Edmond J. Safra Synagogue

The Edmond J. Safra Synagogue is an Orthodox Sephardic synagogue located on East 63rd Street off of Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, New York.

The synagogue project was initiated by philanthropist Edmond Safra before his death in 1999, and dedicated in 2003. Safra's goal was to have a Sephardic synagogue on Manhattan's Upper East Side.[1]

The synagogue, designed by architect Thierry W. Despont,[2] has been called a "sumptuous work of Beaux-Arts revival."[3] The interior and facade of the building is made of Jerusalem stone quarried in Judea.[1][2] The massive bronze doors with their Tree of Life motif are by American sculptor Mark Beard.[4]

Because it is located in a historic district, the synagogue design needed to receive approval from the landmarks commission, which called it an "artful synthesis of the composition, details and material palette of the Beaux-Arts style, which plays an important role in defining the special architectural character of the Upper East Side Historic District."[3]

The congregation is currently led by Rabbi Elie Abadie.[5]

In January 2011, the Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation began ground breaking work and planning of "The Edmond J. Safra Synagogue" of Brooklyn, New York.[6]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in New York City is Inaugurated" | Yeshiva University News (Oct. 1, 2003)
  2. 1 2 "Edmund Safra Synagogue" | Jerusalem Gardens
  3. 1 2 Dunlap, David W. (Dec 8, 2002). "In Synagogue Design, Many Paths". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 May 2009.
  4. ↑ "Mark Beard"
  5. ↑ "Ask the Rabbi"
  6. ↑ "The Edmond J Safra Synagogue"

External links

Coordinates: 40°45′59.4″N 73°58′13.14″W / 40.766500°N 73.9703167°W / 40.766500; -73.9703167

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