The Acoustics, Architecture, and Use of Three Arnold Brunner Synagogues

Arnold Brunner, the preeminent American-born Jewish architect, is attributed with designing several notable and imitable synagogue buildings Arnold Brunner (1857–1925), the preeminent American-born Jewish architect, is attributed with designing several notable and imitable synagogue buildings. While some of these synagogues, like the Moorish/Byzantine Temple Beth-El, have been demolished, three of his landmark synagogues remain in New York City today, including buildings erected for Congregation Shearith Israel, Temple Sharaay Tefila, and Temple Israel of Harlem. Brunner's adoption of the Classical style had lasting influence in American synagogue design in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. While the Sephardic community Shearith Israel still occupies their Brunner building, the other two congregations, both affiliated with the Reform movement, have relocated to mid-twentieth century buildings. Shaaray Tefila's former building is now occupied by the Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral of St. Volodymyr, and Temple Israel's building now houses the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. The use of the space and the acoustic needs vary greatly across these faith traditions. Acoustic measurements of these historical Brunner buildings are presented and contextualized by the changing needs of the congregations that inhabit them. The current buildings of Sharaay Tefila and Temple Israel are also surveyed. Acoustic issues related to sanctuary arrangement and furnishing, speech intelligibility, liturgical and musical suitability, and the use/disuse of amplification are discussed.