Park Avenue Synagogue (Thursday Doors)

merely vessels for matters of spirit–
still, the majesty moves us
and supports our journey

Every time I’ve wanted to photograph the old entrance to the Park Avenue Synagogue on East 87th Street there have been multiple cars parked in front. But this week I lucked out and got a mostly clear view of the original doorway facade.

The building, designed by Walter S. Schneider, was dedicated in 1927, with a congregation that had grown over the years through the merging of multiple east side congregations, the first having been founded in 1882.

The original doorway, in a Moorish style of cast stone, has beautiful details.

In 1954, needing more space, the synagogue expanded by building an addition next door. Designed by Kelly and Gruzen, the addition also had a wall of windows by artist Adolph Gottlieb. Unfortunately this beautiful facade was dismantled in order to further enlarge the synagogue to Madison Avenue in 1980, but you can see a photo of it and read more about Gottlieb’s work at the Gottlieb Foundation, here.

The new building is tasteful, but lacks the specialness of the original structure and its first addition. Gottlieb’s windows are displayed inside both this building, and an additional one that was added to the congregation nearby on 89th Street.

Dedicated to the children that were murdered in the Holocaust, the newest addition has two sculptures by Nathan Rapoport on the 87th Street side.

I attended the bar and bat mitzvahs of a friend’s children here. As it is one of the largest Jewish congregations in the United States, it’s not a surprise I would know someone who was a member.

The Park Avenue Synagogue website is here.

My poem is a kimo, a poetic form from Israel, for Muri’s Scavenger Hunt – Poems from Around the World.

And, as always, you can find more doors–and probably some squirrels– at Thursday Doors, hosted by Dan Antion.