Eldridge Street Synagogue, Orthodox synagogue in Lower East Side, Manhattan, United States.
The Eldridge Street Synagogue is a synagogue in Lower Manhattan featuring Moorish architectural elements such as a brick and terracotta facade, horseshoe arches, and decorative geometric patterns. The building combines prayer spaces with exhibits that tell the story of its congregants and their origins.
The building was constructed in 1887 as a prayer house for immigrants from Eastern Europe arriving in New York. It became a landmark for the community and continued serving this role even as the neighborhood around it transformed.
The building reflects the customs and prayers of the Eastern European Jewish community that gathered here from the late 1800s onward. The spaces still show how people used this place for worship and togetherness.
Visitors should expect narrow, vertical spaces since the building is relatively compact with multiple levels. The best time to visit is outside prayer times, when there is more room to explore.
The main sanctuary holds a modern stained glass window by artist Kiki Smith created in 2007 that offers an unexpected contrast to the original architecture. This contemporary element shows how historical places can continue to grow and renew themselves.
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