Bialystoker is a synagogue located in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It is an Orthodox Jewish congregation that traces its roots to the city of Białystok in Poland, where many of its founders came from. The synagogue was established in 1905 and moved to its current location in 1922.

The building that houses the Bialystoker Synagogue is a historic landmark that dates back to 1826. It was originally built as a Methodist church and is believed to be a stop on the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped enslaved African Americans escape to freedom in the 19th century. The synagogue acquired the building from the church and renovated it to suit its needs. The exterior features a brick facade with a classical portico and a pediment. The interior boasts a stunning sanctuary with a high ceiling, stained glass windows, elaborate chandeliers, and a carved wooden ark that contains Torah scrolls.

Bialystoker Synagogue is not only a place of worship, but also a center of community and education. It offers various classes, programs, and events for its members and visitors. It is also part of the Lower East Side Jewish Conservancy, an organization that preserves and supports the Jewish heritage of the neighborhood. Bialystoker Synagogue has been recognized as one of America’s most beautiful, inspiring, and unique synagogues by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It is a testament to the resilience and creativity of the Jewish immigrants who settled in the Lower East Side and contributed to its cultural diversity.

One of the most notable features of the Bialystoker Synagogue is its mural of the city of Białystok, painted by artist David Holleman in 1976. The mural depicts the skyline of the city as it was before World War II, when it had a large and vibrant Jewish population. The mural also includes portraits of some of the prominent rabbis and leaders of Białystok’s Jewish community, such as Rabbi Chaim Halberstam, Rabbi Yitzchak Zev Soloveitchik, and Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook. The mural serves as a memorial and a tribute to the rich history and culture of Białystok’s Jews, many of whom perished in the Holocaust or immigrated to other countries.

Another interesting aspect of the Bialystoker Synagogue is its connection to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the leader of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. The Rebbe was born in 1902 in Nikolaev, Ukraine, but his family moved to Białystok when he was six years old. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Białystok, where he received his early education and developed his interest in Jewish mysticism and philosophy. He also met his future wife, Chaya Mushka Schneerson, in Białystok. The Rebbe left Białystok in 1923 and eventually settled in New York, where he became the head of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement in 1951. He visited the Bialystoker Synagogue several times and delivered lectures there. He also donated a Torah scroll to the synagogue in honor of his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, who was also a Lubavitcher Rebbe.

The Bialystoker Synagogue is more than just a building. It is a living link between the past and the present, between Białystok and New York, between tradition and innovation. It is a place where people can pray, learn, celebrate, and connect with their Jewish roots and identity. It is a place that welcomes everyone who wants to experience the beauty and diversity of Judaism.