Sergey Kadinsky
Written Works
Restoring Jewish Life in Rosedale
This feature piece was published on page 91 in the Jewish Press on April 14, 2006. Because the readership of this newspaper is largely comprised of observant Jews, there is plenty of Jewish terminology in the article. A glossary appears on the bottom of the page. Rosedale is a neighborhood in the southeastern corner of Queens, New York.
The doors of the Rosedale Jewish Center describe the synagogue as Conservative, the congregants come from a variety of backgrounds, and the interior is richly decorated with Jewish artwork. Located in the southeastern corner of Queens, Rosedale is within walking distance of what's commonly called the Five Towns- a section of Long Island with large, thriving Orthodox communities.
Rosedale's Jewish community, by contrast, has been experiencing decline for decades, with younger families choosing other places to live, and older members retiring to Florida. When the synagogue opened a half century ago, the neighborhood was mostly Jewish and Italian, and the Conservative movement seemed to be the wave of the future. Today, the majority of the residents are African-Americans with a Caribbean background, and the nearest synagogue to Rosedale, the Conservative Laurelton Jewish Center, closed its doors in 2000.
The latest attempt to rejuvenate Rosedale's Jewish community began last year with the appointment of Rabbi Shalom Nemtzov to the position of chazzan at the Rosedale Jewish Center, located at 247-11 Francis Lewis Boulevard. Rabbi Nemtzov is Orthodox, and his arrival has brought changes to the shul's rituals and practices: aliyah to the Torah is restricted to men, a mechitza has been installed, and the podium no longer carries a microphone. From a practical perspective, there really is no need for the microphone. Synagogue president Jack Goodstein describes the rabbi's voice as one of the qualities that made him stand out from the other candidates.
"We found him through an agent," Goodstein recalls. "He has a beautiful voice and the congregation loves him." Rabbi Nemtzov is also an experienced artist and chevra kadisha member. A father of ten, he comes from a Chabad background, and feels encouraged by the challenge of transforming a synagogue and serving the community. "I could have easily moved to Borough Park, where almost all the Jews are Orthodox, but it would be too easy there... I am looking for a challenge."
The Shabbos service is serene, with the rabbi's voice resonating throughout the sanctuary, and colorful light filtering through the stained glass. At times, the bells of a neighboring church pierce through the building, but fail to interrupt the services. Rising to the challenge, the rabbi performs not only the entire service, but also the Torah and haftorah readings every week. Though Shabbat attendance averages 5 people, the High Holidays can attract up to 150. Even with the mechitza, many members still prefer mixed seating.
To inspire the older members, Rabbi Nemtzov's son Boruch Tzvi invited his friends to spend Shabbat in Rosedale. Like him, they are Orthodox, and with no kosher stores nor eruv, the guests experienced the same challenges as their hosts. One of the guests, Diana Kron of Forest Hills, said she understands that in small communities such as Rosedale, every person counts, and every visitor leaves an impression.
Another guest, Kenny (Calev Zalman) Rodriguez of Crown Heights decided to expand on the idea of a shabbaton by holding his aufruf in Rosedale, which brought plenty of singing and celebrating. "I want to help Rabbi Nemtzov make a difference in this neighborhood," said Rodriguez. Asked where he would prefer to live after the wedding, he said he "envisions living in a Rosedale-type neighborhood," meaning an area where there are few observant Jews. "I want to help make changes, but I must first discuss this with my wife."
Looking towards the future, Rabbi Nemtzov hopes to hold more shabbatons, and a communal seder in the shul. For many members, a seder is normally a private family affair held at home. The rabbi hopes to create stronger ties among the remaining members because, he says, "many do not have families."
Synagogue manager Brian Berger shares the rabbi's vision, pointing to the unused classrooms, offices, and prayer room in the building's basement. "I grew up in Rosedale and had my bar mitzvah here," he said. "I later moved to Howard Beach, but I did not feel at home in their synagogue, and I returned to Rosedale, so I can continue to maintain this shul." Asked if Rosedale stands a chance at becoming the "Sixth Town," Jack Goodstein gives a philosophical answer: "You never know what will happen tomorrow." His son Ivan, a resident of the neighboring town of Hewlett, notes that "taxes and housing prices are lower. It is closer to the city, and I'm sure there is a possibility of Jewish families moving to Rosedale."
Rabbi Nemtozv points out that traveling on the LIRR from Rosedale to Manhattan is just 30 minutes. The neighborhood is described as generally safe. "Most of the residents here are homeowners, who are very dedicated to their homes," says Rabbi Nemtzov. "Lately there have been plenty of renovations going on. One home near the shul sold for more than half a million."
Glossary:
Aliyah: the honor of going up to read the Torah.
Aufruf: the last Sabbath for the groom before his wedding.
Chevra kadisha: the burial society, which oversees traditional Jewish funerals.
Eruv: a symbolic border denoting where observant Jews may carry objects on the Sabbath.
Haftorah: readings from the prophets, usually read after the weekly Torah chapter.
Mechitza: a divider separating the men's and women's sections of the synagogue. Usually a short fence or curtain.
Seder: Hebrew for order, a name given to the Passover feast.
Shabbos: Yiddish for Sabbath or Saturday.
Shabbaton: a festive Sabbath, where guests are hosted by the community.
Shul: Yiddish word for synagogue or school.