Broadway Synagogue, Old
historic place
The Old Broadway Synagogue, officially known as Chevra Talmud Torah Anshei Marovi, is located at 15 Old Broadway in Manhattan's Harlem neighborhood. The congregation was incorporated in 1911 by Morris Schiff, a Polish immigrant. The building itself was constructed in 1923, designed by the architectural firm Meisner and Uffner in a Gothic Revival style. This Orthodox Jewish synagogue was formed by Ashkenazic Jewish immigrants, primarily from Russia and Poland, who had settled in Harlem. Before the synagogue building was completed, the congregation met in rented spaces, including storefronts. The Old Broadway Synagogue is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, added in 2002. It is notable as the only original functioning mainstream synagogue remaining in Harlem, a neighborhood that once housed approximately 200 synagogues. The synagogue has served a diverse community, including Holocaust survivors and students from nearby universities. Rabbi Jacob Kret led the congregation for 47 years, from 1950 to 1997. Its continued presence highlights a significant aspect of New York City's Jewish history.