Congregation Ohab Zedek, sometimes abbreviated asOZ and formally known as theFirst Hungarian Congregation Ohab Zedek, is aModern OrthodoxJewish congregation andsynagogue located at 118 West 95th Street on theUpper West Side ofManhattan inNew York City. The congregation is known for its lively, youthful congregation.[1] Founded in 1873, it moved to its current location in 1926. The current clergy are SeniorRabbi Allen Schwartz and senior gabbai Allen Katz. Other current staff members include President, Yoni Vega, Executive Director, Chad Hopkovitz and Head of CSS, Jeff Korenman.
Congregation Ohab Zedek was founded in 1873 on theLower East Side. The congregation built a synagogue building at 70 Columbia Street in 1881. In 1886 the congregation sold the Columbia Street building to Congregation Ahavath Acheim Anshe Ungarn and moved into theGothic Revival-style synagogue at 172 Norfolk Street that is now theAngel Orensanz Center, the oldest surviving synagogue building in New York and the fourth-oldest in the United States.[2] RabbiPhilip Klein served as its rabbi from 1890 to his death in 1926.[3]
In 1906–07 the congregation built and moved into a "monumental" building on116th Street, in the newly fashionable neighborhood of Harlem. The "monumental" design was influenced by the Gothic character of the previous Norfolk Street home. The street-facing gable prominently featured a large four-centered arch-headed window over a large pedimented doorcase, appearing styled in loose or Vernacular Gothic on the interface ofMoorish Revival architecture.
In 1926 OZ moved to its present building at 118 West 95th Street; the 116th Street property was sold, eventually becoming the Baptist Temple Church, which occupied the location for over five decades. Conversion into a church removed the Jewish-themed terracotta ornaments. Costly structural damage necessitated the building's demolition, which occurred slowly throughout late 2009 and early 2010.
The current synagogue building at 118 West 95th Street (constructed in 1926) is noted for itsMoorish Revival architecture. Designed by architect Charles B. Myers, the interior features magnificentMudéjar style plasterwork. The building was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places on August 18, 2017.[5]
Early in the 21st century, the congregation became known for attracting large numbers ofOrthodox Jewish singles to its services and programs.[1] The congregation published a book in 2005 about its history,First Hungarian Congregation Ohab Zedek, written by Chaim Steinberger, a member of the congregation.
