Save Synagogue on the Lower East Side

This is an email from Andrew Berman and my Grandfather was born in a tenement house on Ludlow Street so this resonates for me. I won't be attending but as always Andrew Berman's efforts are heroic and appreciated. Dear readeres of my blog that follow my opinions note that Mike Rosen has his hand in this. I would meet him over and over and just like David McWater he never identified himself for what he is. Yes he does good but I can't deal with his Lenin sculpture which I think is just offensive on top of his building that looks like an NYU dorm with balconies. Anything that helps preserve the community is good I just don't want to deal with Mike Rosen or anyone that sits on community boards or any part of city government that is not forth coming. I would have appreciated when I first met him if if he identified the fact he is a developer, landlord what ever.

My roots and the largest part of my life where lived in the East Village but there is much I won't miss when I leave the city for good. If anyone wants to help thank you. You can understand why I wouldn't show up and many can understand why.
This is my email from Andrew Berman.
Dear friend:

Please join GVSHP for a press conference TOMORROW calling for the preservation of the Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 East 6th Street, between 1st Avenue and Avenue A in the East Village. The press conference will be held at 4 pm in front of the synagogue, the last surviving 'tenement synagogue' in the East Village, which is currently threatened with demolition. GVSHP and the East Village Community Coalition (EVCC) have asked the City to landmark this historic edifice to help ensure its continued survival.

Background: The Adas Yisroel Anshe Mezritch Synagogue, or Congregation Mezritch Synagogue, was founded in 1888 on the Lower East Side, and constructed its current temple at 415 East 6th Street in 1910. The handsome neo-classical building (which has an even more impressive interior) was one of the Lower East Side's many "tenement synagogues," so named because they filled narrow lots sandwiched between tenements and served the poor immigrants who populated the surrounding buildings. While a few such tenement synagogue buildings remain in the East Village, including the former Beth Hamedrash Hagadol Anshe Ungarn Synagogue at 242 East 7th Street which was recently landmarked by the City, Congregation Mezritch Synagogue appears to be the sole remaining operating tenement synagogue in the East Village, and thus is an important link to what was once perhaps the most significant Jewish community in America. For more information about the building and its history, CLICK HERE.

Plans have recently been announced to demolish the building, and replace it with a six story apartment building with a new synagogue in the base; several of the synagogue's congregants have called that arrangement into question. GVSHP, EVCC, Councilmember Rosie Mendez, the Lower East Side Conservancy, the United Jewish Council of the East Side, and others will hold tommorow's press conference to appeal to the City and to the leaders of the congregation to save this vitally important structure.

HOW TO HELP:
Come to tomorrow's press conference at 4 pm on August 14th in front of Congregation Mezritch Synagogue at 415 East 6th Street, between 1st Avenue and Avenue A, to show support for preserving this building.
Write to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, urging they consider landmark designation of Congregation Mezritch Synagogue as soon as possible -- go to www.gvshp.org/MezritchLtr.htm for a sample letter and contact information you can use.

I hope you can join us tomorrow, and wish you the best for the remainder of the summer.

Best,

Andrew Berman, Executive Director
Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation

To join GVSHP or support our preservation efforts, go to www.gvshp.org/membership.htm.