Thursday, May 20, 2004
Brotherhood Synagogue celebrates 50th Anniversary
LOOKING AHEAD by Wally Dobelis
Brotherhood Synagogue celebrates 50th AnniversaryFriday, May 14, 2004 was the 50th anniversary of the BrotherhoodSynagogue. On that day in 1954 the 23 founding members met, under theleadership of their young Rabbi, Dr. Irving J. Block, to celebrate afirst Shabbat. It was in Greenwich Village, and the synagogue's first home,for twenty years, was a columnated church at 139 West 13th Street, built in the Greek Revival style, and shared with a Presbyteranian congregation led by Dr. Jesse W.Stitt. The Holy Ark, used for the Jewish Friday and Saturday services, onSundays was covered with a curtain and a cross was hung over it, for theChristian rites, but a sign, "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself," was shared byboth congregations.Brotherhood was the theme, and bringing discouraged Jews back to religionwas the mission of the late Rabbi Block. Both objectives were met; theRabbi and the Minister were seen by much of the world as true symbols ofecumenism, the togetherness of religions and people in their search forpeace. The unlikely pair traveled all throughout the US, Germany andIsrael, preaching together, as a living example of coexistence, andreceiving awards and recognition. At home, the Synagogue attracted membersby providing a gathering place and a free pulpit for the disenchanted, andby reaching out to the Black community and to other faiths in common socialaction.
But in 1971 Dr. Stitt died, and the relationship became difficult. Thesynagogue needed a new home. Luckily, a defunct former Friends MeetingHouse, built in 1859 of brick and Dorchester olive stone, was available, at28 Gramercy Park South. The community had protected the neglected buildingfrom developers by landmarking it in 1965. Its interim owner, the UFT, wasglad to turn it over to a worthy successor, and on August 15, 1974 Town &Village was able to fly a front page headline: "A Landmark Home forBrotherhood."True to its name, Brotherhood Synagogue has proved itself as a good neighbor.It has participated in joint actions, such as Thanksgiving services, with adozen and more local churches and synagogues. For Passover it has invitedits Christian neighbors, and made contact in the Muslim community, with thelate Seif Ashmavi, a Sunni leader, addressing the congregation and joiningin its events on several occasions. In 1980 Brotherhood, in response toMayor Koch's call, was the first Manhattan synagogue to open a wintershelter for the homeless. There are also social services for thehandicapped, and Alzheimer and AA support groups, and provisions formeetings, such as local community group and co-op building events, andelection forums.In education, Brotherhood has a professionally run award-winning Hebrew school,providing after- hours religious instruction for students attending secularschools, a Tikvah program for the learning-disabled. More recently, theSynagogue has opened a nursery school in its rebuilt legendary basement,once the refuge of runaway slaves in the Underground Railroad phase of itsQuaker past.Dr Block retired in June 1994, after 40 years of service, hailed byreligious leaders of many faiths, particularly Dr. Thomas Pike and Msgr.Harry Byrne, his Christian colleagues in the developing of the ecumenicalspirit within local religious groups. One prays for a return of those days,in view of the polarization of the world, both abroad and at home. Dr.Block's successor, Rabbi Daniel Alder has led the congregation since 1994,following the same path. Brotherhood Synagogue has continued its ties tothe ecumenical cooperation, to the Black Christian community, to sharingevents and services with the community. Everybody is welcome to pray atBrotherhood Synagogue on the High Holidays.The synagogue's anniversary is also shared by Rabbi Alder, commemoratingfifteen years of service (he came to Brotherhood in 1989 as Dr. Block's assistant)and Cantor Shiya Ribowsky, ten years with Brotherhood. Other synagogue stalwarts are Executive Director Phil Rothman, with 23 years, and CantorEmeritus Herman Diamond, of the unforgettable basso voice.The three-day weekend of May 14 was devoted to the celebration of theanniversary, for which a number of retired congregants have returned, fromas far as South Carolina and Florida. The Friday Shabbat services honoredthe founders, and members past and present exchanged reminiscences during aSaturday luncheon and Sunday brunch, the event culminating in apresentation of a new Torah, hand-written by scribes in Israel. An exhibitof the Synagogue's history, on the second floor, will be open for thenext several months. Call 674-5750 for hours.Town & Village extends its best wishes to Rabbi Daniel Alder and RebeccaKryspin, a teacher, on their engagement. _______________________________________________________________________Our Covenant of Brotherhood (1954)We consecrate ourselves to a program of Brotherhood.We commit ourselves to a joint service for the community of man.We engage ourselves to do whatsoever the hand findeth to do for humanwelfare, without preference or prejudice to race, creed or color.We undertake this endeavor before God to the end that the truth ofuniversal brotherhood may be established in full measure upon the earth,and man's responsibility to man accepted as the mandate of God.
