The Actors' Temple

The Actors' Temple
The Actors' Temple in May 2007
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
RiteNon-denominational
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Jill Hausman
StatusActive
Location
Location339 West 47th Street, Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, New York City, New York 10036
CountryUnited States
The Actors' Temple is located in Manhattan
The Actors' Temple
Location in Manhattan
Geographic coordinates40°45′40″N 73°59′21″W / 40.76111°N 73.98917°W / 40.76111; -73.98917
Architecture
Architect(s)Sydney F. Oppenheimer
TypeSynagogue
StyleClassical Revival
Date established1917 (as a congregation)
Completed1925
Website
theactorstemple.org
Actors' Temple
NRHP reference No.05000445
Added to NRHPMay 19, 2005

The Actors' Temple, officially named Congregation Ezrath Israel, is a non-denominational Jewish synagogue located at 339 West 47th Street, in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, New York, in the United States.

History

The congregation was founded in 1917 as the West Side Hebrew Relief Association, an Orthodox congregation for the shopkeepers in the area. The temple has been located at its current site since 1923, and it was the synagogue of choice for the entertainment industry. Many vaudeville, musical theater, television, and nightclub performers attended services there, including Sophie Tucker, Shelley Winters, Milton Berle, Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Joe E. Lewis, Edward G. Robinson, as well as two of the Three Stooges. Bernard Birstein, an aspiring actor himself, was the first rabbi; he died in 1959.

The temple declined after World War II as actors moved to California and the neighborhood changed. The congregation diminished from 300 members to approximately 30 in 2009. In 2005, in order to bring in additional income, the temple started renting out dance rehearsal space to New Dance Group as well as temporarily transforming into a theatre for plays. However, even with this additional income, the $120,000 annual operating costs used up the $2 million endowment by 2009. Despite these challenges, the temple continues to operate. In 2011, the temple had a fundraising program and about 150 dues-paying members, with an average Friday night worship attendance of 20–30 people.

The Temple congregation was once Orthodox, transitioned to Conservative, and is now non-denominational.

Building


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