Built in 1890, the synagogue building was designated as a New York City Landmark in 1980 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

The architects were Schneider and Herter,[2] who designed numerous tenements in Manhattan's Lower East Side and Hell's Kitchen neighborhoods.

On March 16, 1957, Robert Briscoe, the Jewish Lord Mayor of Dublin, carrying his tallis bag, visited and prayed at the synagogue on Shabbos morning.

Rabbi Schneier serves Park East Synagogue full-time while also drawing a salary from the Appeal of Conscience Foundation he founded.

[8] This leadership structure was criticized in 2021 by Daniel L. Kurtz, former head of the Charities Bureau at the New York State Attorney General’s Office,[9] when he alleged that Park East has failed to hold regular membership meetings to ensure financial transparency.

[12] The dismissal of Goldschmidt sparked a protest within the synagogue community[13][14][15] and a public objection from Israeli government minister Yoel Razvozov.

[17][18] In 2016, members of the synagogue heckled and jeered U.N. Director General Ban Ki-moon as he gave an address in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.