One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most majestic buildings is also among the last he designed, the Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania. The synagogue opened in September, 1959, just a few months after Wright passed away. While he was not able to speak at the opening as originally planned, he had completed almost all of the design work before he died.
The Beth Sholom Synagogue has been compared to Mount Sinai, an ark, and a tepee. Its unusual shape and spacious, light-filled interior have long captured the imagination, evoking religious symbols while establishing itself as a symbol unto itself. Let’s learn more about its history and design.
Wright and Cohen’s Collaboration to Build an American Synagogue
Rabbi Mortimer J. Cohen commissioned Wright to design the Beth Sholom Synagogue in Elkins Park. The congregation had an existing synagogue. Bu families relocating during the post-war era made it a necessity to move the congregation to a more suitable site. There was also a desire for a synagogue with architecture that was uniquely American.
Frank Lloyd Wright was a notoriously prickly individual who typically had his own precise vision for each project. He was generally not interested in pleasing his clients’ preferences when his own got in the way. He would frequently just do what he wanted, and people hiring him knew that. But with Cohen, he made an exception.
Cohen contacted Wright with sketches. Normally Wright would disdain a prospective client’s sketches. But he liked Cohen’s, and took on his commission. Over the course of the project, Wright and Cohen worked together closely. In fact, Wright even called Cohen his co-designer for the synagogue.
Beth Sholom synagogue: The Mount Sinai of Pennsylvania
The Beth Sholom Synagogue is a wonder to behold. The tetrahedron-pyramidal roof draws the eye upward, uplifting congregants and visitors. The elements of the design not only create a harmonious look, but evoke extensive symbolism.
Viewed from above, one can see that the building is hexagonal. This shape references the Star of David. The tall roof of the synagogue represents Mount Sinai, and the lamps on the beams represent the menorah of the Tabernacle. The corrugated plastic and wire glass of the roof lets daylight into the interior. At night, it glows softly, as Wright described it, a “mountain of light.”
There are no pillars or supports disrupting the building’s interior. The main sanctuary is wide open, able to seat over 1,000 people. The lines of the building and its soaring roof draw the eye upward. So does the triangular, floating chandelier with its colorful glow.
The sloping shape of the floor opens up the space even more. But it also serves a symbolic role, meant to express the idea of resting in God’s hands. As a result, the interior feels spacious, but also comfortably contained. It inspires reverence and awe, but still allows for focus and contemplation.
In most synagogues, the bimah would be located in the center. Wright chose to place it at one end of the sanctuary instead. Its Torah ark perfectly complements the synagogue building, since Wright designed it too. The black granite from which it was made was mined in PA.
Visiting the Beth Sholom Synagogue
You can visit the Beth Sholom Synagogue if you are ever in the area. You need to book your tour in advance, so prepare accordingly. There are group tours on weekdays, plus additional tours on Sundays. There are no tours on Saturdays or Friday afternoons.
Frequenty Asked Questions about Beth Shalom Synagogue:
Where is Beth Sholom Synagogue located?
Beth Sholom Synagogue is at 8231 Old York Road, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania 19027. It sits in a quiet residential suburb of Philadelphia in Montgomery County.
Why did Frank Lloyd Wright design a synagogue?
Wright had turned down many similar commissions before, but was moved by a letter from Rabbi Mortimer J. Cohen, who led the Beth Sholom congregation. Cohen’s vision was specific and compelling: a simple, modern sanctuary that could hold over 1,000 worshippers, bathed in natural light through a glass roof rather than traditional windows. Wright found the proposal so inspiring that he agreed to take on the project — his only synagogue design.
What does “Mountain of Light” mean in relation to Beth Sholom?
“Mountain of Light” is Frank Lloyd Wright’s own description of what he intended the building to evoke. He called it “a traveling Mount Sinai — a mountain of light,” drawing a direct parallel to the biblical site where Moses received the Ten Commandments. The translucent, pyramidal glass structure glows from within at night and fills the interior with natural light during the day, making the metaphor a literal architectural experience.
Is Beth Sholom Synagogue a National Historic Landmark?
Yes. Beth Sholom Synagogue was designated a National Historic Landmark on March 29, 2007, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on the same date. It is also listed by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as one of 17 Wright-designed buildings that exemplify his contribution to American culture. The Pennsylvania State Historical and Museum Commission added a state historical marker in September 2008.
How is Beth Sholom Synagogue connected to the Guggenheim Museum?
Both buildings were Frank Lloyd Wright projects completed in the same year. The Guggenheim Museum in New York City was dedicated just 31 days after Beth Sholom Synagogue — yet the Guggenheim became far more famous. Beth Sholom’s visitor center manager has described it as “the invisible Frank Lloyd Wright building that no one has ever heard of,” making it an underappreciated gem for architecture enthusiasts.
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian Utopia and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Westhope in Tulsa, OK.
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