The Denver Jewish news., 1921-03-09
sYNAGOG ARCHITECTURE.

pie. In the United States. and it is
truly deplorable that it should be so.
We hive religion that eDsbOdies all
those qualities. which If adequately
translated into terms of architecture,
would eventually and inevitably result
in monuments of the greatest dignity
and inspirational force. Yet what do
we find? Synaeogs In the Moorish
style, in Egyptian. in the pagan classic,
aAd even in the style Of Louis XVII:
l confess that In all my study of the
subject I have been unable to discover
any reason why the architecture of the
period Of this monarch however ceie-
brated should te adopted for u Jew
ish synaxog. Fortunately the Moor
fish aud the Egyptian have but little
vogue today, but the reproduction OF
the Roman or Greek classic temples
still continues The prototypes Of
these buildings were devoted to the
worship of pagan deities. What have
we in common with them? Moreover,
this is the style now extensively used
tIiruout the country for Christian
Science churches. No one mnn alone
has ever created q style of architec-
ture, but all styles are a matter OF
evolution. 1 wish only to urge that
we cease the adoption Of inappro-
pirate styles that have nothing in com
mon with our religion. nor ever did
have and make ut least a beginning
In another and more rational direc-
ton, so that in time our religious edi-
ficics may properly express something
of the true character of our religion,
and SO that stranger visiting your
city may recognize at once the Jew
ish house of worship and not mistake
il for n Christian Science church,
bank building. or anything but what
it is.
l would wish TO zee placed well i'll
evidence on the exterior of our Syna-
gags the tablets of the law Oh which
our religion ID based. just Us the
Christians place on the highest pima
cles Of their churches the cross Of
Christ which is to them the symbol
of their faith. On the interior l would
strongly condemn the present tendency
to substitute theatre or opera chpir.
either in straight rows, Or still worse,
in curved ones, for the far more digni-
fled straight pew. and in straight
rows. To my pind the interior of a
Synagog is holy place and should
contain no Furnishings suggestive OF
the theatre. We go to 1t for WORSHIP
or contemplation, not to be entertain
cd. am familiar with all the argu-
inents put forth on behalf VI the opera
chair but feel that not one of them
should be listened to for q moment.
One other. interior arrangement that
l should wish to see discontinued as
being totally wrong is the placing OF
the choir on top of the Ark. the
Ark is the Holy of Holes and should
be the focal point of every Synagos
or Temple. 10 allow your singers to
walk over it or behind it impresses
me as little less than saerilcSe. 1T Is
one of those arrangements that
would consider entirely too practical.
If we wish to maintain in our Syna-
gogs aud our Temples truly devo-
tionui atmosphere and such one as
to inspire piety and reverence in our
people, it can never he achieved by
such means as these.
/ have seen in the public prints but
a single reference to this SUBJECT
written cditOrially only last year by
The late DIR. Joseph Jacobs in which
I've said. in par: that in every city
wht re Jews a:c heated '':he re Will he
LIilding to winch :he il habitants
can point and say, That As the Jewish
Synagog, or Temple, as the case may
be. If these buildings are dienified
and transformations, free from eNces-
sivc ornament and vet distinctive ana
characteristic, the general reputation
Of Jews will be so much the gamer.
Just as men judge other men Oh nrst
introduction by their apparel, so the!
Judge religious communities by their
place of meeting. Both the Roman
Catholic Hierarchy and the Episcopal
liam Church are aware of this tend
cncy, in mans mind; and it is net for
nothing that the cathedrals dedieat-
cd to st. Patrick and st. John i'll TINS
city New York; are among the most
prominent architectural erections with
in its limits Furthermore. he sug-
gests that both rabbis md wardehs
or trustees should make a study OF
the simple elements of architectural
beauty in order to check the vasarles
Of the architect. should any such ap-
pear in his plans.
II, however. our Synasoss an"