Chevra Anshei Lubawitz of Borough Park

This article is about the Orthodox Jewish congregation and historic synagogue in Borough Park. For the former congregation that occupied the synagogue, see Temple Beth El of Borough Park.

Chevra Anshei Lubawitz of Borough Park
The synagogue entrance, in 2017
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Rite	Chabad Lubavitch
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Status	Demolished
Location
Location	4024 12th Avenue, Borough Park, Brooklyn, New York City, New York 11219
Country	United States
Location in New York City
Geographic coordinates	40°38′28″N 73°59′23″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	John C. Walsh
Type	Synagogue architecture
Style	Moorish Revival
General contractor	Vito De Fino
Date established	1902 (as Congregation Beth El) 1914 (as Anshei Lubawitz)
Completed	1907 (for Congregation Beth El)

Chevra Anshei Lubawitz of Borough Park was a historic Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue at 4024 12th Avenue in the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, New York, United States.

Built for Congregation Beth El in 1907, it was the first built and oldest synagogue in Borough Park. It was demolished in 2024.

History

The building was erected by Congregation Beth El of Borough Park in 1907. On June 11, 1906, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported the cornerstone laying "Borough President Bird S. Coler was the principal speaker at the ceremonies attending the laying of the cornerstone of the Temple Beth El which is being erected at Twelfth avenue and Forty-first street, yesterday afternoon." Designed by John C. Walsh in the Moorish Revival style, the building is a modest “tenement synagogue” and is one of the two oldest surviving purpose-built synagogues in its borough in use.

Founded as Chevra Anshei Lubawitz Nusach Ha'ari of Borough Park in 1914, in 1922 the synagogue building was sold to Chevra Anshei Lubawitz of Borough Park.

Demolition

The building and land were sold for $3.1 million in 2017 to a property developer who planned to demolish the building and build a six-story condominium building with a new synagogue on the first floor and basement. However, in August 2017 a judge temporarily blocked its demolition after members argued the sale of the building was based on misrepresentations. In November 2017, a preliminary injunction was issued, that remained in effect until October 2019. The doors of the synagogue were locked in January 2018. In March 2019, several members of the congregation lodged an application to the New York City Landmark Preservation Commission for "city landmark status". The building was demolished on March 17, 2024, even though workers did not have permits to raze the synagogue. A stop-work order was issued after the demolition.