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

Preface

This completely new and updated edition of TheSynagogues of New York’s Lower East Side, originally published by New York University Press more than three decades ago, offers, through text and photographs, a contemporary view of the existing LowerEast Side synagogues as well as an in-depth introspective view of the old sites of the neighborhood’s important synagogues of a bygone era. For those familiar with the previous edition, this book will provide much more information as it approaches the subject from a somewhat different perspective. The story of these historic houses of worship—both present and past—is designed to provide readerswithabetterunderstandingandgreaterappreciation of Jewish immigrant life and culture of the LowerEast Side. Readers should be aware, however, that one of the signi ficant characteristics of life on the Lower East Side has been its frequent changes—population groups, businesses, fashions,restaurants,residences,andthesynagoguesthemselves . Many of the transformations have been gradual, but occasionally changes have occurred seemingly overnight. Forexample, priorto the publication of this book, two once majorsynagogueswereforcedtoclosetheirdoors—onefor financial reasons, the other after suffering a roof collapse. On the otherhand, a numberof oldersynagogues that were previously on the verge of abandonment have now been revitalized by their congregations. Impressively, several structures have been restored to theiroriginal function and architectural beauty. They have gradually expanded their religious services and at the same time present to the public a wide variety of popularprograms and cultural activities. It was this awakening and revitalization that ultimately led to the development of such institutions as the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy, the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, and the Museum at Eldridge Street—attracting crowds of both serious and curious visitors seeking to rediscoverthereligioussitesandimmigranthistoryofNewYork ’s LowerEast Side. Gerard R. Wolfe preface xiii 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page xiii 18317-Wolfe_Synagogues 9/24/12 12:05 PM Page xiv ...