May 6, 2014

On Sunday, May 4, nearly 1,000 congregants gathered at Pier 60 on Manhattan's West Side for a festive sunset celebration of Senior Rabbi Peter Rubinstein. With breathtaking views of the Hudson River as backdrop, the evening included singing, dancing, tears and laughter. Congregational President David Edelson presented to Rabbi Rubinstein a beautiful keepsake memory book filled with personal anecdotes and images submitted by congregants.

May 5, 2014 | General News

Standing on Mount Scopus overlooking Jerusalem, Rabbi Rubinstein explained to us that one can only enter the city of Jerusalem for the first time once. This makes perfect sense, but after a part one of a two-part trip, I began to think that every time one visits Israel and stands on Mt. Scopus, it is the first time.

May 4, 2014 | General News

1992 was the first confirmation class over which Rabbi Peter Rubinstein presided. They are photographed in front of the open ark, a background often used for confirmation class photos. Rabbi Rubinstein is in the center next to Cantor Richard Botton. To the left is Associate Rabbi Tom Weiner and to the far right is Director of Education Jack Sparks. The size of the group is small compared to today’s classes which often reach 30 students.

May 1, 2014 | General News | Worship and High Holidays

Our community gathered on Monday, April 28, 2014 to remember the 6,000,000 men, women and children murdered in the Holocaust. Rabbi Rubinstein, Rabbi Buchdahl, Pastor Derr, Alice Greenwald of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, each reflected on this tragedy.

April 30, 2014 | General News

Dear Fellow Congregants

As I write this, the world is warming up after a long New York winter. Despite occasional cold spells, daffodils have emerged throughout Central Park and trees all over the city are flowering. Passover has come and gone, reminding us yet again how fortunate we are in so many ways.

I am privileged to serve as the president of our incredible congregation, which is brimming with people who are committed to each other, to our great institution, and to the Jewish people.

This annual “State of the Synagogue” report highlights some of what is ahead for us here at Central: