Contents

Bialystoker Synagogue

Synagogue in Manhattan, New York

Bialystoker Synagogue
Bialystoker Synagogue in 2013
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Church (1826 – 1905) Synagogue (since 1905)
Leadership	Rabbi Menachem Tuchman
Status	Active
Location
Location	7-13 Bialystoker Place, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Country	United States
Location in Lower Manhattan
Geographic coordinates	40°42′56″N 73°59′1″W / 40.71556°N 73.98361°W / 40.71556; -73.98361
Architecture
Type	Church
Style	Federal
Date established	1865 (as a congregation)
Completed	1826 (as a church) 1905 (as a synagogue)
Materials	Manhattan schist
Website
bialystoker.org
Bialystoker Synagogue (Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
New York City Landmark
NRHP reference No.	72000861
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	April 26, 1972[1]
Designated NYCL	April 19, 1966

The Bialystoker Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue at 7–11 Bialystoker Place (also known as Willett Street^[2][3][4]) in the Lower East Side neighborhood of ManhattaninNew York City, New York, United States. The building was constructed in 1826 as the Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church; the synagogue purchased the building in 1905.

The synagogue was designated a New York City Landmark in 1966. It is one of only four early-19th century fieldstone religious buildings surviving from the late Federal period in Lower Manhattan,^[2] and is the oldest building used as a synagogue in New York City.^[5]

Congregation[edit]

The Bialystoker Synagogue was first organized in 1865 on Manhattan's Lower East Side as the Chevra Anshei Chesed of Bialystok, founded by a group of Jews who came from the town of Białystok, at that time located in the Russian Empire, but now in Poland. The congregation was begun in a building on Hester Street, it later moved to Orchard Street, and ultimately to its present location 7–11 Bialystoker Place on the Lower East Side.

In order to accommodate the influx of new immigrants from that area of Poland, in 1905 the congregation merged with congregation Adas Yeshurun, also from Bialystok, and formed the Beit Ha-Knesset Anshei Bialystok (The Bialystoker Synagogue). The newly formed congregation then purchased (and moved into) the Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church at 7 Willet Street, which was later renamed Bialystoker Place. During the Great Depression a decision was made to beautify the main sanctuary, to provide a sense of hope and inspiration to the community.

The community today is the biggest synagogue in the Lower East Side with several daily minyanim.^[6] Rabbi Menachem Tuchman serves as the rabbi.

Architecture[edit]

The fieldstone Methodist Episcopal Church building was built in 1826 with a simple pedimented roof and round arched windows.^[3] The building is made of Manhattan schist from a quarry on nearby Pitt Street. The exterior is marked by three windows over three doors framed with round arches, a low flight of brownstone steps, a low pitched pediment roof with a lunette window and a wooden cornice.

The elaborate Torah Ark is believed to have been carved in Bialystok and shipped to New York.

As the synagogue is home to an Orthodox Jewish congregation, a balcony section was constructed to accommodate female congregants. In the corner of the women's gallery a small hidden door in the wall leads to a ladder going up to an attic, lit by two windows. When the building was first opened, it was a rest stop for the Underground Railroad movement; runaway slaves found sanctuary in this attic.

When the air conditioning was updated in the 1990s, an issue arose concerning the possible construction of rooftop units because of the building's historical landmark status. Because of these concerns, the cooling units were installed on the side of the building.

Present activity[edit]

In 1988, the congregation restored the interior to its original splendor, and the former Hebrew school building that is attached, but had become dilapidated, was renovated and reopened as The Daniel Potkorony Building. The magnificent stained glass windows were recently completely recreated and renewed.

Gallery[edit]

• 
  Restored stained glass window
• 
  Reading the Book of Esther on Purim 2007 at Bialystoker

See also[edit]

• Kossar's Bialystoker Kuchen Bakery
• Bugsy Siegel Memorial
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan below 14th Street
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan below 14th Street

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bialystoker Synagogue.

• Official website
• NYC Architecture