News

In 1967 Central Synagogue welcomed a surviving Sefer Torah rescued from the Holocaust. A dedication ceremony was held for the scroll whose origins reside in Lipnik, Czechoslovakia.

This spring of 2018 marks 100 years of our Congregation's use of the name Central Synagogue!

This spring of 2018 marks 100 years of our Congregation's use of the name Central Synagogue.

As fall approaches we think about preparing to celebrate Judaism’s highest holy days and taking note that the services and holidays are for all ages and levels of engagement all year long.

We host visitors from all over the world, some are Jewish, many not; some are simply sightseeing; all are moved by their visit and by Central’s congregational history.

Thirty years ago, Mildred Ross made Central Synagogue history by being elected its first female president, from 1985 to 1989.

In 1946 President Harry S. Truman sent a letter to our Rabbi Jonah B. Wise at the time of Central's 100th anniversary praising our efforts to assist Europe's World War II displaced persons. A world situation where "tyranny extinguishes the freedom of one it extinguishes the freedom of all" (quoting from the letter) is very much on the current national agenda. It is good to know that Central's past concern for the peoples of the world is still one of our great concerns, and that we remain in the awareness of the White House.

We are so used to the comforting view of our Friday evening Shabbat Service being nearly full to capacity weekly, it is hard to think of this service as an innovation at Central Synagogue. Nearly 100 years ago, the idea of celebrating Shabbat’s arrival with a synagogue service on Friday evening was just a thought, duly noted in the October 6, 1915 Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees. As most people would go home on Friday evening to Shabbat dinner with family and friends, then come to synagogue on Saturday morning for a formal Shabbat service, the change was something to be further considered.

The seasonal pleasures of enjoying the aroma of the etrog (citrus fruit) and lulav bouquet in a sukkah are one of the special holiday memories of many Jews.

Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman and Cantor Richard Botton bring this experience to all of us in a photo from about 35 years ago.

Central Synagogue has various arks in which to keep its many Torahs.

There are two arks in the main Sanctuary Building (consecrated in 1872): one in the main sanctuary and one in the Pavilion on the lower level, and there are three are in the Community House (consecrated in 1966): Beir Chapel on the lower level, the Peter J. Rubinstein Chapel, Mona Glickman Ark, on the 5^th floor, and Room 903 (Meeting Room).