Congregation Rodeph Sholom (Manhattan)


Congregation Rodeph Sholom is a Reform synagogue in New York City. Founded in 1842 by immigrants from the German lands, it is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.

History

City directories from the year 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.
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. A man named Simeon Abrahams conveyed land to the congregation for a burial ground in 1842. This cemetery was on 88th Street between Madison and Park Avenues. By 1879, there had not been a burial in twenty-six years. It was removed sometime in between 1897 and 1911.
In 1930, Rodeph Sholom moved to its present location at 7 West 83rd Street on the Upper West Side. The Romanesque temple house and sanctuary, designed by Charles B. Meyers, were built between 1929–30 and dedicated on Purim in March 1930.

Day School

In 1970, Rodeph Sholom opened the first Reform movement Jewish day school in the United States. 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.

Notable members