Manhattan Beach Jewish Center

{{Short description|Orthodox synagogue building in Brooklyn, New York}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Manhattan Beach Jewish Center | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = MANHATTAN BEACH JEWISH CENTER, KINGS COUNTY, NY.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = The synagogue building, in 2017 | religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]] | tradition = | sect = | district = | prefecture = | province = | region = | deity = | rite = | festival =  | organisational_status = [[Synagogue]] | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = Rabbi Akiva Eisenstadt (Rabbi)

Andrew Birnbaum (President)

Moshe Singer (Gabbai) | bhattaraka = | patron = | consecration_year = | functional_status = Active | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | location = 60 West End Avenue, [[Brooklyn]], [[New York City]] | locale = | municipality = | cercle = | state = New York | country = United States | map_type = New York City | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in [[New York City]] | grid_name = | grid_position = | sector = | territory = | administration = | coordinates = {{coord|40|34|50|N|73|57|22|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | heritage_designation = | architect = Jacob W. Sherman | architecture_type = [[Synagogue architecture]] | architecture_style = {{ubl|[[Bauhaus architecture|Bauhaus]]|[[Modernist architecture|Modernist]]}} | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = | established = 1922 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = 1952; 1961 | construction_cost = | date_demolished =  | facade_direction = | capacity = 600 | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = | height_max = | dome_quantity = | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = | minaret_height = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | site_area = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | shrine_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = Limestone; brick; [[Akoustolith]] tiles | elevation_m =  | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | delisted1_date = | website = mbjc.org | module = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Manhattan Beach Jewish Center | nrhp_type = | added = May 26, 2015 | area = {{convert|1.03|acre}} | refnum = 15000266 }} | footnotes = <ref name="nps"/> }}

The '''Manhattan Beach Jewish Center''' is an [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[Jewish]] active congregation, [[synagogue]], and [[Jewish community center|community center]], located in the [[Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn|Manhattan Beach]] neighborhood of [[Brooklyn, New York|Brooklyn]], New York City, New York, United States.

== History == Founded as Congregation B’nai Israel of Manhattan Beach in 1922, the congregation started calling itself as the Manhattan Beach Jewish Center shortly thereafter; however it did not apply to formally change its name until 1962.<ref name="nps"/>

Located at 60 West End Avenue, the historic synagogue building was completed in 1952. It was designed by Jacob W. Sherman in the [[Bauhaus architecture|Bauhaus]] style, similar to European synagogues of the 1930s. Ten years after the synagogue was opened, the adjoining seven-story community center was built.<ref name=":0"/> The first [[Jewish community center]] was formed in 1917 in Manhattan, beginning a community centre movement. The Jewish Center of Brooklyn followed shortly thereafter, with a center that housed a gymnasium, kindergarten, library, classrooms, dining room and synagogue.<ref name="nps"/> The building is an example of the Jewish community center movement which was coming into its own at the time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2015/04/manhattan-beach-jewish-center-built-in-1952-nominated-for-historic-designation/|title=Manhattan Beach Jewish Center, Built In 1952, Nominated For Historic Designation - Sheepshead Bay News Site|date=2015-04-06 |newspaper=Sheepshead Bites |language=en-US|access-date=2016-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220101536/http://www.sheepsheadbites.com/2015/04/manhattan-beach-jewish-center-built-in-1952-nominated-for-historic-designation/ |archive-date=2016-12-20|url-status=usurped}}</ref>

The synagogue is a two-story-and-mezzanine [[Modern architecture|Modern Movement]] building with a [[limestone]] [[façade]] and granite base. It has a short tower and recessed shallow entrance porch, flanked on either side by a single unadorned column.<ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/e23ef217-b7b7-4e1e-86df-599e3110286a |title=National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: Manhattan Beach Jewish Center |access-date=2015-12-01 |author=Robbins, Anthony |format=PDF}} ''and {{cite web|url=https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=314593&q=false |title=Accompanying photos }}''</ref>

During [[Superstorm Sandy]], the Center experienced serious damage. NYS Assemblyman [[Steven Cymbrowitz]] reported witnessing {{convert|350000|USgal|L|abbr=off|lk=on}} of water and oil being pumped out of the basement. Two years after the storm, the center was still recovering.<ref name=":0"/>

The synagogue building and community center was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 2015,<ref name="nps"/> one of only two properties in all of New York City to be nominated for the distinction by then-Governor [[Andrew Cuomo]], to both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.<ref name=":0"/>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20000818085459/http://www.mbjc.org/ Manhattan Beach Jewish Center website]

[[Category:1922 establishments in New York City]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1922]] [[Category:Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn]] [[Category:Modernist architecture in New York (state)]] [[Category:Modernist synagogues]] [[Category:Orthodox synagogues in New York City]] [[Category:Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Brooklyn]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1952]] [[Category:Synagogues in Brooklyn]] [[Category:Synagogues on the National Register of Historic Places in New York City]]