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All the United States New York State New York City Manhattan The Actor's Temple

The Actor's Temple

A Hell's Kitchen synagogue that has counted stars of stage and screen among its congregation.

New York, New York

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Ian Hall
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Off Broadway theater space at The Actor’s Temple   Steven Bornholtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
Stained glass window   Steven Bornholtz, CC BY-SA 4.0
The Actor’s Temple   Dmadeo, CC BY-SA 3.0
The Actor’s Temple   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
The Actor’s Temple   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
The Actor’s Temple   blimpcaptain / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
  wherearewedude / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Founded in 1917, Congregation Ezrath Israel was initially built for local Orthodox shopkeepers as the West Side Hebrew Relief Association. It has since evolved into the only synagogue in New York that is also an Off-Broadway theater space.

In the 1920s, it became the synagogue of choice for luminaries in the entertainment industry. Shelly Winters, Milton Berle, Jack Benny, Al Jolson, Henny Youngman, and two of the Three Stooges attended services here. In later years, baseball legend Sandy Koufax was a part of the congregation.

The temple went through a period of decline after the nightclubs closed, the vaudeville scene dried up, and television migrated west. In spite of the precipitous drop in numbers, the congregation held strong and the temple survived. Today, it is flourishing as a post-denominational institution that has attracted a new generation of members.

The sanctuary features stained glass memorials and bronze plaques to honor many of its famous congregants, as well as a photo gallery of headshots that lines the walls of the stairwell.

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Temples Judaism Synagogues

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The Actor's Temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 19, 2005.

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blimpcaptain

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wherearewedude

  • wherearewedude

Published

March 8, 2023

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The Actor's Temple
339 W 47th St
New York, New York, 10036
United States
40.761378, -73.988999
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