Congregation Beth Israel
(1926-28)
1931 NW Flanders
* This 1920's neo-byzantine structure is settled in the middle of NW Flanders, comfortably surrounded by grassy fields of deep green, perched on top of a small hill. Although there are many other buildings in the neighborhood, Congregation Beth Israel sits alone, separate from the other buildings.
* The surrounding buildings seem to have been built during the same era, however, there is a distinguished difference in architectural style. While the synagogue embodies neo-byzantine architecture, a style commonly seen in religious buildings in Western Europe, the surrounding buildings display aspects of the zigzag moderne and tropical deco architectural styles.
* Due to its religious component, the presence of this house of worship is overwhelming. Buildings adjacent to the synagogue might have a larger mass, however the main colossal dome seems to draw one's eyes. Interpreting the whole of the structure is difficult as it is multi-faceted, alien in its form, built on uneven land.
* Congregation Beth Israel, formerly known as Temple Beth Israel is a reform synagogue for the Reformed Judaic sect of Judaism. A place for Jews to pray in the house of God, Congregation Beth Israel is the third reconstruction of the original temple built in 1859.
* The Jewish congregation prays, discusses the word of the Talmud and Torah, reads the Torah, listens to the Rabbi (teacher), and finds peace in the house of God.
* The entrance and exit are one. Only those walking to temple before sundown, preparing for the Sabbath, needing to give gratitude to their Adonai (God), can find their way to the massive, ten-foot doors. The sidewalk leads up and away from the streets, further separating Congregation Beth Israel from the working, secular world.
* Friday nights and Saturday mornings are the busiest of days at Congregation Beth Israel, welcoming observers of the Sabbath. Although the synagogue is located near the downtown area, the streets are fairly quiet during the rest of the week. The Glisan bus runs by the temple, producing the most traffic.
* The solidity of the bricks used to build the synagogue represent the perseverance of the Jewish people. Unlike its predecessors, which were destroyed due to anti-semitic oppressors, this building will live for eternity.
* The details of the construction of Congregation Beth Israel are varied, yet appealing. The decorations are religiously important. A menorah surrounded by stained glass, the ten commandments and Hebrew prayers are carved in the front center of the building above the magnificent entrance. The designs cast in the walls are stylistically different, possibly taken from the Aztec or Mayan style using geometric patterns. The architectural details represent the 'zigzag moderne' of the 1920's rather than the futuristic 'streamline moderne' of the 1930's.
