Congregation Emanu-El of New York

Congregation Emanu-El of New York is a Reform Jewish community on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, housed in a large building facing Fifth Avenue. The interior reveals a wide prayer hall with tall vaults, stained glass windows, and rows of seating oriented toward the Torah ark on the eastern wall.

German immigrants founded the community in 1845 and held services initially in rented rooms in Lower Manhattan. During the 1920s the congregation moved into the current building on 65th Street, which at that time stood in a less densely built part of the city.

The name combines Emanuel, Hebrew for "God is with us," with a German spelling that reflects the founding members' origins in Central Europe. Today visitors attend Friday evening services in English and Hebrew, participate in adult learning classes, or explore the museum displays showing ceremonial silver, textiles, and manuscripts from Jewish communities worldwide.

Visitors can tour the museum on the lower level during selected opening hours, viewing ritual objects and textiles on display. For worship services, prior contact through the website is recommended to confirm times and access conditions.

The prayer hall extends roughly 150 feet (45 meters) in length without interior supporting columns, offering clear sight lines from every seat. Overhead, a mosaic made from thousands of glass pieces represents the night sky.