An imposing Moorish-inspired building faced in polychromatic patterned brick, featuring horseshoe arches, minarets, and polychromatic tiles.

Young Israel of Flatbush is a historic synagogue in the Flatbush district of Brooklyn, New York. The building is a three story Moorish-inspired style building faced in polychromatic patterned brick. It features horseshoe arches, minarets, and polychromatic tiles.

The first large synagogue in Flatbush was the Jewish Communal Center. Members of the Communal Center who leaned toward Orthodoxy organized the Ahavath Achim Achei Joseph. In December of 1921 a small group from Ahavath Achim Achei Joseph organized Young Israel of Flatbush. The new congregation’s first services were held in the basement of Ahavat Achim Achai Joseph Synagogue on March 3, 1922. About a year later, in February of 1923 a building site was purchased on the corner of Coney Island Avenue and Avenue I.

Architect Louis Allen Abramson was hired to design the new synagogue. During Abramson’s lengthy career he designed many types of buildings including hospitals and nursing homes. Perhaps his most iconic designs were for the restaurants of the 1939 World’s Fair in New York City. In 1985 Abramson, died at age 98. His Young Israel of Flatbush synagogue building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

According to the Congregation’s records “The first phase of the building was completed in time for the Yomim Noraim services held on September 10, 1923. These services were held in the basement of the new building (the only part that was ready ) which had a temporary roof, and all the worshippers received a free shower bath, while a storm was raging outside. ”

The Synagogue’s members were particularly active in raising funds for relief and life-saving endeavors after the horrors of the Holocaust became known. After World War II, in order for a non-American to immigrate to the United States they were required to present an affidavit showing that they had a job, a means of support, in the USA. After the war, members of Young Israel of Flatbush sent hundreds of affidavits to the U.S. State Department. At one time the State Department refused to accept anymore, informing the Synagogue that seventeen Assistant Rabbis for one Synagogue were too many.