Union Temple, Reform synagogue in Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, United States
Union Temple is a Reform synagogue housed in a ten-story neoclassical building at 17 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn. The facade combines Renaissance Revival elements with Art Deco details in limestone and brick.
The site originated in 1921 from the merger of two Jewish congregations, K.K. Beth Elohim founded in 1848 and Temple Israel founded in 1869. An existing theater was converted into a sanctuary in 1942, reflecting the merged congregation's need for a dedicated religious space.
The interior incorporates design elements inspired by a German synagogue destroyed during World War II. These architectural details remind visitors of lost craftsmanship and give the space a deeper resonance.
The building sits near the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn Public Library, and Brooklyn Botanic Garden, making it easy to combine with visits to neighboring cultural sites. Inside, the space comfortably holds about 527 people for services and gatherings.
Architect Arnold W. Brunner designed the building as a community house for a larger temple complex that was never constructed due to the 1929 financial crisis. This original vision reveals how economic events shaped Brooklyn's architectural history.
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