A little more than three years ago, before I restarted my documentary work on the Lower East Side, I took a walk through the neighborhood. I happened to meet this rabbi standing outside the House of Sages on East Broadway. It's one of a number of small synagogues in the neighborhood that occupy one floor in a brownstone building. Many years ago there were many tiny synagogues that coexisted with the larger congregations of the Bialystoker, the Roumanian American, and the Chaim Sofer synagogues. The House of Sages was established as a place of retreat and study for aging/retired rabbis.
A few days ago I was in the neighborhood and happened to be at the House of Sages just before the daily late afternoon service began. This same rabbi was kind enough to allow me to come in a take a few photos before the service began.
