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 […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
Sister Shuls: Etz Chaim in Portland Maine
In “Sister Shuls,” we travel virtually to other synagogues whose exuberant architecture has a kinship with our landmark home, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. Today, for the first time in Sister Shuls, we’re travelling within the United States! We’re stopping much closer to home than usual, as we touch down in Portland, Maine at the Etz […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
Sister Shuls: Gran Templo Paso in Buenos Aires
In “Sister Shuls,” we travel virtually to other synagogues whose exuberant architecture has a kinship with our landmark home, the Eldridge Street Synagogue. After spinning our digital globe once again, we find ourselves in the bustling city of Buenos Aires, Argentina. Unlike some of the other places we’ve visited in this series, Argentina is still […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
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 […]
Continue Reading
