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

M. Congregation Adas Yisroel Anshe Mezeritch

m. congregation adas yisroel anshe mezeritch (Congregation of the Community of Israel of the People of Mezeritch) (Seriously Endangered) 415 East 6th Street (between First Avenue and Avenue A) this delightful little jewel, embraced on both sides by 1890s tenements, is an outstanding example of a Neo-Classicaltenement–stylesynagogue.Thecongregation was founded in 1888 as Eduth Adas L’Israel Anshe Mezeritch (Witness to Israel, People of Mezeritch) by Polish immigrants ,who,22yearslater,rebuiltthebuildingfromaformer residentialtenement.Designedin1910byarchitectHerman Horenburger, it has the distinction of being one of the last surviving synagogues of this style on the Lower East Side. The shul’s façade is divided into an upper and lower section topped by protruding cornices that are supported by squarepillarswithornatecapitals,withacentralround-arch stainedglasswindowontheupperlevel.Immediatelyabove are carved Hebrew letters, “Beth Haknesseth,” (House of Worship) plus twin round-arch windows at the top of the lowerlevel,withthewholebuildingcappedbyalunette.(For comparisons with other synagogues: Under “The ‘Lost’ or Endangered Synagogues,” see section O, Beth Hamedrash Hagodol Anshe Ungarn—currently an apartment house, which displays a similar Neo-Classical architectural style. Likewise,under“The‘Lost’orEndangeredSynagogues,”see sectionP,thenowdemolishedB’naiRappaportAnsheiDombrova , which was also nearly an “identical twin.”) Interesting design aspects of the interior of this narrow 22-foot-widesynagoguearethebalconiesorgalleries,which extend outward almost to the middle of the sanctuary. An enormous Mogen David seems to dominate the entire room 147 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 147 148 the “lost” or endangered synagogues and crown the soft yellow-colored panes of the two-story highwindow.TheequallytallcarvedwoodenArkisnotable foritsHighVictorian–styleGothicdetailsintermingledwith Eastern European features such as onion domes. The benches at Mezeritch, like those of numerous synagogues built during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries , display “Christian” Gothic details-such as trefoils or three-leaf clovershapes—suggesting that they were either factory-made or perhaps the work of contemporary nonJewish European craftsmen. The shul is presumably named forthe town of Mezeritch, Poland,onceoneofthetwogreatestJewishreligiouscenters in the seventeenth century (the otherwas Vilna, Lithuania). During that period, Rabbi Dov Berof Mezeritch—known as the Mezeritzer Maggid—was a renowned scholar and teacherofHasidism.(AmaggidisanitinerantJewishpreacher and Torah narrator.) Rabbi Dov Ber became the successor to the founder of the Hasidic Movement, the famed Rabbi Israel ben Eliezer, known as the Baal Shem Tov (Besht). The distinguished Mezeritzer Maggid passed away in 1772. For the past forty years, Rabbi Pesach Ackerman, has struggled bravely to keep the 100-year-old Mezeritch congregation active and intact and to maintain it as a vital part of the Jewish community. Afternoon services are still conducted ,buttheoncelarge,butnowdwindlingcongregation has,toagreatextent,abandonedthesynagogue.Thebuilding has suffered badly from weatherand neglect, and desperately needs funds to help repair a serious moisture condition in the walls. Recently, the building was put up for sale by its board of directors in a plan that called for the reconstruction of the synagogue into a six-story apartment house with two Congregation Adas Yisroel Anshe Mezeritch building façade (1974) 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 148 congregation adas yisroel anshe mezeritch 149 additional floors forcondominiums. There then arose such avigorouspublicoutcryandfuror,thatthedeveloperquickly withdrew and the plan was dropped. Among the protesters were noted preservationists, historians, geographers, and concerned citizens as well as representatives from Lower East Side and citywide civic organizations. At a highly publicized news conference on August 15, 2008, a large group of preservationists gathered to demonstrate and voice their objection to the proposed demolition. In a later interview, Andrew S. Dolkart, the Director of Columbia University’s renowned Historic Preservation Program, declared to the NewYorkTimesthat,“Citiesshouldprotectarchitecturethat not only reflects the lives and history of the rich, but also the incredible history of the common people.” Building façade (2012) Anshe Mezertich announcement of Sabbath services 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page 149 At the time of this writing, more than four years have elapsed with still no action taken, and the synagogue continues to deteriorate. Despite the gloomy outlook, all is not lost.LeadingadrivetosavethesynagogueistheGreenwich Village Society forHistoric Preservation along with a numberof noted New York urban historians and geographers— allpressingforlandmarkstatusthroughitsinclusioninahistoriclandmarkdistrict ,whichwouldthenpreventthebuilding ’s demolition. The building’s present listings on both the National and New York State Registers of Historic Places do not offersufficient protection. At this time, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has yet to calendarahearingforthesynagogue —acrucialsteprequiredfor the process of landmark designation. However, despite opposition including from the synagogue, the landmark district is in the process of being...