The Newtown Pentacle

Friday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Recent endeavor found a humble narrator on a tour of Pittsburgh’s Rodef Shalom Synagogue. The photo above was gathered back during the winter, as for one reason or another (mainly, it was raining), a similar shot of the entire building wasn’t gathered during on the day of the tour, which was offered by the Doors Open Pittsburgh outfit.

For the history, and origin story, of this amazing religious building located in Pittsburgh’s Oakland section (nearby UPITT and Carnegie Mellon) click here for the story as directly offered by the congregation.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

To start, my fascination with this building was whetted first by its capacity – it’s designed to seat 1,300 people! Secondly, it’s more or less where the ‘Reform’ tradition of Judaism was codified. Thirdly, it’s one of Henry Hornbostel’s many landmarks, along with the Manhattan Bridge back home on the East River.

Our guide described several contributors to the building with familiar names which rang bells in this ex New Yorker’s ears. Guastivino Tile, terra cotta works in New Jersey’s Red Bank… it felt like I was hearing a lecture about Queensboro Bridge, or the original City Hall Subway Station, as all those names were spoken.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

As is my habit, the first thing I did after arriving was to have a chat with the security guard and let him know I was a part of the next ticketed group. Next, I walked the perimeter of the property and got a few outside shots. Pictured above is a biblical garden, wherein all of the plantings are vegetable speciations specifically mentioned in the what the Goyem would call the ‘Old Testament,’ but which we members of the English speaking member of the tribe simply call ‘The Bible.’

As to why I checked in with the guard… The Tree of Life mass shooting has forced synagogues (and mosques) in Pittsburgh to take security very seriously. Many cameras, emergency police call buttons, and armed guards are now a part of visiting a Shul here. That sucks. Thereby, if what you’re doing could be considered suspicious, it’s best to let the powers that be know that you’re not getting up to any malarkey.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The Doors Open tour got started and the Synagogue’s archivist, dubbed Martha, spoke about the history of the congregation(s) who occupy the building. As mentioned, the place is cavernous. There’s a pipe organ, which is something I personally have never seen in a Shul.

Exceptional craftsmanship is apparent in the Rodef Shalom congregation room. The woodworking and fineness of the pew’s carpentry, in particular, grabbed my notice. The founders of this organization were from the south of what is now Germany, and their number included several people who worked as Cowboys at mid 19th century Pittsburgh’s local stock yards.

My familial forebears were part of the second and third waves of Jewish immigrants to this country, who hailed from the Slavic part of Europe and stayed in New York after finding work in the Garment Industry. The Pittsburgh founders of this institution spoke German and were likely citizens of the Austro Hungarian or Turkish Empires, whereas my ancestors spoke Yiddish, Polish, and Russian.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The last time that I saw anything this grandiose in the ‘Jewish Catalog’ of Religious Buildings was at NYC’s Eldridge Street Synagogue. For a more local comparison to another Pittsburgh Synagogue check out this post about Poale Zedeck, which was visited on another Doors Open Pittsburgh tour back during the spring of this year.

This shot is from what used to be the ‘Ladies Section,’ which is set up on a balcony. Martha the archivist mentioned that there are three congregations identified with the modern institution. The actual Rodef Sholom one, an LGBTQ one, and one of the displaced congregant communities who used to be based at Tree of Life.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

There’s also a surfeit of stained glass. That one pictured above is set into the ‘oculus’ ring where the arches that form the dome meet. Floor to ceiling windows with elaborately rendered biblical allegory woven into colored glass is also present. I’d love to get back in here sometime with a tripod, and the whole kit, to do a series of studied photos.

Guess it’s the right place to pray for that to come true, huh?

Back next week.

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