Temple Beth El, originally known as Congregation Sons of Israel and David, is Rhode Island’s second oldest Jewish congregation. Originally organized in the 1840s it was actually chartered 1871. The current Beth El building was one of the first New England synagogues with modern architectural design. It is a mid-career design by the famous architect, Percival Goodman. The building’s striking design actually launched Goodman’s specialty as a synagogue architect. During his career Goodman designed more synagogues than any other American and likely any other architect. More than fifty years after the building’s dedication Beth El remains a functional yet iconic and much admired building.Percival Goodman’s Temple Beth El of Providence is one of the most photographed synagogues in the country. When we arrived to photograph Beth El, we were confronted with black SUVs in the parking lot and uniformed police with side arms swarming around the entrance. To our surprise, they didn’t even blink an eye as we entered with our photo gear and dog.

To the right of the entry lobby was a multi-function room filled with people eating lunch. Turning the other direction, we entered the stunning Goodman-designed sanctuary. Men were working there with elaborate scaffolding, cables and various other equipment. I assumed our photos would be compromised by the presence of the workmen and paraphernalia. With chutzpah that surprised me, my wife asked them if we could have the room. To our amazement, they said they’d make way immediately. Down came the scaffolding and the equipment disappeared from view. In a nanosecond, the sanctuary was cleared for us. Only later did we learn that Woody Allen was shooting a movie nearby and the security men outside were for Allen’s crew who had hired the Temple’s multi-purpose room as their venue for lunch. So, when we showed up with our camera equipment, the security team and workers all assumed we were part of Allen’s entourage. As my late father-in- law used to say, “It’s better to be lucky than smart.”