The Actors' Temple
Synagogue in Manhattan, New York
40°45′40″N 73°59′21″W / 40.76111°N 73.98917°W / 40.76111; -73.98917
Actors' Temple
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,[2] 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.[3][4] Bernard Birstein, an aspiring actor himself, was the first rabbi;[5] he died in 1959.[6]
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.[3] 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.[7] However, even with this additional income, the $120,000 annual operating costs used up the $2 million endowment by 2009.[3] 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.[6]
The Temple congregation was once Orthodox, transitioned to Conservative, and is now non-denominational.[5]
Building
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ "Actors Temple History". The Actors Temple. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
- ^ a b c Dworhin, Caroline H. (April 17, 2009). "Hells Kitchen: Plot Twist at the Actors' Temple". New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
- ^ Filip Mazurczak, America's Most Beautiful, Inspiring, and Unique Synagogues (Part 1), National Trust for Historic Preservation (April 18, 2016).
- ^ a b "The Actors' Temple: Inside the synagogue where Broadway's biggest stars used to pray". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. November 12, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2019.
- ^ a b Berger, Joseph (November 19, 2011). "Once a Realm of Stars, a Temple Is Now Bereft of Them, and Their Money". The New York Times.
- ^ Robertson, Campbell (November 29, 2006). "Off Broadway and Nearer to God: It's Curtain Time at a Synagogue". New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2009.
External links
Media related to Actors' Temple at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website
- The Actor's Temple Theatre official site
- The Actors' Temple at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- v
- t
- e
Off-Broadway theatres
- 47th Street Theatre
- 59E59 Theaters
- 777 Theatre
- Abrons Arts Center
- The Actors' Temple
- Astor Place Theatre
- Baryshnikov Arts Center
- Cherry Lane Theatre
- Claire Tow Theater
- Daryl Roth Theatre
- The Duke on 42nd Street
- East 13th Street/CSC Theatre
- Elektra Theatre
- Gramercy Arts Theatre
- Gym at Judson
- Irish Repertory Theatre
- John Cullum Theatre
- Laura Pels Theatre
- Linda Gross Theater
- Lucille Lortel Theatre
- Lynn Redgrave Theater
- Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
- Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater
- McGinn/Cazale Theater
- Minetta Lane Theatre
- Mint Theater Company
- Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater
- New York City Center-Stages I & II
- New York Theatre Workshop
- New Victory Theater
- New World Stages
- Orpheum Theatre
- Pershing Square Signature Center
- The Players Theatre
- Playwrights Horizons
- The Public Theater
- St. Luke's Theatre
- SoHo Playhouse
- Stage 42
- The Theater Center
- Theatre at St. Clement's
- Theatre Row Building
- Tony Kiser Theater
- Triad Theater
- Vineyard Theatre
- Westside Theatre
- York Theatre
or repurposed
- The American Place Theatre
- Barrow Street Theatre
- Bouwerie Lane Theatre
- Circle in the Square Downtown
- Davenport Theatre
- East 74th Street Theater
- Gate Theatre
- Gramercy Theatre
- Jane Street Theatre
- Julia Miles Theater
- Lamb's Theatre
- Manhattan Ensemble Theater
- New Theatre
- Pearl Theatre Company
- Sheridan Square Playhouse
- Theatre 80
- Union Square Theatre
- Village East by Angelika
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