“Since the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 C.E., the synagogue has been the center of Jewish communal life and worship. A synagogue (from the Greek, synagein, “to bring together”) requires only an enclosed space to allow a congregation to assemble for prayer and to hear the Torah (Five Books of Moses) read”. Samuel Gruber from "Synagogues" The synagogue is the most distinctive building in Jewish architecture and for two thousand years, it has served as the focal point of Jewish life and identity. The Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue, New York City On the Lower East Side of Manhattan there is a little known treasure illuminating a tiny chapter of Jewish history. The Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue stands as a living testament to the 2300-year-old heritage and traditions of the Romaniote Jews of Greece. Kehila Kedosha Janina is the only remaining Romaniote Synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, The congregation [Kehila] was founded in 1906 by a group of Greek-Jewish immigrants from the town of Ioannina (Janina) in northern Greece. For years, they would worship in private homes, or attend other synagogues in the area, but in 1927, there were sufficient congregants to warrant the building of a synagogue. They purchased a small plot of land on Broome Street, between Allen and Eldridge and hired an architect to design the structure. Kehila Kedosha Janina is a small-scale building combining elements of Classical and Moorish architecture, using the three-bay wide style prevalent among New York City synagogues of this period. The two-story building is constructed of buff-colored brick with cast stone detailing with a modest peaked parapet that subtly creates the effect of corner towers. Moorish influence can be seen in the cast stone cusped arch over the front entrance. In addition, traditional Judaic motifs were incorporated in the cast stone tablets of the Ten Commandments placed above the entrance and stained glass windows. Kehila Kedosha Janina is listed on both the New York State and National Registers of Historic Places and was designated a New York City Landmark (April 2004). The synagogue is now seeking designation as a National Historic Landmark. In May 2004, the synagogue was awarded the Lucy G. Moses Preservation Award 2004 for architectural integrity. • • • Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue Photo Gallery