Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, the Sons of Jacob Synagogue is the last remaining symbol of the once large Jewish community once based in the Smith Hill neighborhood of Providence. The two story brick structure was built in two stages starting in 1906 and completed in 1922. Since its completion, the building has remained largely unaltered.
The interior of the synagogue features ornate stained glass windows and murals. Although the building is still used regularly for worship, the congregation’s numbers have declined. The roof has been secured, but damage to interior plaster needs repair, as do the windows. As of February 2019, a group of concerned citizens and Synagogue members has created the Rhode Island Jewish Museum within the historic building. In 2023, the RIJM partnered with the National Trust for Sacred Places to stimulate community-centered planning and development to revitalize the space. They are working to raise funds to care for the building. In 2024, it was spotlighted on PPS’ list of Most Endangered Places as part of its Sacred Places listing to demonstrate how religious places across the City are struggling from vacancy and underutilization.
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