Author Archive
Sister Shuls: Ashkenazi Synagogue in Istanbul, Turkey
In “Sister Shuls,” we travel virtually to other synagogues whose exuberant architecture has a kinship with our landmark home, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. As we cyber-travel around the world finding “Sister Shuls” for Eldridge Street, sometimes the kinship is subtle. Other times, it screams out. Today we land in Istanbul at the Ashkenazi Synagogue. From […]
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A secular, socialist, Yiddish newspaper walks into a synagogue….
This interview originally ran on the blog one year ago this week. But it’s such a great conversation that we’re running it (with some minor edits) again! The Pressed exhibition is still on display at the museum and we hope you’ll come see it once we’ve reopened to the public. The Museum’s exhibition Pressed: Images […]
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Menorahs Go Millennial
Menorahs are customizable. They’re not quite as unique as snowflakes (we’ve all seen our share of the classic minimal brass menorah), but there is a huge variety in their size, form and function. Since antiquity, menorah makers have been adjusting or embellishing the basic nine-candle form. Sometimes the design expresses the region where it was […]
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Is pie the paragon of American sloth?
Pie – baseball’s delicious counterpart in American iconography. More than any other dessert, pie feels traditional. Even historic. There’s something about pie that carries the weight not only of its flaky crust and sugary filling but of the symbolism of an ideal, wholesome America. It’s so entrenched in our national culture that it feels almost […]
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LED Lights Now Shine in the Shul
It’s been three years since our historic sanctuary received a major sustainable upgrade. The lighting projet paired brand new technology with old-world sensibility – and it honor of the anniversary we’re reposting the blog that announced the project’s completion. This post originally ran on November 8, 2017. The Museum’s delicate lighting fixtures are small but […]
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Sister Shuls: Eliyahu Hanavi in Alexandria, Egypt
In “Sister Shuls,” we travel virtually to other synagogues whose exuberant architecture has a kinship with our landmark home, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. So far in our cyber searching for Sister Shuls, we’ve traveled to Prague, Budapest, Mumbai and Florence. This time we’ve landed in Alexandria, Egypt at the Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue. A synagogue has […]
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The LES storefront signs we’ve loved & lost (& found!)
The big, bold signage of the historic Lower East Side is part of its iconic legacy. From gold leaf Yiddish lettering on Kosher shop windows to gleaming neon marquees, the many big & busy storefront signs certainly contributed to the frenetic, frenzied atmosphere of the streets. And there are still some great signs in the […]
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Chinatown Arts Week brings the community together
This year has been especially tough for so many people. And adding to the stress of world events is the isolation we’re experiencing as we safely socially distance and shelter in our homes whenever possible. It can make us feel disconnected and alone. Which is why Chinatown Arts Week, Think!Chinatown’s arts and culture festival currently […]
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Jewish Designers Used to Set the Fashion Trends in Berlin
Berlin, 1920s. Bustling streets, high spirits and even higher ambitions. Just like in America, the 20s in Berlin were roaring. Social strictures were loosening, there was an energy in the air, and creative industries boomed. Women were cutting their hair, shortening their skirts, and living free, or freeer, social lives. And fashion was at the […]
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Conjuring old Sukkot traditions in a changed world
The Museum at Eldridge street has been closed, due to the coronavirus pandemic, for over six months. Our staff and docents miss so much about being at the Museum every day – meeting new visitors from around the world, sharing a transportive experience together, relishing the calm and beauty of the historic sanctuary. And we […]
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