{"id":3747,"date":"2022-10-04T19:23:57","date_gmt":"2022-10-04T19:23:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ismardavidarchive.org\/indexofnames\/?p=3747"},"modified":"2022-10-11T20:14:42","modified_gmt":"2022-10-11T20:14:42","slug":"about-sidney-eisenshtat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ismardavidarchive.org\/indexofnames\/about-sidney-eisenshtat\/","title":{"rendered":"About Sidney Eisenshtat"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sidney Eisenshtat, 1914\u20132004, architect.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

\"Sanctuary
Sanctuary of Temple Emanuel, Los Angeles, California, c. 1954. University of Southern California::Architecture and Fine Arts Library, SE Box 22.<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

At the height<\/span> of his career, Sidney Eisenshtat was considered one of the half dozen leading architects in the country.1<\/a><\/sup>El Paso Times<\/em>, July 31, 1960, p. 44<\/span> Born in Connecticut, he moved to California with his family when he was twelve. He entered the University of Southern California at 16 and at 25, became the youngest architect to get a license in the state. Although he designed private residences, public facilities and large-scale commercial buildings\u2014many of which became L.A. landmarks\u2014he is perhaps best known today for his innovative, often soaring, synagogue work. His buildings were dramatic, light, airy and spacious, displaying a kinship with the expressionism of Eric Mendelsohn<\/a>, whom he greatly admired. \u201cDesign is not wall or decorations. It is only space occupied by human beings. You have to enclose that space, and if you do it well, it is good design.\u201d2<\/a><\/sup>Fine Design Pays Way, Los Angeles Times, <\/em>January 12, 1964, p. J25<\/span> Nevertheless, art took a prominent place in his work. \u201cEisenshtat, who plans all his major jobs to include art, makes it a practice to work with architectural artists as often as possible.\u201d3<\/a><\/sup>Schoen, Myron, quoting Joseph Young in the May-June issue of Creative Crafts, Asks Art, Not Draftsmanship, for the Temple, The National Jewish Post and Opinion, <\/em> December 8, 1961. <\/span> He \u201cinsisted that art be included in the building\u2019s budget.\u201d4<\/a><\/sup>Rourke, Mary, Los Angeles Times, Sidney Eisenshtat, 90; Was Known for His Innovative Synagogues, March 5, 2005, p.59.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eisenshtat\u2019s first major religious commission came from the congregation of Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills. Stephen Kayser<\/a> recommended Ismar David to Eisenshtat to design bronze Hebrew lettering<\/a> for \u201ctwo wall tablets (10 Commandments) … of white marble, each 11′ high and 3′ 6″ wide.\u201d Eisenshtat and David enjoyed a good working relationship on the project. The two men met during the Davids\u2019 trip west in the summer of 1955.<\/p>\n