Take a tour of the only Greek Romaniote synagogue on this side of the world during Open House New York Weekend

Open House New York is a two-day annual festival that gives the public special access to more than 250 sites across all five boroughs, showcasing the city’s design, infrastructure and architecture.

This year, the festival runs from October 17 to 19, with many participating locations highlighting Jewish history and culture. From the Brooklyn Seltzer Museum—owned and operated by the same Jewish family for decades—to the iconic Jacob K. Javits Center, named after the former New York senator and attorney general Jacob Javits, the New York Jewish Week recently published a comprehensive list of Jewish sites to explore. But we’d like to spotlight one in particular: Kehila Kedosha Janina Synagogue and Museum, a historic Lower East Side landmark at 280 Broome Street, first built in 1927.

The only Romaniote synagogue in the Western hemisphere (basically, a non-Sephardic and non-Ashkenazi destination), Kehila Kedosha Janina was first founded by Greek Jewish immigrants in 1906.

Although, according to reports, the synagogue often struggles to gather a minyan due to limited attendance, it remains a proud landmark offering guided tours by appointment. On Sunday, October 18, during Open House New York, synagogue members will lead tours from noon to 5pm, highlighting the history of Romaniote Jews and the building’s unique architecture. Visitors will likely also learn about the Temple’s annual Greek Jewish Festival, typically held each May, which raises funds for the synagogue through live music, food, family-friendly activities and more.

You can browse through the many participating festival locations here, filtering by date, neighborhood and even expected wait times. Let’s be honest, though: some lines are worth standing in.