Congregation Shearith Israel

Congregation Shearith Israel
Hebrew: קהילת שארית ישראל
Congregation Shearith Israel at Central Park West
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
RiteSpanish and Portuguese (Western Sephardic)
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
StatusActive
Location
Location2 West 70th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City, New York
CountryUnited States
Congregation Shearith Israel is located in Manhattan
Congregation Shearith Israel
Location within Manhattan
Geographic coordinates40°46′29.5″N 73°58′38.3″W / 40.774861°N 73.977306°W / 40.774861; -73.977306
Architecture
Architect(s)Arnold Brunner
TypeSynagogue
StyleNeoclassical
Date established1654 (as a congregation)
Completed1897
Direction of façadeEast
Website
shearithisrael.org

The Congregation Shearith Israel (Hebrew: קהילת שארית ישראל, romanizedKehilat She'arit Yisra'el, lit.'Congregation Remnant of Israel'), often called The Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue located at 2 West 70th Street, at Central Park West, on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, New York, United States.

Established in 1654 in New Amsterdam by Jews who arrived from Dutch Brazil, it is the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States.[1] Until 1825, when Jewish immigrants from Germany established a congregation, it was the only Jewish congregation in New York City.

The Orthodox congregation follows the Sephardic rite, and has occupied its current Neoclassical building since 1897.[2]

  1. ^ Marcus, Jacob R. (1951). Early American Jewry: The Jews of New York, New England, and Canada, 1649–1794. Vol. I. Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society. pp. 3, 20–23.
  2. ^ "Congregation Shearith Israel: Building Report". International Survey of Jewish Monuments. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2007.