A historic synagogue splendidly maintained by the founder’s descendants.

Sullivan County, New York is the heart of what was once known as the borscht belt. Of the 20 Sullivan County synagogues built between 1900 and World War II, fifteen remain. Bikur Cholim B’nai Israel Synagogue was constructed in a rural area about 2 miles south of Swan Lake to serve the nearby rural community of farmers and tourists who frequented the area.

The synagogue’s design is clearly influenced by the Art Deco style synagogues of that era which were prevalent in Hungary. It is a two story wood-frame building with a stucco finish. It is meticulously maintained by descendants of the synagogue’s founder. Bikur Cholim B’nai Israel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. Currently it is primarily used three days a year for Holiday Services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.