The Architecture of Modern American Synagogues, 1950s–1960s offers a useful overview for the lay reader of what could be termed Jewish architecture from the specific perspective of an architect examining the physical aspects of these buildings. The book also takes a first step toward considering the contemporary afterlives of these modernist worship spaces in a scholarly context.
In seven chapters, Anat Geva provides a contextual framework, followed by case studies illustrating related synagogue design concepts. She maps out important markers of modern American synagogue design before highlighting buildings that “push the envelope.” Finally, Geva adds a thoughtful dimension to her study by examining how these buildings have been adapted over time to meet changing needs and demands—both corporeal and spiritual. Reminding the reader that she is assessing worship spaces with their own requirements beyond building codes and HVAC systems, Geva begins each chapter with an epigraph quoting a biblical proverb....
University of California Press