Park East Synagogue -- Celebrating 120 Years!

Park East Synagogue strives to make the synagogue a meaningful, tolerant and supportive place for Jews of all levels of knowledge of tradition and all ages.

Park East Synagogue is an historic New York City landmark house of worship and one of the nation's leading modern Orthodox congregations.  It plays a vital role in the cultural, civic and spiritual life of New York City.

Founded in 1888, with its cornerstone laid in 1889, the Synagogue was based on the unique design of Schneider and Herter, famous German-born architects who engaged European artisans to build an architectural monument of rare beauty and distinction in the heart of Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Park East's architectural style is Byzantine, with dome-like cupolas set at various levels, each surmounted by a slender shaft supporting a Star of David.  The facade of the building rises from an elaborately designed arched portico.  Stained-glass windows are distinctive features of the Synagogue.  From within the Sanctuary one appreciates two extraordinary circular stained-glass windows, one above the Ark in pink, blue, and silver, called the Moon and the other, the Sun, in the rear wall, facing the street.

Park East Synagogue was originally called Congregation Zichron Ephraim when Jonas Weil, its first President, and his brother Samuel, who named it in memory of their father Ephraim, founded it. 

Today, Park East is a vital congregation of families who are committed to practicing and living the traditional values of Judaism in their lives and in relation to the important issues of the city, nation and world.  The Synagogue's influence, strength and dynamism in the community derive from the members of our congregation.

Today, Park East Synagogue is a vibrant spiritual and cultural center for Jewish life in New York City and beyond.  The Synagogue is a welcoming house of worship; its doors are open daily from morning to evening for prayer, meditation and study.  It is, in the words of its spiritual leader for forty years, Rabbi Arthur Schneier, a tent that embraces all, "How goodly are they tents, O Jacob." Its congregants are actively involved in the civic life of New York and many of its community educational and aid programs are its expression of tikkun olam (repairing the world).

We hope you will consider becoming a member of the Park East Synagogue family.

Our Mission

• Park East Synagogue is dedicated to providing the opportunity for spiritual growth, Jewish education and spiritual comfort for individuals, families, and our community.
• Park East Synagogue is inclusive of all people seeking a meaningful Jewish life, regardless of degree of observance, knowledge of Jewish tradition, age, or affiliation.
• Park East Synagogue is committed to providing inspiring Jewish and general studies education to children and to adults; its Religious School, Early Childhood, and Day School with its emphasis on cultivating a Jewish life rich in tradition and unrivalled in general studies has been, and continues to be, a source of character and vitality for its congregation.
• The Synagogue's influence, strength and dynamism in the community derive from the members of our congregation.  We value and honor the role our congregants fulfill in defining and shaping our future and that of the Jewish community, in New York City and beyond.