Jewish Center of Kings Highway

Jewish Center of Kings Highway
Jewish Center of Kings Highway
Religion
Affiliation	Conservative Judaism (former)
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue (former)
Status	Closed
Location
Location	1202-1218 Avenue P, Midwood, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
Country	United States
	Location of the former synagogue in New York City
Geographic coordinates	40°36′36″N 73°57′39″W / 40.61000°N 73.96083°W
Architecture
Architect(s)	Maurice Courland
Type	Synagogue architecture
Style	Neoclassical
Date established	c. 1920 (as a congregation)
Completed	1930
Site area	8,000 square feet (740 m2)
	Jewish Center of Kings Highway
	U.S. National Register of Historic Places
NRHP reference No.	10000009
Added to NRHP	April 28, 2016

The Jewish Center of Kings Highway is a historic former Conservative Jewish synagogue, located at 1202–1218 Avenue P in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, New York, in the United States.

History

The Jewish Center of Kings Highway began as a synagogue and school called Beth HaKnesseth ("House of Assembly") Talmud Torah of Kings Highway. Its first building was building between 1920 and 1922, at 1202–1210 Avenue P; and by 1924 the synagogue had been renamed as the Jewish Center of Kings Highway, with the school retaining the former title.

The synagogue used Jewish community center plan. The first such synagogue/center was formed in 1917 in Manhattan, beginning a community centre movement. The Jewish Center of Brooklyn followed shortly thereafter, with a center that housed a gymnasium, kindergarten, library, classrooms, dining room and synagogue.^[2]

The Jewish Center of Kings Highway built a new Neoclassical synagogue building on a slightly larger site, at the same location, between 1928 and 1930, under the leadership of Rabbi Jacob J. Newman and synagogue president Nathaniel J. Levine.^[3]^[4] The site plan required zoning variances for the proportion of he lot occupied by the building.^[5] It was dedicated the weekend of March 28-30, 1930, the building still stands, and is a two-story-with-basement building faced in brick.^[4] The former synagogue building has a cast stone temple front with four engaged Corinthian order piers.

Also on the property is a school building built by the Center in 1949.^[2]

In 1963, the Conservative congregation was expelled by the national Conservative movement, the United Synagogue of America, for refusing to drop the practice of playing bingo for fund-raising purposes.^[6]

The former synagogue building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.^[1]

Though no longer used as a synagogue, the premises is currently used for a Jewish boys high school.

References

^ ^a ^b "National Register of Historic Places". Weekly List Of Actions Taken On Properties: 2/08/10 Through 2/12/10. National Park Service. February 19, 2010.
^ ^a ^b "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2016. Note: This includes Howe, Kathy Howe (October 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Jewish Center of Kings Highway" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2016. and Accompanying 13 photographs
^ "New Kings Highway Synagogue Dedicated". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. March 20, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ ^a ^b "Synagogue Dedication". Times Union. March 6, 1930. p. 30. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "Zoning Problems to be Discussed by Standards Board". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 29, 1928. p. 59. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
^ "United Synagogue of America Expels Congregation for Playing Bingo". Jewish Telegraph Agency (archives). April 1, 1963. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

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[nrhp-1] "National Register of Historic Places". Weekly List Of Actions Taken On Properties: 2/08/10 Through 2/12/10. National Park Service. February 19, 2010.

[NysNrhpNom-2] "Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS)". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (Searchable database) on April 4, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2016. Note: This includes Howe, Kathy Howe (October 2009). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Jewish Center of Kings Highway" (PDF). Retrieved June 1, 2016. and Accompanying 13 photographs

[3] "New Kings Highway Synagogue Dedicated". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. March 20, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[:0-4] "Synagogue Dedication". Times Union. March 6, 1930. p. 30. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[5] "Zoning Problems to be Discussed by Standards Board". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. January 29, 1928. p. 59. Retrieved February 19, 2024.

[6] "United Synagogue of America Expels Congregation for Playing Bingo". Jewish Telegraph Agency (archives). April 1, 1963. Retrieved January 31, 2024.

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