The oldest surviving synagogue building in the United States was evacuated Tuesday night after New York firefighters discovered cracks in columns supporting the second floor.
The structure was built in 1849 and was the home of Congregation Anshe Chesed before being bought in 1986 by the Spanish sculptor, Angel Orensanz.
The center is an art gallery and is used for weddings and fundraising events, such as last night’s celebrity gala for the theater company Soho Rep.
Firefighters arrived in the middle of the vent to investigate a smoke alarm and the discovered that the floor was shaking and the beams were cracked.
Engineers and architects are on the spot and working to make the necessary repairs that will allow the Environmental Control Board to cancel the vacate order.