| Fifth Avenue Synagogue | |
|---|---|
Hebrew:קהלת עטרת צבי | |
 Fifth Avenue Synagogue | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Eli BabichCantor Zak Benarroch |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 5East 62nd Street,Upper East Side,Manhattan,New York City,New York |
| Country | United States |
  Location inManhattan | |
| Coordinates | 40°45′57″N73°58′15″W / 40.765954°N 73.97095°W /40.765954; -73.97095 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Percival Goodman |
| Founder |
|
| Established | 1958(as a congregation) |
| Website | |
| 5as | |
TheFifth Avenue Synagogue (Hebrew:קהלת עטרת צבי, officiallyCongregation Ateret Tsvi) is anOrthodox Jewishsynagogue located at 5East 62nd Street betweenFifth andMadison Avenues on theUpper East Side ofManhattan,New York City,New York, United States.
The synagogue was founded in 1958, by former members of Congregation Zichron Ephraim (now calledPark East Synagogue) who opposed that congregation's decision to seat men and women together during services. Henry Hirsch, Myrtle Hirsch, Leib Merkin, andHermann Merkin were among the congregation's founders. AuthorHerman Wouk was an early member of the Fifth Avenue Synagogue.[1]
The stone-clad building was designed byPercival Goodman, an architect who described himself as "an agnostic who was converted by Hitler." Goodman sought to interpret Jewish tradition in modern ways in the more than 50 synagogues he designed.[2] Herman Wouk described Goodman's design as a "traditionalSephardic layout" with thebimah andaron in the center area facing rows of seats, thereby taking advantage of the depth of the property.[3] In May 2010, a newmikvah at the Fifth Avenue Synagogue was dedicated. Funding for construction was provided byIra Rennert and family.
RabbiImmanuel Jakobovits was the founding Rabbi of the congregation in 1959 until 1967 when he was elected to serve as Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth.[4] Jakobovitz was succeeded by RabbiEmanuel Rackman, who served until 1977, when he was selected to serve as President ofBar-Ilan University.[5] Rabbi Nisson Shulman served as the congregation's rabbi from 1977 until 1985. Rabbi Sol Roth assumed the leadership of the synagogue in 1986.[6] Rabbi Yaakov Kermaier assumed leadership of the synagogue in 2003 and madealiyah with his family in 2015.
Rabbi Eli Babich, who was the associate Rabbi of Fifth Avenue Synagogue since 2013, was named the head Rabbi in 2019. TheChazzan is cantor Zak Benarroch and the cantor emeritus is the noted cantorJoseph Malovany who retired in 2022.
The synagogue appeared as a "cool 1950's apartment house" in a 2003 advertisement for theInfiniti Q45 luxury car in an ad created by theTBWA\Chiat\Day. The agency received permission to use the building in the background of the shot under the proviso that it not be identifiable, so the address on the awning was changed to the non-existent "63003 77th Street". The congregation was paid an undisclosed fee.[7]
In the 1986Woody Allen film,Hannah and her Sisters the building is panned across while being criticized for its architectural incongruity — "That's disgusting. That's really terrible." — after a shot of the consistent facades of the rest of the block.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
