American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community [Hardcover]

Sam Gruber (Author), Scott Tilden (Editor), Paul Rocheleau (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 17, 2003

American Synagogues is the first book to explore the exceptional architecture of modern American synagogues in the twentieth century, and this intriguing book relates the fascinating history of the Jewish people in America and how it is expressed in twentieth-century synagogue design.

The book features all new photography of synagogues in many styles from a dozen states, many never before published in any form. The synagogues were designed by European masters, the best-known modern American architects, and by important contemporary architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, Philip Johnson, and Minoru Yamasaki.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Samuel Gruber wrote the book Synagogues and is co-author of Survey of Historic Jewish Sites in Poland. He is Rothman Lecturer in Judaic Studies at Syracuse University, research director of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, and is president of the International Survey of Jewish Monuments.

Paul Rocheleau has photographed books on Frank Lloyd Wright, H.H. Richardson, and Frederick Law Olmsted.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Rizzoli (October 17, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0847825493
• ISBN-13: 978-0847825493
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 1 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars SYNAGOGUE, April 17, 2006

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book, full of perfectly realized images and interesting text. For whatever reason synogogues in the U.S. often are designed in quite daring styles. It is intriguing to observe how each congregation says a bit about themselves in the building style they chose for their synagogue. I expecially like the spectacular Temple Emanuel in New York City, it is simple breathtaking, though I liked something about all of these buildings. I highly recommend this book; for someone not that familiar with the Jewish faith or synagogues in general it is quite enlightening.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, January 10, 2006

By 

J. Cheek - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community (Hardcover)

I am architecture student doing my thesis project on the development of a synagogue. I knew little about Judaism and having few Jewish people in my community, I have only visited one synagogue in my life. This book was even more than I hoped for, in that it allowed me to view, for the first time, some of the beautiful architecture that celebrates this wonderful religion. The many pictures work well with the descriptive text and allow many to truly experience a setting that I would not normally have to the opportunity to do.
Another key thing that makes this a five star rating is that you get this book for almost half its original price.