Temple B'rith Kodesh (Rochester, New York)


Temple B'rith Kodesh is a Reform synagogue in Rochester, New York. It is the oldest synagogue and the largest Reform congregation in the greater Rochester area.

History

was founded in 1848 as an Orthodox congregation with 12 members. The congregation maintains a section in the historic Mount Hope Cemetery, Rochester.

Architecture

The Temple's current building was designed by architect Pietro Belluschi. The sanctuary is roofed with a domed wooden drum intended to evoke the Wooden synagogues of Poland. Sculptor Luise Kaish was commissioned to create the Temple's ark, which Samuel Gruber calls “one of the major works of the last half century... even today the presence of Kaish’s figures on the ark is an exciting shock” in American Synagogues: A Century of Architecture and Jewish Community.

Art collection

The Temple has a noted collection of menorahs by contemporary artists including Salvador Dalí.

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