July tours include Park Synagogue

Park Synagogue is located on Mayfield Road.

The Heights Bicycle Coalition (HBC) continues its series of Freewheelin' Wednesday Rides with a kid-themed ride on July 2, a pub-crawl ride on July 16, and a special visit to Park Synagogue on July 30. All HBC Freewheelin’ Wednesday rides start at the Coventry P.E.A.C.E. Arch at 6:30 p.m. Bring a helmet.

The Park Synagogue ride combines a bit of outdoor recreation with information about history and architecture. Ellen Petler, membership and program director at the synagogue, will show the group around. Families are welcome.   

Park Synagogue was designed by architect Eric Mendelsohn, who grew up in Germany and designed some of the modern Berlin department stores that were bombed during World War II. He left Germany in 1933 and moved to England, then Israel, where he designed some buildings in Tel Aviv. He ultimately moved to San Francisco, but designed only a handful of buildings in America, mostly temples.

Park Synagogue is a 1950 building that makes many national lists of distinguished architecture. There is no stained glass in the sanctuary, as Mendelsohn wanted the worshippers to see the natural beauty of the park-like setting while they prayed. A portion of Dugway Brook runs through the synagogue property.

The HBC outing will circumscribe the grounds by bicycle, then participants will go into the sanctuary. The bike tour is led by Cleveland Heights residents Bert and Alice Stratton. The outing ends at approximately 8 p.m.

Visit www.bikesintheheights.org for August events and other HBC information.