Meseritz Synagogue
Encyclopedia
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
city's Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
. It was built by a congregation established in 1888 consisting of immigrants from Międzyrzec Podlaski
Miedzyrzec Podlaski
Międzyrzec Podlaski is a city in Biała Podlaska County, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland, with the population of 17,162 inhabitants as of 2006. The total area of the city is 20.03 km2...
(Mesritch, Poland). The synagogue is located at 415 East 6th Street. Pesach Ackerman has served as Rabbi since 1969.
Architecture
The synagogue is unusual in being a very small, urban congregation on a narrow lot that has an extremely beautiful neo-classical facade, and is the last operating "tenement synagogue" in New York City's East Village. Andrew Berman of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic PreservationGreenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of several neighborhoods of New York City: Greenwich Village, the East Village, the Far West Village, the South Village, Gansevoort Market,...
called it "an intact historic gem."
Architectural historian and New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
professor Gerald R. Wolfe describes the synagogue's "most attractive interior... The unusually narrow building has balconies which extend almost to the middle of the sanctuary, and through the intervening space, broad rays of light from two overhead skylights seem to focus on the Ark and on a large stained glass panel above it. The soft-yellow-colored panes of the two-story-high window are crowned by an enormous Mogen David [Star of David] of red glass which seems to dominate the entire room."
Andrew Dolkart
Andrew Dolkart
Andrew Scott Dolkart is the James Marston Fitch Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and Director of the school's Historic Preservation Program...
, a Columbia University professor of historic preservation, believes that the neo-classical building should be preserved because cities should preserve "architecture that not only reflects the lives and history of the rich, but also the incredibly history of common people in New York."
Development controversy
The congregation is negotiating with Joshua KushnerJoshua Kushner
Joshua Kushner is an American entrepreneur and businessman. He is a co-founder of Vostu, the largest social gaming company in Brazil, where he serves as Chief Strategic Officer. He is also the founder and Managing Partner of Thrive Capital, a venture capital fund...
, part of the family that owns the New York Observer
New York Observer
The New York Observer is a weekly newspaper first published in New York City on September 22, 1987, by Arthur L. Carter, a very successful former investment banker with publishing interests. The Observer focuses on the city's culture, real estate, the media, politics and the entertainment and...
newspaper. Kushner plans to tear down the present neo-classical synagogue and build six-story residential building, housing the synagogue in a modern space on the lowest two floors. According to historic preservationist Samuel D. Gruber
Samuel D. Gruber
for the biologist see Samuel H. GruberSamuel D. Gruber is an American art and architectural historian, and expert and activist in the documentation, protection and preservation of historic Jewish sites and monuments....
, there is a feasible but more costly alternative, which would preserve the synagogue building and build apartments above it.. A coalition of neighborhood groups including the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation
The Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation is a non-profit organization that seeks to preserve the architectural heritage and cultural history of several neighborhoods of New York City: Greenwich Village, the East Village, the Far West Village, the South Village, Gansevoort Market,...
and the East Village Community Coalition and Jewish groups have rallied to save the building and have asked the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission to landmark the building.
The Kushners later pulled out of the development deal.