Congregation Rodeph Sholom (Manhattan)

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| name = Congregation Rodeph Sholom

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| image = Rodeph Sholom 7 W83 jeh.jpg

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| caption = Synagogue at 7 West 83rd St

| religious_affiliation = Reform Judaism

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| organisational_status = Synagogue

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| leadership = Rabbi Benjamin H. Spratt

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| functional_status = Active

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| location = 7 West 83rd Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York

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| country = United States

| map_type = Manhattan

| map_size = 250

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| map_caption = Location in Manhattan, New York City

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| coordinates = {{coord|40|47|2|N|73|58|18|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=it|format=dms}}

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| architect = Charles B. Meyers (1930)

| architecture_type = Synagogue

| architecture_style = Romanesque Revival

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| established = 1842 {{small|(as a congregation)}}

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Congregation Rodeph Sholom is a Reform Jewish synagogue at 7 West 83rd Street on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, New York. Founded in 1842 by German Jewish immigrants, it is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.

History

City directories from the years 1845 to 1853 list the congregation as having met at 156 Attorney Street. The first building constructed by Rodeph Sholom, at 8 Clinton Street on the Lower East Side in 1853, is still in use by Congregation Chasam Sopher. It is the second-oldest surviving synagogue building in New York City and the fifth-oldest synagogue building in the United States.{{cite book |author=Gordon, Mark W. |url=https://ajhs.org/rediscovering-jewish-infrastructure-2021-update-on-united-states-eighteenth-and-nineteenth-century-synagogues/ |title=Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: 2022 Update on United States Eighteenth and Nineteenth-Century Synagogues |publisher=American Jewish Historical Society |date=November 4, 2021 |access-date=February 22, 2023 }}

Rodeph Sholom moved to Lexington Avenue and 63rd Street, to a new Victorian Romanesque building designed by D. & J. Jardine and built in 1872–73 for Ansche Chesed. Simeon Abrahams conveyed land to the congregation for a burial ground in 1842. This cemetery was on 88th Street between Madison and Park Avenues.{{cite news |title=Some Old Grave-Yards – Homes of the Dead Still Found Within City Limits – Relics of the Past in Unsuspected Corners – An Old Family Burying-Ground in the Midst of Tenement-Houses – The Dutch Manor House on Striker's Lane a Grave-yard on New Bowery With Tomb-Stones Two Centuries Old |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1879/05/18/archives/some-old-graveyards-homes-of-the-dead-still-found-within-city.html |work=The New York Times |page=2 |date=May 18, 1879 |access-date=December 21, 2018}} By 1879, there had not been a burial in twenty-six years. It was removed sometime between 1897 and 1911.{{cite web |url= https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/94a5096f-b49b-99ac-e040-e00a18064df1 |title= NYC Fire Insurance, Topographic and Property Maps |author= |website=New York Public Library |access-date=December 21, 2018}}

The synagogue began as an Orthodox congregation, and began using a Conservative service in 1875.{{cite web|title=Our History|website=Congregation Rodeph Sholom|url=https://rodephsholom.org/about-us/our-history/|archive-date=December 21, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241221104837/https://rodephsholom.org/about-us/our-history/}}

Rudolph Grossman was the rabbi of Rodeph Sholom from 1896 until he died in 1927.{{Cite news |date=September 23, 1927 |title=Rev. Dr. Grossman Dies at Age of 60 |volume=LXXVII |page=27 |work=The New York Times |issue=25444 |location=New York, N.Y. |url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1927/09/23/118646424.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0}} The congregation joined the Reform movement in 1901.

In 1930, Rodeph Sholom moved to its present location at 7 West 83rd Street on the Upper West Side. The move was supervised by Mitchell Fisher; then acting rabbi of the congregation, he would resign a month later due to what he described as "institutional restraint".{{Cite news |date=March 22, 1990 |title=Mitchell Fisher, 86; Rabbi Left the Pulpit To Become a Lawyer |language=en-US |pages=B16 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/22/obituaries/mitchell-fisher-86-rabbi-left-the-pulpit-to-become-a-lawyer.html |access-date=February 26, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}} The Romanesque Revival temple house and sanctuary, designed by Charles B. Meyers, were built between 1929–30 and dedicated on Purim in March 1930.{{Cite web |date=June 27, 2018 |title=Rodeph Shalom and West 80s Tour with Andrew S. Dolkart |url=https://www.landmarkwest.org/event/rodeph-shalom-and-west-80s-tour-with-andrew-s-dolkart/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Landmark West |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://rodephsholom.org/about-us/our-history/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=Congregation Rodeph Sholom}}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2023}} Modern renovations to the lobby and multi-purpose room, overseen by MBB Architects and Chicago-based Judaica expert Amy Reichert, improved the building's accessibility and introduced new artwork.{{Cite web |title=Lobby Artwork: Congregation Rodeph Sholom |work=Amy Reichert Judaica |url=https://amyreichertjudaica.com/product/lobby-artwork-rodeph-sholom/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=SITU – Coffered Ceiling at Congregation Rodeph Sholom |url=https://situ.nyc/fabrication/projects/congregation-rodeph-sholom |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=situ.nyc |language=en}}

Benjamin H. Spratt is the senior rabbi.{{Cite web|title=Rabbi Benjamin H. Spratt|url=https://rodephsholom.org/rabbispratt/|url-status=live|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=Congregation Rodeph Sholom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210603161320/https://rodephsholom.org/rabbispratt/ |archive-date=June 3, 2021 }}

Day school

In 1970, Rodeph Sholom opened the first Reform movement Jewish day school in the United States.{{cite web |url=https://www.rodephsholomschool.org/about/mission |title=Rodeph Sholom School Mission Statement |work=Rodeph Sholom School |year=2016 |access-date=July 2, 2020 }}{{self-published-inline|date=December 2023}} Its goal is to help Jews become self-aware adults in the world today. In 1972, the school expanded to move all the way through sixth grade, and since then it has expanded through eighth grade. The elementary and middle school stands on 79th Street, between Amsterdam and Columbus Avenue. The Brutalist-era building has been renovated with a modern, accessible entrance and two rooftop playdecks designed by MBB Architects.{{Cite web |last=Leber |first=Rachel |date=January 8, 2018 |title=MBB Architects Designs Play Spaces to Encourage Healthy Kids |url=https://schoolconstructionnews.com/2018/01/08/mbb-architects-designs-play-spaces-encourage-healthy-kids/ |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=School Construction News |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=August 25, 2019 |title=Rodeph Sholom School Playdecks / Murphy Burnham & Buttrick Architects |url=https://www.archdaily.com/923501/rodeph-sholom-school-playdecks-murphy-burnham-and-buttrick-architects |access-date=March 30, 2023 |website=ArchDaily |language=en-US}} Danny Karpf is Head of School.{{Cite web|title=From the Head of School {{!}} Rodeph Sholom School|url=https://www.rodephsholomschool.org/about/from-the-head-of-school|access-date=February 21, 2021|website=www.rodephsholomschool.org}}

Notable members

Gallery

(King1893NYC) pg875 LEXINGTON AVENUE AND 63D STREET, SHOWING R0D0PH SHOLOM SYNAGOGUE.jpg|East 63rd Street synagogue

"TEMPLE RODOPH SHOLOM" (Rodeph Sholom) on East 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue map in 1916, from- Bromley Manhattan Plate 104 publ. 1916 (cropped).jpg|Temple Rodeph Sholom on East 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue map in 1916