Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale

The Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) is a Conservative, egalitarian congregation and a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The synagogue is located in the Riverdale, Bronx neighborhood of New York City. The congregation's spiritual leader is Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, who was appointed to the position in 1998.

For similarly named synagogues, see Adath Israel.

History

The Conservative Synagogue of Riverdale was founded in 1954 with Rabbi Max Kadushin serving as its first rabbi. Significantly, the first building to be erected by the new congregation was its Hebrew school. In 1962, a new sanctuary, designed by renowned architect Percival Goodman, was dedicated and the community started to grow.

In 1973, the Conservative Synagogue merged with Adath Israel of the Grand Concourse, one of New York City's greatest Conservative institutions. When the two joined, a plaque was dedicated that still conveys the spirit of CSAIR: "We loved our house of worship. It enriched our lives and uplifted our souls.

Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale was founded upon the three traditional pillars of Judaism—Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim—religious study and observance, acts of social responsibility, and deeds of loving-kindness, respectively. CSAIR's mission statement declares that it is dedicated to enlightening the mind through learning, nourishing the soul through prayer, and creating a caring community. CSAIR has daily morning and evening services, regular holiday services, an additional monthly havurah alternative service, extensive child-focused religious and educational services, the Marsha Dane Hebrew School, and various adult education programs.

2000 terror attack

On 8 October 2000, the eve of Yom Kippur, a group of Palestinian-American men attacked the synagogue with Molotov cocktails. Mazin Assi, one of the attackers, was convicted of attempted arson, weapons charges and hate crimes, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[1] Assi said he threw the firebombs at "the rich Jews in Riverdale" because he alleged they send money to Israel for "killing people."[2][3]

See also

References
  1. Samuel G. Freedman (May 29, 2009). "Two Rabbis Find They're Separated Only by Doctrine". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
  2. Dareh Gregorian (March 27, 2009). "ACTS VS. BLDGS. 'HATE CRIMES'". The New York Post.
  3. Green, David (28 October 2018). "From Lynchings to Mass Shootings: The History of Deadly Attacks on Jews in America". Haaretz. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
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