Lincoln Square Synagogue

Coordinates: 40°46′37″N 73°59′00″W / 40.776872°N 73.983248°W / 40.776872; -73.983248

The Torah ark (Aron Kodesh), the aesthetic and spiritual focal-point of Lincoln Square Synagogue's new sanctuary, designed by David Ascalon.
The congregation's current building
The synagogue's building from 1970-2013

The Lincoln Square Synagogue is located at 180 Amsterdam Avenue between West 68th and 69th Streets in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1964, the physical location of the congregation has changed several times. The most recent move took place in January 2013. The new building is the largest synagogue to be built in New York City in over 50 years. The current senior Rabbi is Rabbi Shaul Robinson.

History

The Lincoln Square Synagogue was founded as a congregation in 1964 by Rabbi Shlomo Riskin.[1] In the late 1960s, the first Orthodox Jewish women's tefillah (prayer) group was created, on the holiday of Simhat Torah at Lincoln Square Synagogue.[2]

The travertine building it formerly occupied at 200 Amsterdam Avenue, just 250 feet from its current building,[3] was built in 1970, and was designed by the firm of Hausman & Rosenberg.[4] Because it had outgrown that building, the synagogue moved to a new building designed by Cetra/Ruddy[5] in mid-January 2013,[6] after a development process that lasted seven years.[3] The move was the result of a land swap between the synagogue and the development company American Continental Properties, in which the congregation received $20 million to aid in paying for the construction of the new building. Despite this, and the $10 million raised by the congregation, construction was held up in 2010 because of a lack of funds, which was made up by a single contribution of $20 million from an anonymous donor. The old building at 200 Amsterdam will be replaced by an apartment building.[3]

The new building, the largest new synagogue in New York City in 50 years,[7] is five stories tall and comprises 52,000 square feet,[5][8] including a sanctuary able to hold 429 people.[9] The horseshoe shape of the seating in the sanctuary of the old building was kept, but with changes that help to focus one's attention on the ark.[3]

The building won Architectural Lighting's 2015 award for interior lighting.[10]

Clergy

Rabbi Shaul Robinson

Rabbi Shaul Robinson is currently the senior rabbi at Lincoln Square Synagogue, which is affiliated with Modern Orthodox Judaism. Robinson has held the position since September 1, 2005. He is credited with setting up and directing the first ever "Department for Professional Rabbinic Development" in the United Kingdom.[11]

Cantor Sherwood Goffin

Cantor Sherwood Goffin has served the synagogue since its founding in 1965. Cantor Goffin has been only Principal of the Lincoln Square Synagogue Feldman Hebrew School since 1965. He obtained "Cantor for Life" tenure in 1986. Cantor Goffin currently works with Cantor Yaakov Lemmer.[11]

Notable people

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p.130
  2. ↑ Marcus, Bat Sheva Marcus & Becherurl, Ronnie (March 1, 2009). ""Women's Tefillah Movement"". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Dunlap, David W. (January 7, 2013) "At Last, a New Lincoln Square Synagogue" The New York Times
  4. ↑ White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot (2000), AIA Guide to New York City (4th ed.), New York: Three Rivers Press, ISBN 978-0-8129-3107-5, p.323
  5. 1 2 Gardner, James (February 24, 2012) "Lincoln Square’s new shul looks nothing especially synagogue-like" The Real Deal
  6. ↑ Landowne, Morton (January 15, 2013) "Entering Lincoln Square’s Second Temple Period" The Jewish Week
  7. ↑ Staff (May 11, 2007) "Giant Lincoln Square Synagogue a go" The Real Deal
  8. ↑ "Lincoln Square Synagogue" CetraRuddy website
  9. ↑ Rosenblat, Gary (January 2, 2013) "If You Build It, Will They Come?" The Jewish Week
  10. ↑ Donoff, Elizabeth (August 11, 2015) "2015 AL Design Awards: Lincoln Square Synagogue, New York" Architectural Lighting
  11. 1 2 "Meet Our Clergy". Lincoln Square Synagogue. 2013. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ Brzozowski, Carol (July 6, 1991). "Boca Raton Synagogue Chooses New Rabbi". Sun-Sentinel. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  13. ↑ Foderaro, Lisa W. (May 12, 2010) "As a Girl, Kagen Tested the Boundaries of Her Faith" The New York Times
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