Ellen Levitt, "Former Synagogues of the United States: Looking at Buildings That Once Housed Synagogues, Schools, and Other Jewish Institutions" (Resource Publications, 2026)

About this episode

Ellen Levitt discusses her book on the history and fate of former synagogues and Jewish institutions in the United States.

Throughout the United States there are buildings that had been home to Jewish houses of worship, schools, and other institutions. What has happened to these buildings? What can we learn from their history? In her book, Former Synagogues of the United States: Looking at Buildings That Once Housed Synagogues, Schools, and Other Jewish Institutions (Resource Publications, 2026), Ellen Levitt uncovers the 'hidden history' of America's Jewish built environment. Interviewee: Ellen Levitt is a teacher, writer, photographer, and tour guide. Her previous books include The Lost Synagogues of Brooklyn, The Lost Synagogues of the Bronx and Queens, The Lost Synagogues of Manhattan, and Walking Manhattan. Host: Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Associate Professor of Sociology and Jewish Studies at Hunter College, City University of New York, and the author of Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey out of Hasidism and Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism. Visit him online at ZalmanNewfield.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/architecture

People in this episode

Host: Schneur Zalman Newfield

Guest: Ellen Levitt

Topics covered

• Jewish architecture
• historical buildings
• cultural heritage
• synagogues
• urban history

Keywords

• synagogues
• Jewish institutions
• architecture
• history
• Ellen Levitt

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Resource Publications, Hunter College, City University of New York

Books & works: Former Synagogues of the United States: Looking at Buildings That Once Housed Synagogues, Schools, and Other Jewish Institutions, Brooklyn Odyssey: My Journey out of Hasidism, Degrees of Separation: Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, The Lost Synagogues of Brooklyn, The Lost Synagogues of the Bronx and Queens, The Lost Synagogues of Manhattan, Walking Manhattan

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