Brotherhood Synagogue celebrates 50th AnniversaryFriday, May 14, 2004 was the 50th anniversary of the BrotherhoodSynagogue. On that day in 1954 the 23 founding members met, under theleadership of their young Rabbi, Dr. Irving J. Block, to celebrate afirst Shabbat. It was in Greenwich Village, and the synagogue's first home,for twenty years, was a columnated church at 139 West 13th Street, built in the Greek Revival style, and shared with a Presbyteranian congregation led by Dr. Jesse W.Stitt. The Holy Ark, used for the Jewish Friday and Saturday services, onSundays was covered with a curtain and a cross was hung over it, for theChristian rites, but a sign, "Love Thy Neighbor as Thyself," was shared byboth congregations.Brotherhood was the theme, and bringing discouraged Jews back to religionwas the mission of the late Rabbi Block. Both objectives were met; theRabbi and the Minister were seen by much of the world as true symbols ofecumenism, the togetherness of religions and people in their search forpeace. The unlikely pair traveled all throughout the US, Germany andIsrael, preaching together, as a living example of coexistence, andreceiving awards and recognition. At home, the Synagogue attracted membersby providing a gathering place and a free pulpit for the disenchanted, andby reaching out to the Black community and to other faiths in common socialaction.
But in 1971 Dr. Stitt died, and the relationship became difficult. Thesynagogue needed a new home. Luckily, a defunct former Friends MeetingHouse, built in 1859 of brick and Dorchester olive stone, was available, at28 Gramercy Park South. The community had protected the neglected buildingfrom developers by landmarking it in 1965. Its interim owner, the UFT, wasglad to turn it over to a worthy successor, and on August 15, 1974 Town &Village was able to fly a front page headline: "A Landmark Home forBrotherhood."True to its name, Brotherhood Synagogue has proved itself as a good neighbor.It has participated in joint actions, such as Thanksgiving services, with adozen and more local churches and synagogues. For Passover it has invitedits Christian neighbors, and made contact in the Muslim community, with thelate Seif Ashmavi, a Sunni leader, addressing the congregation and joiningin its events on several occasions. In 1980 Brotherhood, in response toMayor Koch's call, was the first Manhattan synagogue to open a wintershelter for the homeless. There are also social services for thehandicapped, and Alzheimer and AA support groups, and provisions formeetings, such as local community group and co-op building events, andelection forums.In education, Brotherhood has a professionally run award-winning Hebrew school,providing after- hours religious instruction for students attending secularschools, a Tikvah program for the learning-disabled. More recently, theSynagogue has opened a nursery school in its rebuilt legendary basement,once the refuge of runaway slaves in the Underground Railroad phase of itsQuaker past.Dr Block retired in June 1994, after 40 years of service, hailed byreligious leaders of many faiths, particularly Dr. Thomas Pike and Msgr.Harry Byrne, his Christian colleagues in the developing of the ecumenicalspirit within local religious groups. One prays for a return of those days,in view of the polarization of the world, both abroad and at home. Dr.Block's successor, Rabbi Daniel Alder has led the congregation since 1994,following the same path. Brotherhood Synagogue has continued its ties tothe ecumenical cooperation, to the Black Christian community, to sharingevents and services with the community. Everybody is welcome to pray atBrotherhood Synagogue on the High Holidays.The synagogue's anniversary is also shared by Rabbi Alder, commemoratingfifteen years of service (he came to Brotherhood in 1989 as Dr. Block's assistant)and Cantor Shiya Ribowsky, ten years with Brotherhood. Other synagogue stalwarts are Executive Director Phil Rothman, with 23 years, and CantorEmeritus Herman Diamond, of the unforgettable basso voice.The three-day weekend of May 14 was devoted to the celebration of theanniversary, for which a number of retired congregants have returned, fromas far as South Carolina and Florida. The Friday Shabbat services honoredthe founders, and members past and present exchanged reminiscences during aSaturday luncheon and Sunday brunch, the event culminating in apresentation of a new Torah, hand-written by scribes in Israel. An exhibitof the Synagogue's history, on the second floor, will be open for thenext several months. Call 674-5750 for hours.Town & Village extends its best wishes to Rabbi Daniel Alder and RebeccaKryspin, a teacher, on their engagement. _______________________________________________________________________Our Covenant of Brotherhood (1954)We consecrate ourselves to a program of Brotherhood.We commit ourselves to a joint service for the community of man.We engage ourselves to do whatsoever the hand findeth to do for humanwelfare, without preference or prejudice to race, creed or color.We undertake this endeavor before God to the end that the truth ofuniversal brotherhood may be established in full measure upon the earth,and man's responsibility to man accepted as the mandate of God.
# posted by Wally Dobelis @ 6:13 AM 
