 Its first religious leader, Rabbi Meyer Freeman published a book entitled "The Talmud" to raise money for a synagogue building.The congregation, originally founded as an Orthodox Synagogue, acquired a synagogue building at 221 East 51st Street from Congregation Orach Chaim in 1906.In 1950, Rabbi David B. Kahane the youngest student to ever be granted a Rabbinical degree from Yeshiva University and a Columbia University P.H.D candidate became the congregations spiritual and longest tenured leader.