Silver Attends Eldridge Street Synagogue Re-Dedication Ceremony

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver addresses guests at the Eldridge Street Synagogue grand re-dedication and re-naming ceremony.

"It is wonderful to be here celebrating the restoration and re-dedication of this precious gem of our immigrant heritage," said Speaker Silver, "My praise to the congregants who have remained faithful to this synagogue even as time and the elements took their toll on this remarkable edifice. I also salute the Museum at Eldridge Street Project for overseeing this major restoration, and creating a vibrant cultural center serving people of all backgrounds on site."

Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and local congregant children join together to celebrate the newly re-named Museum at Eldridge Street.

The Eldridge Street Project, founded in 1986, has received funding from federal, state and city agencies. Since 1996, the Speaker has provided $243,000 in funding for the project, including $117,000 since 2005.

Constructed in 1886, the Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first grand structure in this Lower East Side neighborhood, taking ten months and about $100,000 to build. The building acted as the first place of open Jewish worship for many new immigrants. Now registered as a National Historic Landmark, the newly re-named Museum at Eldridge Street, offers programming for adults, children and families to explore cultural continuity and change, instill respect for Jewish traditions and practices, and draw analogies between the Synagogue's immigrant and contemporary founders.

Speaker Silver noted that he has a special connection to the building. Silver's grandfather's brother, David Silver, once acted as president of this historic synagogue.

"Five generations of Silvers have called the Lower East Side home. Some of them were the original congregants of Eldridge Street," said Speaker Silver, " I would like to think that fifty years from now, Silvers will still be living here continuing our cultural traditions and appreciating the sacrifices and contributions made by our Jewish immigrants in this great city."