Park East Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Park East Synagogue |
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Park East Synagogue in 2021
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Modern Orthodox Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Arthur Schneier |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 163 East 67th Street, Upper East Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York 10065 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Manhattan
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Schneider & Herter |
| Architectural type | Synagogue |
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| Date established | 1890 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
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| Dome(s) | 2 (since removed) |
The Park East Synagogue is a special Jewish house of worship. It is home to Congregation Zichron Ephraim. You can find it at 163 East 67th Street in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City.
This synagogue was built in 1890. It is an important historical building. In 1980, it was named a New York City Landmark. Later, in 1983, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important building in the United States.
Contents
The Synagogue Building
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The Park East Synagogue was built between 1889 and 1890. The architects who designed it were Schneider and Herter. They also designed many other buildings in New York City.
The building has a unique look. It was built in the Moorish Revival style. This style often uses designs inspired by buildings from North Africa and Spain. The synagogue also features a large, round window called a rose window.
One special thing about the building is its two towers. They are not the same height. The tower on the eastern side is taller than the other. Most synagogues built around that time had towers that were the same height. Each tower used to have a round, bulb-shaped dome on top. These domes have since been removed.
The Park East Synagogue is one of the few synagogues from the 1800s that are still standing in the United States. Above the main entrance, there is a message carved in stone. It is written in Hebrew and comes from a holy book called Psalm 100. It says: "Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise."
Religious Leaders
Congregation Zichron Ephraim was started by Rabbi Bernard Drachman and Jonas Weil. They wanted to promote Orthodox Judaism. This was an alternative to Reform Judaism, which was popular in the area.
Rabbi Drachman was the main religious leader for 51 years. He passed away in 1945. Later, Rabbi Zev Zahavy became the rabbi in 1952. He was known for his strong speeches about Orthodox Judaism. Many of his sermons were even reported in the New York Times newspaper. Rabbi Zahavy and his wife, Edith, also started the Park East Day School.
Since 1962, Rabbi Arthur Schneier has been the synagogue's rabbi. He also leads a group called the Appeal of Conscience Foundation. This group works to promote religious freedom and human rights around the world.
Other important leaders at the synagogue include Rabbi Harold Einsidler. He helps organize religious activities. His wife, Toby, works with the office and youth programs. The synagogue's main singer, or cantor, is Yitzchak Meir Helfgot.
Activities and Events
Learning at the Synagogue
The Park East Day School is part of the synagogue. It teaches children from a very young age all the way up to eighth grade.
Special Visits
The Park East Synagogue has hosted some very important guests. In 2008, Pope Benedict XVI visited the synagogue. This was a very special event. It was only the third time a Pope had visited a synagogue. It was also the only time a Pope visited a synagogue in the United States.
Notable Members
Many important people have been part of the Park East Synagogue community. Some of them include:
- Bernard Drachman
- Yitzchak Meir Helfgot
- Henry H. Minskoff
- Tamir Sapir
- Edwin Schlossberg
- Arthur Schneier
- Stuart Subotnick
See also
In Spanish: Sinagoga de Park East para niños
