Central Synagogue

Manhattan, United States

Open to visitors

The interior is normally open, possibly ticketed.

Strollie cannot guarantee access — always check before you travel.

Wheelchair access: designated
Phone: +1-212-838-5122

From OpenStreetMap — confirm before travelling

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Central Synagogue, located at 652 Lexington Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, is a Moorish Revival structure designed by Henry Fernbach and built between 1870 and 1872 for the congregation Ahawath Chesed. The building's striking facade features brownstone with light-stone trim, stained glass windows, and a geometric rose window, crowned by octagonal towers. The interior comprises a two-level sanctuary arranged similarly to a Gothic church, with additional rooms in the basement. The current congregation was formed in 1898 through a merger of Shaar Hashomayim (founded 1839) and Ahawath Chesed (founded 1846), both originally German and Bohemian Jewish communities from the Lower East Side. The building has been substantially renovated multiple times, including extensive reconstruction from 1998 to 2001 following a fire. Now designated as both a New York City Landmark and a National Register of Historic Places site, Central Synagogue continues to serve as a center for Jewish community life and cultural preservation.

Architect

Henry Fernbach

Movement

Moorish Revival architecture

Built: 1872
Type: synagogue
Heritage: New York State Register of Historic Places listed place, New York City Landmark
Place: Manhattan, United States

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Location

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