Congregation B'nai Jacob was established in New Haven in 1882.[2] Founded by OrthodoxAshkenazi Jewish refugees fleeing pogroms in the Russian Empire, it was first on Temple Street in New Haven, then moved to George Street in 1912, in a building completed in the Moorish Revival style.[2][3]
In 1961, the congregation moved to Woodbridge, following the construction of a new synagogue designed by Fritz Nathan and Bertram Bassuk in the Modernist style. A defining feature of the sanctuary is an impressive display of stained-glass windows by Jean-Jacques Duval.[3][4]
"Duval’s greatest success ... was his ability to create full walls of stained glass that actually helped emphasize and strengthen the shape of the space instead of distracting from it. Duval has demonstrated this talent for making architectural walls that complemented the architecture design in many synagogue and church commissions. Most of his stained glass windows are not to be seen through, or even to be looked at as pictures. Rather, they enclose the viewer to create a container of worship space."