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Temple B'Nai Abraham (Deliverance Evangelistic Center)

Introduction

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Now home to the Deliverance Evangelistic Center, a non-denominational Pentecostal congregation, the former Temple B'Nai Abraham is the largest Jewish synagogue in New Jersey and second oldest in Newark. Designed by architect Nathan Myers in the Neo-Classical style, it was built in 1924 and has a seating capacity of 2,000. It features many stained-glass windows, including ones that form a dome in the shape of the Star of David, and five Ionic columnns, among other Neo-Classical elements. The Temple is also notable for its association with one of its rabbis, Rabbi Joachim Prinz, who was a nationally-known activist during the Civil Rights Movement and a friend of Martin Luther King Jr., who spoke at the temple several times (Prinz gave the speech before King's "I Have a Dream" speech in Washington D.C.). The temple was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.


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  • Temple B'Nai Abraham is the largest synagogue in the state. Built in 1924, it is now the home of Deliverance Evangelistic Center.

Backstory and Context

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Temple B'Nai's history dates back to 1853 when Jewish immigrants from Poland established a traditional congregation that met in a home. They eventually rented a hall and in 1855 bought land for a cemetery incorporated as Congregation of the Sons of Abraham-B'nai Abraham. After being located in a few places including two synagogues, one of which was lost to foreclosure, the congregation finally moved into the present building in 1924. In 1973, the congregation relocated on the city of Livingston and Deliverance Evangelistic Center moved in soon after.

Sources

"Our History." Temple B'Nai Abraham. Accessed June 28, 2018. http://tbanj.org/our-history.

Zakalak, Ulana D. "Temple B'Nai Abraham." April 26, 2007.  https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/12a9b8bf-fbd8-4b0c-aa2a-a3dcd59dfa1c. 

Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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