Jewish Center of Brighton Beach

Jewish Center of Brighton Beach
Former synagogue building, in September 2014
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue (former)
StatusOpen
Location
Location2915 Ocean Parkway, Brooklyn, New York City
CountryUnited States
Jewish Center of Brighton Beach is located in New York City
Jewish Center of Brighton Beach
Location in New York City
Geographic coordinates40°34′47″N 73°58′01″W / 40.5798°N 73.9670°W / 40.5798; -73.9670
Architecture
Architect(s)Bloch & Hesse
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleRenaissance Revival
Date established1914 (as a congregation)
Completed1930
Specifications
Direction of façadeWest
Site area24,000 square feet (2,200 m2)
MaterialsStone; tiles
Jewish Center of Coney Island
AreaLess than 1.0 acre (0.40 ha)
NRHP reference No.13000908
Added to NRHPDecember 11, 2013
[1]

The Jewish Center of Brighton Beach, named as the Jewish Center of Coney Island prior to 1947, is a historic former Orthodox[2] Jewish synagogue and community center, located in the Brighton Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, in the United States.

History

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The formation of the Brooklyn Jewish Center combined the three leading Brownsville Jewish organizations – the Hebrew Educational society, the Stone Avenue Talmud Torah, and the Congregation Ohav Sholom – into one entity. The first Jewish community center was formed in 1917 in Manhattan, beginning a community centre movement. The Jewish Center of Brooklyn followed shortly thereafter, with a center that housed a gymnasium, kindergarten, library, classrooms, dining room and synagogue.[3]

The congregation was founded in 1914 on West 5th Street in Coney Island (originally named Temple Adath Israel), and when building the community centre in 1929–1930, renamed itself as the Jewish Center of Coney Island. In 1947, the name was changed to the Jewish Center of Brighton Beach.[3]

The former synagogue is a four-story-with-basement trapezoidal-shaped building in the Renaissance Revival style. The front façade is clad in golden-colored stone and features a grand staircase and second story loggia. The building is capped by a hipped roof of red tile.[3]: 3 

The former synagogue building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.[1]

Soluri Architecture were engaged to redesign the 24,000-square-foot (2,200 m2) building in a more modern and practical style.[4]

The synagogue building was featured in Lord of War, a 2005 crime drama film starring Nicolas Cage.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 12/09/13 through 12/13/13. National Park Service. December 20, 2013.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Riker, Paul, ed. (n.d.). "Jewish Center of Brighton Beach". Brighton: Houses of Worship (student project). Macaulay College, CUNY. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on April 4, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2015. Note: This includes Broverman, Anna (June 2013). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Jewish Center of Coney Island" (PDF). Retrieved December 1, 2015. See also: "Accompanying photos".
  4. ^ "Jewish Community Center, Brooklyn". Projects. Soluri Architecture. n.d. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
  5. ^ Sheidlower, Noah (n.d.). "Top 10 secrets of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn: 8. Jewish Center of Coney Island is a historic synagogue in Brighton Beach". Untapped New York. Retrieved January 31, 2024.
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