Tuesday, July 30, 2013

TWO SYNAGOGUES


TWO SYNAGOGUES

New York is a city that changes and evolves and recycles and I am not just referring to garbage. I recently went to a guide association meeting on the now fashionable Lower East Side/East Village and was astounded to realize that the community center in which the meeting was held was formerly a synagogue. This is not an unusual occurrence but just shows how in this city what is old is new, what is forgotten is reused and what was is now something completely different.

Congregation Ahawath Yeshurun Shara Torah (Love of the People of Israel Gates of Torah) at 636 East 6th Street was built in 1889 and by the same architectural firm that was started by Calvert Vaux who designed Central Park. The actual congregation was formed in 1905. With the shifting ethnic mix and the movement of the Jewish congregation out of the (then) Lower East Side, the synagogue was converted in 1978 into to what is now known as the 6th Street Community Center by the 6th Street Block Association. While the Center has everything from a Yoga School to farmers market, there are still remnants of its past. Memorial stones commemorating past congregants are still to be found in the entrance foyer.


Just west of the community center is Congregation Adas Yisroel Anshe Mezritch. It was originally was a residence but converted to a synagogue in 1910. The Synagogue, otherwise known as a tenement synagogue, still functions as a synagogue and has not joined the list of abandoned Jewish houses of worship.

Even the most experienced of tours guides (such as is Ben Bagel) continues to learn about New York and be amazed at its complexity, history and constant change. That’s why when planning to come to New York and experience it, contact Ben Bagel and he will show you the New York that existed or still exists and makes up the ever evolving fabric of the City of New York.


CONGREGATION AHAWATH YESHURUN SHARA TORAH



CONGREGATION ADAS YISROEL ANSHE MESRITCH



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