One of the oldest synagogue buildings in New Jersey.

Now the only synagogue in Hoboken, The Star of Israel was built for the Congregation Kochov Israel in 1915. It was designed by Hoboken architect Max J. Breyer. The building exemplifies traditional European 19th century synagogue architecture with eastern architectural details, copper onion domes, and stained glass windows with colorful scrollwork.

The Hoboken Jewish Center and The Star of Israel Synagogue merged in 1946 to form a congregation named The United Synagogue of Hoboken. The congregation’s home is the Star of Israel building. It is among the oldest synagogue buildings in New Jersey. After the Jewish population of Hoboken peaked at about 3500 in the late 1930s it declined during the mid-20th century. The building fell into disrepair for two decades before being reopened in 1989.

A complete restoration of the exterior was completed in 2009. By 2015 the synagogue had been renovated throughout and it was re-dedicated in May of that year. At the re-dedication service Rabbi Robert Scheinberg said “In various cities throughout the United States, there were synagogues in this Eastern European style, many of which are no longer synagogues. This one is, and so it’s exciting to have such a young community in an old and historic building, and for kids to grow up here and to think this is what a synagogue looks like.”

As a result of gentrification and a change of demographics in the area Hoboken’s Jewish population has grown and the synagogue had about 320 member families as of 2016. The Star of Israel Synagogue is listed on both the New Jersey Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places.