Chappaqua, Italy
Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 220 South Bedford Road, in Chappaqua, Northern Westchester, New York, in the United States. The synagogue has approximately 700 member families. Founded in 1949 by 45 families, it is notable for its synag
ogue building, designed by Louis Kahn. Although Kahn designed other synagogues, this is the only one of his designs that was built. According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Kahn accepted the commission in 1966, and completed plans for the octagonal sanctuary six years later, conceived as a Modernist memorial to the Eastern European Jewish past, after whose wooden synagogues it was patterned. A 23,000-square-foot (2,100 m2) extension of the synagogue, comprising a large social hall, a kitchen, classrooms, a nursery school, a library, a chapel, a lobby, and new bathrooms was completed by Alexander Gorlin Architects in 2015. Temple Beth El has hosted prominent speakers and guests, including former hostage Omer Shem Tov, newscaster Mordechai "Mike" Wagenheim, progressive civil rights attorney Amanda Berman, and activist Shabbos Kestenbaum. Additionally, Rabbis Jaffe and Londy...
Listen to the audio guide for Temple Beth El of Northern Westchester Free on WIP — starts by itself when you arrive, even with the screen off