First Romanian-American Congregation Synagogue
historic place
The First Romanian-American Congregation Synagogue stood at 89–93 Rivington Street in New York City's Lower East Side. The building, erected around 1860, served various religious purposes before the Romanian-Jewish Congregation, organized in 1885, purchased it in 1902. This Romanesque Revival structure was known as the "Cantor's Carnegie Hall" for its acoustics and capacity for up to 1,800 people. It was a vital center for Romanian Jewish traditions. Edward G. Robinson celebrated his Bar Mitzvah here in 1906. The synagogue was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. However, severe water damage in December 2005 led to a roof collapse in January 2006. The building was demolished in March 2006. This site was a significant institution for New York's Romanian-Jewish community. No historical marker text is available.