Tuesday, September 26, 2023 – A CONGREGATION WELCOMING ALL
FROM THE ARCHIVES
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2023
A JOYOUS RETURN
30 YEARS IN THE CULTURAL CENTER
WITH SOME BUMPS IN THE ROAD
THE ROOSEVELT ISLAND
JEWISH CONGREGATION
ISSUE# 1084
In 1993, the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation (RIJC) moved into it’s new home in the Cultural Center. We were the only tenants along with the Main Street Theatre and Dance Alliance (MSTDA).
The RIJC held its services in the same room all year and expanded to the adjacent dance studio for high holidays and and occasional celebrations.
The MSTDA thrived under the direction of Worth and Nancy Howe, and subsequent directors.
Many other island and outside organizations used the space and it thrived as a cultural headquarters.
In the 2000’s the Cultural Center suffered two massive floods that closed the facilties for years. RIOC decided that the RIJC and MSTDA would now rent their space and other groups would also use the facilities.
The constant delays and construction issues, along with RIOC politics lead to extensive delays and postponements of usage.
Our sanctuary was no longer ours, stripped of all removable furnishings. Anyone can now rent the space for any event. We agreed to the changes and worked to reserve the space when we needed it for events.
Other groups used the space and left in frustration of dealing with RIOC. Only two groups have persevered with use of the center.
We are thirilled to be back in our “home” even for they most holy of holidays and welcome all to our Succah this Friday evening on the roof of the CUltural Center, at the 540 breezeway (on the senior center terrace) RIJC.ORG for more information.
Rabbi Laurie Gold and Cantor Sandra Goodman welcoming congregants for our Yom Kippur service
The torah is read and congregants follow in person or on Zoom.
The end of the holiday is celebrated with Havdalah
NINA LUBLIN AND RABBI LAURIE GOLD AFTER THE LONG YOM KIPPUR SERVICES.
IN DAYS PAST
Our first decor in the sanctuary in 1990’s
TUESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
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MONDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY
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Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
JUDITH BERDY
NINA LUBLIN, PRESIDENT
SUZANNE VLAMIS, PHOTOGRAPH (C)
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter and Deborah Dorff
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THIS PUBLICATION FUNDED BY DISCRETIONARY FUNDS FROM CITY COUNCIL MEMBER JULIE MENIN & ROOSEVELT ISLAND OPERATING CORPORATION PUBLIC PURPOSE FUNDS.
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