NYAC: Inside Bialystoker Synagogue, One of NYC’s Oldest Religious Buildings

What’s one of New York’s largest active Jewish Orthodox congregations doing inside a former church? Now’s your chance to step inside this nearly 200-year-old building to see one of the most ornate houses of worship in all of New York.

Join New York Adventure Club for a private lecture and exploration of the Bialystoker Synagogue — opened in 1905 by the Bialystoker congregation, this landmarked synagogue in the Lower East Side was transformed during the Great Depression to house one of NYC’s finest sanctuaries, as a way to provide a sense of hope and inspiration to the community.

Led by a guide from the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy — a non-profit in its 21st year dedicated to preserving, sharing, and celebrating the Jewish Heritage of the iconic Lower East Side and other Jewish neighborhoods — our unique experience through this breathtaking orthodox synagogue, which is not normally open to the public, will include:

• An overview of 19th-century New York, and the struggles faced by the first congregation of Polish immigrants in the Lower East Side
• The history of the building, which was originally built using Manhattan schist in 1826 for the Willett Street Methodist Episcopal Church
• A discussion around the stunning art and architectural pieces around the synagogue, including numerous hand-painted murals, original stained glass windows, and the stunning bima and ark — both believed to have been hand-carved in Italy
• A multi-floor exploration of the landmarked synagogue to see its most historic elements, from the breathtaking main sanctuary, to a memorial dedicated to a famous American gangster, to evidence that the building was a stop on the Underground Railroad

Afterward, we’ll head outside for a mini-tour of the neighborhood on our way back to the nearest subway station!