Shaari Zedek Synagogue
Also known as: Achavat Achim Synagogue; St. Leonard's Church
Why it's listed
Built in 1909-10 at 767 Putnam Avenue in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, this two-story brick building was designed by Eugene Schoen for Shaari Zedek, a congregation of Eastern European origin. Its facade pairs a classical vocabulary with modern touches, including geometrically patterned brickwork, cast-stone trim and a triple-arched entrance. Inside, a sanctuary of round arches suggests a barrel vault, with a ringed balcony, painted abstract patterns and an original chandelier decorated with star-of-David motifs. The building passed in 1922 to Congregation Achavat Achim, a descendant of Brooklyn's oldest synagogue. In 1944, as the neighborhood changed, it became St. Leonard's Church, a congregation of largely West Indian origin in the Afro-American Orthodox denomination. Some alterations followed, such as removal of the pediment ornament, a wheelchair ramp and Christian symbols painted into the sanctuary. It is valued as an intact early synagogue, an early work by Schoen, and a record of two communities' religious life, and the church still occupies it.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is a surviving, intact early 20th-century Brooklyn synagogue and an early work by Eugene Schoen, an influential modernist, combining classical elements with geometric brickwork and abstract ornament. It also reflects the neighborhood's shift from an Eastern European Jewish community to a predominantly West Indian congregation, which acquired it in 1944.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 09000968, listed December 4, 2009. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 767 Putnam Ave., Brooklyn |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | December 4, 2009 |
| Reference number | 09000968 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1959 |
| Architect / builder | Schoen, Eugene |
| Architectural style | No style. |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Other-Ethnic, Religion |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a religious facility, as St. Leonard's Church, with a few modifications made after 1944, including a removed pediment, added ramp and repainted Christian symbols. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.68848, -73.93049 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 09000968.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7459971
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.