National Historic Landmark
Which site was the heritage designation of Central Synagogue (Manhattan) from May 1975 to May 1976?
Central Synagogue ( Manhattan ) Central Synagogue ( Congregation Ahawath Chesed Shaar Hashomayim ; ) is a Reform synagogue located at 652 Lexington Avenue , at the corner of East 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan , New York City . It was built in 1870–1872 and was designed by Henry Fernbach in the Moorish Revival style as a copy of Budapests Dohány Street Synagogue . It has been in continuous use by a congregation longer than any other in the state of New York , except Congregation Berith Sholom in Troy , New York and is among the oldest existing synagogue buildings in the United States . The building was designated a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 . It was then designated a National Historic Landmark in 1975 . History . The Ahawath Chesed congregation was founded in 1846 on Ludlow Street in Manhattan by German-speaking Jews from Bohemia . It merged in 1898 with Congregation Shaar Hashomayim , which was founded by German Jews in 1839 on Albany Street . The combined congregation bought the lot at Lexington Avenue and East 55th Street and engaged Henry Fernbach , the countrys first prominent Jewish architect , to design it . The dramatic style of the building was the subject of much debate during the construction . Some felt its excess would inspire envy and stand in the way of assimilation . Construction was completed in 1872 . After a fire in 1886 , the building was restored by Ely Jacques Kahn . The building was restored in the original style after an accidental fire in August 1998 , which occurred just as a major renovation was nearing completion . The fire destroyed the roof and its supports . During the fire , the firefighters sensitivity for the building saved all but the central pane in the rose window that dominates the eastern ( Lexington Avenue ) wall . Marble plaques on the north wall of the foyer honor the firefighters of the 8th Battalion of the New York City Fire Department . The restoration of the building was supervised by Hugh Hardy of Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer . Hardy restored some details to the interior that Ely Jacques Kahn had removed during the earlier restoration in 1886 . The recent restoration was completed on September 9 , 2001 . In March 2019 , the mosque of the nearby Islamic Society of Mid-Manhattan was damaged by a fire in an adjoining restaurant . A rabbi of the synagogue invited the congregation of the mosque to hold services in the synagogue until its structure could be repaired . Architecture . Although the brownstone exterior is the finest extant example of the Moorish Revival style in New York City , the plan of the interior is Gothic in nature . The exterior is dominated by two octagonal towers topped by globular domes , as well as by the rose window of geometric design . A small row of arches just below the cornice , at the roof line , adds to the richness of the facade . The north facade , on East 55th Street , features six stained-glass windows framed by Moorish arches . The interior is stenciled with rich blues , earthy reds , ocher , and gilt – Moorish , but distinctly 19th century American . Services . Sensitive to the evolving interests and needs of the Reform Judaism community , Central Synagogue explores both traditional and alternative modes of prayer . In addition to daily morning minyan , Shabbat , holiday services , and celebrations of lifecycle events , the synagogue offers Tot Shabbat for children , and healing and community services . Notable clergy . - Angela Warnick Buchdahl , senior cantor from 2011-2014 , senior rabbi since 2014 - Deborah Prinz , assistant rabbi 1978-1981 - Daniel Mutlu , senior cantor since 2017 - Peter Rubinstein , senior rabbi from 1991-2014 - Richard Botton , senior cantor from 1974-1998 - Sheldon Zimmerman , senior rabbi from 1972-1985 External links . - Central Synagogue Restoration Booklet