My shot of the outside of the synagogue. I love the mix of palm trees and live oak!
Today a short note from my travels: I spent the early afternoon in Savannah, Georgia, mainly to have lunch with a former client from my corporate consulting days.
I also visited the third oldest Jewish congregation in the U.S., Mickve Israel and their neo-Gothic synagogue that to me looks like a church.
Being Reform, it even has an organ. The building itself was completed in 1878, at the height of the Victorian era when neo-Gothic was all the rage. The congregation, however, dates back to 1733.
Proof that this is not a church: Search for the Star of David in the upper part of the window. And the Hebrew lettering, of course.
The inside of the synagogue features stunning colored glass windows, the likes of which I have not seen in other synagogues.
Of course I walked around downtown Savannah as well and fell in love with those stately live oak trees and the Spanish moss.
How lovely to walk through those shady squares and take snapshots of all those old homes with their wrought-iron lattice work. It was a short stopover as I had to head back to Charlotte to attend the alumni conference and 10th anniversary celebration of my MFA in Creative Writing Program at Queens University of Charlotte. I’m in the Queen’s city now, but thank you, Savannah, for a charming interlude. I’m glad I stopped by!
I'm glad you stopped by and took all these pictures!!! You've made me want to jump on a plane and dash down to Savannah- I'd love to see the old Synagogue- and the last pic you had- I could write novels about.
Savannah is a very special city. I had a memorable visit there several years ago but would love to go again. BTW, I received a notice today that I can pick up 84 Charing Cross which I had on reserve. I'm looking forward to reading it on your recommendation.
http://www.writergrannysworld.blogspot.com
Our church has a stained glass window with a Star of David too-It's called Sacred Heart-
This is a lovely post.
Anjuli – maybe you want to travel down to Savannah if it would inspire you to write a novel?
Nancy – go and visit our mutual friends Charlie and Joyce and then you can visit Savannah as well! Glad to hear you'll be reading 84, Charing Cross Road. Can't wait to hear what you will think about it.
The Desert Rocks – Wow! I didn't realize churches would have Stars of Davids as well. Hmm, how am I then going to figure out what's what? Was that church perhaps a synagogue before?
No Annette, I don't think it was, but don't worry Jesus was born into a Jewish family who were descendants of David. Facts are facts, and I think the history of stain glassed windows is very interesting. When I travel I like to take pictures because the artists love to express themselves. We have another church around here call St. Francis of Assisi, where there are beautiful murals painted throughout the church by a Jewish artist. I love his depictions and enjoy the connections.