Congregation B'nai David

Congregation B'nai David is a former Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 3535 19th Street, in the Mission District of San Francisco, California, in the United States. The synagogue was built in 1908 and abandoned in 1978, due to a decling congregation.[2][3] This building contained the first northern Californian mikveh, and Orthodox Jews would travel to visit it.[1] Many of the parishioners were immigrants from Poland, Russia, and Romania.[1]

Congregation B'nai David
The former synagogue building, in 2015
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism (1908–1978)
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue (1908–1978)
StatusClosed (as a synagogue); Repurposed as condominia
Location
Location3535 19th Street, Mission District, San Francisco, California
CountryUnited States
Congregation B'nai David is located in San Francisco
Congregation B'nai David
Location of the former synagogue in
central San Francisco
Geographic coordinates37°45′36″N 122°25′20″W / 37.759868°N 122.422285°W / 37.759868; -122.422285
Architecture
Completed1908
DesignatedOctober 5, 1980
Reference no.118
[1]

Attendance declined in the 1930s, and regular services in ended in the 1960s.[1] The congregation ceased to worship in 1978 and the building was closed.[2] The mikveh was moved to Menorah Square, a Jewish retirement home in Pacific Heights.[1]

Freda Koblick, an artist, purchased the building in 1980 as her art studio and residence.[4] It was later converted into multiple residences.

The building was listed as a San Francisco Designated Landmark on October 5, 1980.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "San Francisco Landmark #118: Bnai David Temple". noehill.com. n.d. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Schwartz, Jay (September 10, 2004). "Remains of S.F. synagogue continue to haunt". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  3. ^ "Congregation B'nai David and the Vanished Synagogues of San Francisco". Jewish LearningWorks. December 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
  4. ^ Guthmann, Edward (August 5, 2006). "Plastics -- there was a great future in it for one artist who pursued her passion". SFGATE.