Tephereth Israel Synagogue facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tephereth Israel Synagogue |
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Tephereth Israel Synagogue, in 2013
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Lay-led |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 76 Winter Street, New Britain, Connecticut 06051 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Connecticut
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| Architecture | |
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| Architectural type | Synagogue |
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| Date established | 1925 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1925 |
| Materials | Masonry; red brick |
The Tephereth Israel Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue. Its name, Tephereth Israel, means "The Glory of Israel" in Hebrew. It is located at 76 Winter Street in downtown New Britain, Connecticut, in the United States.
The Jewish community in New Britain started this congregation in 1925. The synagogue building was also finished in 1925. It was designed by architect Adolf Feinberg from Hartford. The building shows styles from Romanesque Revival and Colonial Revival architecture. In 1995, the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places in the United States.
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Building Style and History
The Tephereth Israel Synagogue is a few blocks northeast of downtown New Britain. It stands on the north side of Winter Street. The building is made of red brick with stone decorations. It has two stories.
Outside the Synagogue
The front of the synagogue has two square towers. A central entrance section is between these towers. You reach the three main doors by climbing a wide set of steps. The doors are under round-arch openings. These arches have special stones called keystones at the top. The windows above the doors also have these round arches.
The towers have brick corners that look like large blocks. Above the tall, round-arch windows on the towers, there are stone panels. These panels feature the Star of David, a well-known Jewish symbol.
Inside the Synagogue
On the ground floor of the synagogue, there is a social hall. This is a place where people can gather. There are also classrooms on this floor. The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is on the upper level. The things inside the sanctuary, like the furniture and decorations, were updated after a fire in 1962. Services are usually held every Saturday morning. Rabbi Robert Schectman often leads these services.
How the Synagogue Began
The Tephereth Israel Synagogue was built in 1925. Before this, New Britain had another Jewish congregation called Ahey B'Nai Israel. This first group decided to become a Conservative organization. Some Jewish people who followed Orthodox traditions wanted their own place to worship. So, they formed the Tephereth Israel congregation.
Architectural Design
The building's design is special because it mixes two different styles. It combines features from Romanesque Revival and Colonial Revival architecture. Romanesque Revival style often uses round arches and strong, heavy shapes. Colonial Revival style often looks back to early American building designs.
National Historic Listing
The Tephereth Israel Synagogue is one of many historic synagogues in Connecticut. In 1995 and 1996, fifteen synagogues in Connecticut were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was part of a big effort to recognize these important buildings.
See also
