Kehila Kedosha Janina, the Last Greek Synagogue on Broome Street
Kehila Kedosha Janina (“Holy Community of Janina”) is a synagogue at 280 Broome Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. It is the only synagogue of the Romaniote rite in the Western Hemisphere, a Greek Jewish tradition older than Sephardic and Ashkenazi Judaism. Inside is a small museum of Greek Jewish life, and it is one of the most distinctive stops for anyone looking for hidden gems in the neighborhood.
In the Lower East Side stands a Greek synagogue: the only Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, founded in 1906 by Jewish immigrants from the city of Ioannina and completed in 1927.
The history of Kehila Kedosha Janina
The congregation was founded in 1906 by Greek Jewish immigrants from Ioannina, a city that the community knew as Janina. They belonged to the Romaniote tradition, whose roots lie in the Eastern Mediterranean and go back nearly 2,000 years, long before the Spanish Inquisition. This tradition is separate from both the Sephardic and the Ashkenazi branches of Judaism.
The synagogue itself was built between 1925 and 1927 to a design by the architect Sydney Daub, who used both Classical Revival and Moorish Revival styles. Those years until the Second World War were a time of prosperity for the Romaniote community on the Lower East Side. The synagogue had three rabbis, and on the High Holidays there was often standing room only.
After the war many congregants moved to other parts of Manhattan and to other boroughs, such as the Bronx and Brooklyn, though those communities are no longer active. The congregation has dwindled since its heyday, yet services are still held on the Sabbath and on Jewish holidays. Sources note that it keeps a mailing list of 5,000 people but sometimes has difficulty gathering the ten adults required for prayer, known as a minyan.
The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 1999, and was designated a New York City Landmark on May 11, 2004. A landmark is a building protected by the city for its historic or architectural value. The synagogue underwent a major restoration in 2006, led by an architect who is a descendant of one of the community’s original founders, helped by a city grant.
The interior is unusual for a Romaniote synagogue, since it runs north to south rather than east to west. The ark, or ehal, is on the north side, and the central platform for reading the Torah, the bimah, stands in the middle of the main sanctuary. Men and women sit separately, as in all Orthodox synagogues, and the second-floor women’s gallery houses a museum of Judaica and exhibits on Jewish life in Greece. The community also has a burial plot at Wellwood Cemetery, where a memorial recalls the Jews of Ioannina murdered in the Shoah.
Little-known facts about Kehila Kedosha Janina
- It is the only Romaniote synagogue in the Western Hemisphere, and Romaniote traditions are separate from both Sephardic and Ashkenazi Judaism.
- The congregation was founded in 1906, but its building was not erected until 1927.
- The sanctuary runs north to south, with the ark on the north side, which is unusual for a Romaniote synagogue.
- Each year around May the synagogue holds a Greek Jewish Festival with live music, food and children’s activities, and the museum hosts tours during the event.
- A documentary about the synagogue and its community, The Last Greeks on Broome Street, was made in the early 2000s.
- The 2006 restoration was led by an architect who descends from one of the congregation’s original founders.
Tours near Kehila Kedosha Janina
Experiences in the area that you can book online with Viator:
Visiting Kehila Kedosha Janina on the Lower East Side
- The synagogue is an active place of worship at 280 Broome Street, between Allen and Eldridge Streets. Respectful dress and behavior are expected.
- Sources mention guided tours on Sundays and by special appointment, as well as the museum in the women’s gallery, with artifacts and exhibits on Greek Jewish life and a gift shop. Hours and access rules change, so check the current opening hours and access rules before you go.
- The annual Greek Jewish Festival around May is a good moment to see the synagogue with music, food and museum tours.
- The surrounding blocks hold other historic synagogues, including the Eldridge Street Synagogue and Beth Hamedrash Hagadol, so the visit combines well with a walk through the Lower East Side.
- Part of the interest is how few such places remain. Photographs of the exterior can be taken from the sidewalk.
Opening hours, access and conditions can change. Check before you go.
Map: where Kehila Kedosha Janina is
Photos of Kehila Kedosha Janina
Where to stay near Kehila Kedosha Janina
Hotels close by, with ratings and current availability.
NobleDEN Hotel
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Arlo SoHo
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The Marlton Hotel
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Questions
What is Kehila Kedosha Janina?
It is a synagogue at 280 Broome Street on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and the only synagogue of the Romaniote rite in the Western Hemisphere. It was founded in 1906, and its building dates from 1927.
What does Romaniote mean?
Romaniote Jews are a Greek Jewish community whose traditions go back nearly 2,000 years in the Eastern Mediterranean. Their rites are separate from those of Sephardic and Ashkenazi Jews.
Can you visit Kehila Kedosha Janina?
Sources mention guided tours on Sundays and by special appointment, and a museum on the second floor. Because the synagogue is an active place of worship, check the current visiting rules before you plan a trip.
Who designed the Kehila Kedosha Janina building?
The architect was Sydney Daub, who combined Classical Revival and Moorish Revival styles. It was built between 1925 and 1927.
Is Kehila Kedosha Janina a New York City Landmark?
Yes. It was designated a New York City Landmark on May 11, 2004, and added to the National Register of Historic Places on November 30, 1999.
What is the Greek Jewish Festival?
It is an annual event around May that the synagogue holds to raise money, with live music, food and children’s activities, while the museum hosts tours.
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