Congregation Chasam Sopher, in the heart of the historic and growing Lower East Side, has been serving the community for over 150 years.  Chasam Sopher is, and historically has been, a "free" Shul - while contributions are always graciously accepted, there are no membership fees or charges for high holiday tickets.

Built in 1853, the graceful structure has stood as a symbol of dignity and constancy in a world of change.  Originally a German-Jewish congregation, in 1892 two Polish congregations merged to form the Chasam Sopher Synagogue.   The English translation of Chasam Sopher is "Seal of the Scribe".  The temple is named for the highly respected German scribe and Talmudic scholar Moshe Schreiber whose surname means scribe in German and translates to "Sopher" in Hebrew.

The Lower East Side was once the center of Jewish life and Congregation Chasam Sopher, located on Clinton Street just south of Houston Street, was the epicenter of that cultural richness.   During the heyday of the Jewish Lower East Side, there were hundreds of synagogues in the neighborhood.  However, the area immediately surrounding the Chasam Sopher Synagogue suffered from urban blight during the 1970s and 1980s - and many synagogues unfortunately shut their doors forever.

Congregation Chasam Sopher, which was led for over 40 years by the esteemed Moshe Weiser ob"m (pictured at left with his wife, Paula), managed to stay afloat during troubled times.  This was due in large part to the hard work and self-sacrifice of Mr. Weiser on the synagogue's behalf.  When Congregation Chasam Sopher was itself in danger of closing, Mr. Weiser went to the press for help.  (Click here to see a New York Times article about Mr. Weiser and his efforts to keep Congregation Chasam Sopher open.)

Hank Sopher, who is a descendant of the Chasam Sopher, answered the call and has been assisting the shul ever since. Following decades of physical decline and constant patchwork repairs, Mr. Sopher spearheaded a special building campaign that resulted in a complete restoration of the building from foundation to roof, restoring the shul to its previous glory.  Mr. Sopher also added an elaborate and beautiful garden to the premises. The project took over 3 years to complete and the building was joyfully rededicated in September 2006.

Today the amount of participants at our regular and holiday services continues to grow, as do the number of participants in the many special events and programs Chasam Sopher now offers.  For the first time in 30 years, the majestic upper sanctuary is being used every Saturday morning for davening.  Our daily minyan continues to be held downstairs, as it has continuously for the last 150 years.  Mr. Eugene Weiser, the shuls' current president, continues to carry on his father's legacy of caring for the needs of the shul.

Chasam Sopher is once again a vital component of the Jewish community on the Lower East Side  and welcomes new neighbors, young and old, to join our growing, vibrant community.