The Actors' Temple

Actors' Temple
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
May 2007
Show map of New York City Show map of New York Show map of the US
Location	339 W. 47th St., Hell's Kitchen, New York, New York
Coordinates	40°45′40.2″N 73°59′20.9″W / 40.761167°N 73.989139°W / 40.761167; -73.989139Coordinates: 40°45′40.2″N 73°59′20.9″W / 40.761167°N 73.989139°W / 40.761167; -73.989139
Built	1925
Architect	Sydney F. Oppenheimer
Architectural style	Classical Revival
NRHP reference #	05000445
Added to NRHP	May 19, 2005

The Actors' Temple, officially named Congregation Ezrath Israel, is a synagogue founded in 1917 in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Located at 339 West 47th Street since 1923, the temple was originally dubbed "The West Side Hebrew Relief Association", and it was the synagogue of choice for the entertainment industry. Many vaudeville, musical theater, television, and nightclub performers attended services there, including Sophie Tucker, Shelley Winters, Milton Berle, Al Jolson, Jack Benny, Joe E. Lewis, Edward G. Robinson, as well as several of the Three Stooges.

The temple declined after World War II as actors moved to California and the neighborhood changed, going from 300 members to approximately 30 in 2009. In 2005, in order to bring in additional income, the temple started renting out dance rehearsal space to New Dance Group as well as temporarily transforming into a theatre for plays. However, even with this additional income, the $120,000 annual operating costs used up the $2 million endowment by 2009. Despite these challenges, the temple continues to operate. In fact, the temple had a large fund raising program in 2011. In addition the congregation has grown to 120 dues paying members.