Rodeph Sholom Synagogue & Community House

 temple, Romanesque (architecture), Byzantine Revival (architecture)

6-story Neo-Romanesque/Byzantine synagogue completed in 1930. Designed by Charles B. Meyers, it is clad in limestone with a grey granite water table. The symmetrical facade has three, 3-story central arches, edged by slender, engaged colonnettes; the tops of the arches are lined by two rows of moldings with different patterns. Above the moldings are spaced-out voussoirs with various floral or geometric designs. Recessed within each arch are stained-glass lancet windows divided vertically into two halves, with oculi at the tops. The bases of the arches are fronted by short wrought-iron railings. An inscription above the three arches reads "DO JUSTLY. LOVE MERCY. AND WALK HUMBLY WITH THY GOD".

A projecting stone cornice carried on a row of short brackets has a front wall with a geometric pattern and serves to underline the crown of the middle section. Above it are three bays, each with four round-arched windows flanked by colonnettes. The roof line rises to a shallow peak at the center, with stained-glass triangles rising step-wise along both edges. In the center is a 6-pointed, stained-glass star of David.

On either side of the center section is a slightly-recessed wing with a shorter round-arched entrance, and three bays of small windows at the 2nd-4th floors. Both entrances are approached by short spans of grey granite steps. The main entrance at the east end has a deeply-recessed vestibule with bronze doors featuring an elaborate pattern. The archway has a molding and voussoirs like those at the three larger central arches, and is framed by engaged, grey granite columns and red granite pilasters, both with stylized capitals. A metal-framed, grey canvas canopy in a flaring wing shape covers the steps and extends onto the sidewalk. The west entrance is simpler, with one set of smaller, limestone columns framing the arch, which lacks the molding and voussoirs. There are glass-and-metal double-doors and a transom flanked by black iron panels with rosettes. There is an additional, recessed, 1-window bay at the east end, with a bronze service door at the ground floor.

The top floor was added in 1954 and contains an assembly room, classrooms, and offices. It is set back from the lower roof line, behind the peaked pediment, and has six large bays of recessed windows. There is a taller brick-clad mechanical and elevator penthouse at the east end.

Founded in 1842 by immigrants from the German lands, the congregation is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.

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