, called the sanctuary. The walls are off-white, and the ceiling is curved like a barrel.
The Sanctuary Layout
The sanctuary is set up in an older style. The bimah, which is a raised platform for reading the Torah, is in the center. The seats (pews) are on three sides around it. The Torah ark, where the sacred Torah scrolls are kept, is at the back.
The Women's Gallery
Above the back of the sanctuary is a special area called the women's gallery. It's a curved balcony supported by two round wooden columns. You can reach it by two small stairs from the entry area.
Materials and Lighting
All the floors inside are made of hardwood. The bimah and ark are made of wood panels. The stairs have square posts and decorative railings. The pews are simple.
Light comes from a large iron chandelier in the middle. There are also four hanging lanterns, wall lights, and decorative lights on the bimah and ark.
The Basement
The finished basement is used as a community room. It has a metal ceiling and a dividing wall. One end of the basement has a small stage.
Why It Looks This Way
The synagogue's design shows two main influences. One is the Eastern European background of its first members. The other is the style of local Protestant churches. It also shares some features with other synagogues built in Sullivan County at that time.
Outside Influences
The two small towers on the front of the synagogue are like smaller versions of towers seen on Eastern European synagogues. The front balcony and colored glass also come from those building styles.
The steep roof and arched windows are not common for synagogues. These features are more like the older meetinghouse style of local churches. The raised entrance with wide steps is seen on many other synagogues in the county.
Inside Influences
Inside, the mix of styles is also clear. Having the bimah in the center was common in Orthodox Jewish practice in Eastern Europe. This allowed everyone to be involved in reading the Torah and praying. Today, as a Reform synagogue, a leader often guides these parts of the service.
The simple inside and curved ceiling look like a rural Protestant church. This is different from other synagogues nearby that have very fancy decorations. It's not known if the simple look was on purpose or due to a lack of money. Only the Stars of David and colored glass show it's a synagogue.
The building faces the road, which is common locally. However, in Orthodox tradition, the ark should face Jerusalem. At Agudas Achim, the ark is on the opposite side of the building from Jerusalem.
History of the Synagogue
The Agudas Achim Synagogue has seen many changes in the Jewish community in the Catskills. It started with a diverse group of people. Over time, it became more traditional. Later, it changed to a Reform synagogue to grow again.
Early Years: 1882–1972
Jewish families began settling in Livingston Manor around 1882. This was when a railroad line was built there. Farmers could send their goods to New York City. Some German Jews became dairy farmers in the Catskills. The railroad also brought city people seeking summer getaways.
Many resorts at the time did not allow Jewish guests. But around 1900, more Jews from Eastern Europe arrived. They started new resorts that welcomed Jewish visitors. The first Jewish family moved to Livingston Manor in 1906. The first Jewish resort opened two years later.
By the 1920s, Jewish people made up 10% of the local population. They became more involved in community life. A group called The Workmen's Circle started a school for Jewish children. This school also held social events and some religious services.
In 1922, more religious Jews in the community decided to form the Agudas Achim congregation. They bought land, and Izzy Brooks, an Orthodox Jew, built the synagogue. It opened in 1924.
Even less religious Jews supported the synagogue. It followed traditional practices and was seen as Orthodox. However, it was never officially part of a larger Orthodox group. Some members would drive to Shabbat services. They would park far away and walk the rest of the way. This was to keep the rule against driving on Shabbat.
The synagogue and Jewish community grew during the Great Depression. Many middle-class workers from the city came to Jewish resorts. One rabbi who served here was Rabbi Meir Bilitsky. After the 1950s, people started vacationing elsewhere. Jewish families began to leave the village. By 1972, Agudas Achim was only open for major holidays. The building started to fall apart.
Recent Years: 1973–Present
By the 1980s, the congregation had only 35 members. They decided to become a Reform synagogue. This would help them attract new members. In 1981, they started hiring Reform rabbis, including women.
In 1984, the congregation officially became Reform. Older members had retired to Florida. A special fund was created to help pay for building repairs.
In 1990, the synagogue hired a regular rabbi. They started holding services once a month. In 1992, they celebrated their first bar mitzvah since 1971. By 1999, the congregation had grown to 105 families. This might have been its largest membership ever.
Today, the synagogue holds monthly services all year. Many members still spend winters in Florida. It also has a Hebrew school. In 2008, five students had their bar or bat mitzvahs. This was a big number for a small group. The synagogue is part of the Union for Reform Judaism.
See also
