South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue |
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West profile and north elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Rite | Nusach Ashkenaz |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Lay-led |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Lake Street, South Fallsburg, Sullivan County, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical |
| Date established | 1902 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1902 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | North |
| Materials | Concrete, stucco |
| Website | |
| South Fallsburg Hebrew Association SFHA | |
The South Fallsburg Hebrew Association Synagogue is a special historic building in South Fallsburg, New York. It is an Orthodox synagogue, which is a Jewish house of worship. This synagogue was built in 1902.
It is located on Lake Street in the small community of South Fallsburg. In 1919, the building was made much bigger. It was even raised up a whole story! Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000.
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A Special Place for the Jewish Community
This synagogue is one of the oldest in Sullivan County, New York. It has been a very important place for the Jewish community in the area for a long time. Many notable Jewish people have been part of this congregation.
The synagogue follows strict Orthodox Jewish traditions. However, it welcomes all Jewish people, no matter how they practice their faith. It has become a main spot for Jewish religious and cultural events in South Fallsburg.
What the Synagogue Looks Like
The synagogue building has one main story and a raised basement. The ground slopes a bit, so the basement walls can be seen from the back and sides. The outside of the building is covered in gold stucco.
The roof is a hipped roof with asphalt shingles. It is partly hidden by the walls at the front.
Entrance and Front Design
To get inside, you walk up concrete stairs with iron railings. The entrance has two windows on either side. These windows have wooden frames and a decorative top part called a cornice with a small pediment.
On the outer edges of the front, there are wooden pilasters. These are like flat columns that go from the basement all the way up to the cornice. The very top of the front has a unique, decorative wall called a parapet. In the middle of this parapet, there is a beautiful stained glass window. It shows one Star of David inside another.
Sides and Back of the Building
The sides of the synagogue have narrow, flat windows in each section. On the east side, there is an entrance at ground level and a chimney made of concrete blocks. On the opposite side, there is a metal fire escape.
The back of the building has a part that sticks out. This part holds the Torah ark inside. There are also two windows similar to those on the sides.
Inside the Synagogue
The synagogue has three floors that are all used. The main floor is where the sanctuary is located. This is the main prayer area. The bimah, which is the platform where the Torah is read, is usually in the center in Orthodox synagogues. Here, it is placed at the back, close to the ark.
The ark itself is where the sacred Torah scrolls are kept. It is separated from the bimah by sliding wooden doors. The ark is lit up by a stained glass window that shows the Burning bush. There are also two panels with lights behind them that show the Ten Commandments. The ceiling inside is made of original pressed metal.
Other Areas Inside
On the third level, there is a women's gallery. This is a special area for women during services. There are also some classrooms on this level.
The basement is a large community room. This room is used for different ceremonies and gatherings. It even has a sukkah, which is a temporary hut used during a Jewish holiday. This sukkah is made of knotty pine wood and has a roof made of bamboo that can be opened.
History of the Synagogue
Around the early 1900s, many Jewish immigrants started coming to the southern Catskill Mountains. They came to stay at summer resorts and later even started running them. Enough Jewish people settled in South Fallsburg to build this synagogue in 1902.
It was first known as Ahavas Achim. The design of the synagogue reminded the people of the synagogues they knew from their home countries in Eastern Europe. Everyone was welcome to join, whether they were Orthodox or not.
Growing Community and Changes
In 1910, the congregation changed its name to the South Fallsburg Hebrew Association (SFHA). This new name showed that it was a center for all local Jewish people. The association even bought and ran a local Yiddish school.
More and more Jewish people made South Fallsburg their permanent home. Because of this, the synagogue held weekly meetings all year round. The members were doing well enough to save money for expanding the synagogue. In 1919, the building was raised to add a new basement. This basement became a school for studying the Torah, called a Talmud Torah. A women's gallery was also added, and the building was made longer to fit the growing number of people. A new ark was built at this time too.
Important Members and Updates
For many decades, the synagogue served one of the most active Jewish communities in the region. In 1959, all the local firefighters were also members of the SFHA. Famous Jewish people were members, too. These included Sammy Fain, a songwriter who won two Academy Awards, and Nachman Bulman, an important Israeli rabbi.
In the 1970s, the inside of the synagogue was updated. Some Jewish folk art that was hanging by the women's gallery was removed. This was done to make the interior look more modern. The original stained glass window was also replaced during this time.
