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 | |
| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (1908–1978) |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue (1908–1978) |
| Status | Closed (as a synagogue); Repurposed as condominia |
| Location | |
| Location | 3535 19th Street, Mission District, San Francisco, California |
| Country | United States |
  Location of the former synagogue in central San Francisco | |
| Geographic coordinates | 37°45′36″N 122°25′20″W / 37.759868°N 122.422285°W |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1908 |
| Designated | October 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
edit- ^ a b c d e f "San Francisco Landmark #118: Bnai David Temple". noehill.com. n.d. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Congregation B'nai David and the Vanished Synagogues of San Francisco". Jewish LearningWorks. December 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ Guthmann, Edward (August 5, 2006). "Plastics -- there was a great future in it for one artist who pursued her passion". SFGATE.