The Synagogues of New York's Lower East Side: A Retrospective and Contemporary View, 2nd Edition

D. Congregation Beth Haknesseth Mogen Avraham

d. congregation beth haknesseth mogen avraham (Synagogue of the Shield of Abraham) (Demolished) 87 Attorney Street (between Rivington and Delancey Streets) the modified greek revival–style building was erectedcirca1845fortheFirstProtestantMethodistChurch, but it functioned only for a short time and was subsequently soldtoanAfricanAmericancongregationthatthen renamed the building the Emmanuel African Methodist EpiscopalChurch.In1884,aPolishJewishgrouppurchased the church, calling itself the Erste Galitzianer Chevra (First Galician Congregation). They later changed the name to Beth Haknesseth Mogen Avraham. In spite of having an active membership and a most enthusiastic and dedicated spiritual leader, Rabbi Elias S. Heftler,theshulfacedinsurmountabledifficulties.Theonce attractivebuildingwascondemnedbytheCityofNewYork and was subsequently demolished in 1998. Because of severely declining membership and consequent lack of funds, the congregation was unable to provide adequate maintenance for the building, which led to its ultimate demise. It should not have happened here, since Mogen Avraham did have support, if only moral, in the LowerEast Side community. They had an active membership of at least seventy-five congregants, the majority drawn from the nearby cooperative apartments along Grand Street. Rabbi Heftlerhadservedtheshulforoverthirty years,andis today still widely respected for his staunch dedication to the preservation of Jewish life on the LowerEast Side. The interior had a particularly attractive appeal for its warmth, décor and nineteenth century atmosphere. There 115 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 115 116 the “lost” or endangered synagogues were a number of anachronisms that survived to the very end:thenarrowwindingwoodenstaircaseleadinguptothe sanctuary,thegas-firedradiator,theprimitivelampfixtures with ornamental scrollwork . . . and the outside plumbing! The tallis-wrapped worshipers who gathered to pray in the dimly lit bais medrash on Friday evenings added to the cozy Congregation Beth Haknesseth Mogen Avraham before demolition Congregation Beth Haknesseth Mogen Avraham before demolition 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 116 old-worldambience.ThevenerableRabbiHeftlerstillserves the LowerEast Side community at a shtiebl, Yeshuas Yakov, also known as Congregation Austria-Hungary located at 239 East Broadway. Anothercasualtyofthedemolitionwasthetiny,adjacent three-story red brick building, known as the Rozwadwer Synagogue and Landsmanshaft. Originally the parsonage of the Protestant church, it laterbecame home to a diminutive chevra that met occasionally during holidays. Only the basement bais medrash of the building was used. congregation beth haknesseth mogen avraham 117 Rabbi Elias S. Heftler 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 117 Sons of Israel Kalwarie façade after repurposed 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 118 ...