{"nrhp_refnum":"05001145","name":"B'nai Israel Synagogue","other_names":["The True Church of God"],"category":"building","location":{"address":"2146 N. 12th St. at Bancroft St.","address_restricted":false,"city":"Toledo","county":"Lucas County","state":"OH","lat":41.66391580800007,"lon":-83.53956003999997,"geom_source":"nps_gis"},"listed_date":"2005-10-06","is_nhl":false,"nhl_designated_date":null,"areas_of_significance":["Architecture"],"significance_levels":["local"],"summary":{"what_it_is":"A two-building religious complex at North 12th and Bancroft Streets in Toledo, Ohio: a brick synagogue sanctuary built 1913-14 and an adjacent three-story community center/school completed in 1924, now used as The True Church of God.","why_significant":"The nomination argues the synagogue is architecturally significant for its unusual Sullivanesque design, uncommon for a religious building in Toledo at the time, combined with Arts and Crafts influence. Its interior remains largely intact, including original pews, stained glass, stenciling and the ark. It also reflects the strength of Toledo's Jewish community in the early twentieth century.","narrative":"This pair of brick buildings at North 12th and Bancroft Streets in Toledo began as the B'nai Israel Synagogue. The sanctuary was built in 1913-14 to designs by Thal & Aftel, with J.G. Bullinger as builder, and a three-story community center and school was added in 1924. The sanctuary reflects the Sullivanesque style, with long twelve-inch bricks, soldier-course detailing, a geometric metal cornice and a tall recessed entry arch topped by tablets recalling the Ten Commandments. Inside, a domed worship space holds original oak pews, large stained glass windows, geometric stenciling and an oak ark with Arts and Crafts columns. At a time when most Toledo churches used Gothic, Classical or Romanesque revival designs, this building took a plainer, modern approach drawn from the Chicago school. It is described as a rare surviving early synagogue in Toledo and now serves as a church, with much of its original interior preserved.","period_of_significance":"1913-1924","architect_builder":"Thal & Aftel (architects); J.G. Bullinger (builder)","architectural_style":"Sullivanesque; Other: Arts & Crafts Movement","criteria":["C"],"status_note":"Now in use as a church (The True Church of God); the interior is described as remarkably intact.","vacant_flag":false,"machine_generated":true,"model":"claude-sonnet-5-5","prompt_version":"v1.0-2026-10-29","generated_at":"2026-10-29 02:52:06.993612-05","source_pdf":"https://s3.amazonaws.com/NARAprodstorage/lz/electronic-records/rg-079/NPS_OH/05001145.pdf"},"photo":{"url_800":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/05001145/6865054e36-800.webp","url_1600":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/media/05001145/6865054e36-1600.webp","licence":"Public domain","author":"Nyttend","credit_html":"<a href=\"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%27nai_Israel_complex,_now_TCGAF.jpg\" rel=\"noopener\">Nyttend</a>, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons","source_page":"https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B%27nai_Israel_complex,_now_TCGAF.jpg"},"district":null,"sources":{"nps_snapshot_date":"2026-05-22","nara_catalog":"https://catalog.archives.gov/id/71989937","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_B%27nai_Israel_(Toledo,_Ohio)","wikidata":"https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5160592"},"indexable":true,"url":"https://nationalhistoricalregister.com/ohio/lucas-county/bnai-israel-synagogue-05001145/"}