Central Synagogue, a prominent Reform Jewish congregation in Midtown Manhattan, was formed in 1898 through the merger of two 19th-century groups: Shaar Hashomayim (founded by German Jews in 1839) and Ahawath Chesed (founded by Bohemian Jews in 1846). Its iconic Moorish Revival building at 652 Lexington Avenue, designed by Henry Fernbach and built in 1870–1872, is a designated New York City and National Historic Landmark, distinguished by its brownstone facade, octagonal towers, and stained-glass windows. After suffering a devastating fire, the structure underwent a major reconstruction from 1998 to 2001, adding to a history of renovations dating back to the 1880s. Originally serving German-speaking immigrants who moved north from the Lower East Side, the congregation adopted the name "Central" by 1918 and even briefly merged with the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in the 1920s. Today, under Senior Rabbi Angela Buchdahl (since 2014), the synagogue remains a vibrant center of worship and community, housing a notable collection of Jewish artifacts and a community house across 55th Street that hosts its religious school and various groups.