Temple Concord Installs National Register Plaques

Temple Concord Installs National Register Plaques
photos courtesy of Mark Kotzin

Syracuse, NY. Temple Concord. Rabbi Daniel Fellman examines new historic plaque noting Temple Concord's National Register designation.  Photo: Mark Kotzin

The congregation of Temple Concord, Central New York's oldest Jewish organization, continued its celebration of congregational history and the distinction of its fine 1910-11 building, the centennial of which was celebrated last year. 

In June, two plaques were installed noting the placement of Temple Concord on the National Register of Historic Places.  The nomination of the building, which was researched and submitted to the State historic Preservation Office with help from the International Survey of Jewish Monuments (ISJM), led to the designation in 2008.  Temple Concord provides office space to ISJM in the 1920s former education wing,  behind the main sanctuary.  The unveiling of the plaque on the sanctuary facade, facing University Avenue, took place after the congregation's annual meeting.  A second plaque is in the Temple complex lobby, which is entered fom the parking lot on Madison street.  With the newly opewned Connective Corridor on University Ave. with 2-way traffic, the new bike path, and new landscaping, the original west-facing Facade of Temple Concord will be getting much more attention than it has in recent years.  Too bad it looks out on a parking lot!

The fabrication of the plaques was made possible by a gift from the Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation.  I would love to see more such plaques and other types of notifications marking the historic sites of Syracuse and Central New York.

Here are some photos from the unveiling, courtesy of Mark Kotzin.

Rabbi Daniel Fellman presided. Octogenerian and still-energetic congregants Mike Moss and Alex Holstein helped with the unveiling. Both Mike and Alex were active in getting started the National Register process, getting these plaques up, and the entire building centennial celebration. Mike's parents were married in the sanctuary soon after it opened and Alex's grandfather was on the Building Committee.  Whatever remarks I'm making (above), I'm not sure the rabbi and Mike agree, or maybe I'm was jsut going on too long!

For more on the history and architecture of the building click here.