A collection of photos taken by Sid Kaplan that document, the Mezeritch Shul, the last existing tenement synagogue in the East Village of Manhattan and the last of its kind in the United States. This collection of photographs includes photos taken over the many years that Sid Kaplan attended weekday services there and religiously carried his 35 mm camera to services. Additional photos document the synagogues’ fateful last and final two and half hours before this neo gothic classical architectural gem that was in daily use for over 150 years was destroyed by developers to be repurposed as condos. Introduction written by Lower East Side Artist, Steve Marcus, who meet Sid Kaplan at the synagogue and also attended services there before its demise.

Written and Edited by Steve Marcus

Photos by Sid Kaplan