The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
Congregation Beth Jacob in Duquesne built its first synagogue in 1908 on the corner of S. 1st and Viola. After the building was destroyed in a fire in 1922, the congregation erected a second synagogue on S. 2nd Street in 1924. The congregation disbanded in 1977, according to the recollections of former members. Gerald Sapir photographed the vacant building in the 1990s, as part of his efforts to document Jewish institutions throughout the region. The synagogue was still standing in 2016.