Queens Jewish Center
{{Short description|Orthodox synagogue in Queens, New York}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Queens Jewish Center
| image = QJC_bldg.PNG
| image_upright = 1.4
| caption = The Queens Jewish Center – 108 Street entrance
| map_type = New York City
| map_size = 250
| map_relief = 1
| map_caption = Location in New York City
| location = 66-05 108 Street, Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York
| country = United States
| coordinates = {{coord|40|43|49|N|73|50|52|W|region:US-NY_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = Orthodox Judaism
| rite =
| consecration_year =
| status = Synagogue
| functional_status = Active
| heritage_designation =
| leadership = Rabbi Judah Kerbel
| website = {{URL|MyQJC.org}}
| architect = David Moed
| architecture_type =
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| general_contractor = LeFrak Organization
| facade_direction =
| established =
| groundbreaking = 1946, 1949
| year_completed = 1955
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The Queens Jewish Center, also known as Queens Jewish Center and Talmud Torah or QJC, is an Orthodox synagogue in Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York, United States.
The synagogue was established by a dozen families in 1943 to serve the growing central Queens Jewish community.{{cite web |url=http://www.myqjc.org/history.htm |title=History |work=Queens Jewish Center |date=n.d. |access-date=December 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101127153943/http://www.myqjc.org/history.htm |archive-date=November 27, 2010 }} The current spiritual leader is Rabbi Judah Kerbel.{{cite web |url=http://www.myqjc.org/family.htm |title=QJC Family |work=Queens Jewish Center |date=n.d. |access-date=December 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130121704/http://www.myqjc.org/family.htm |archive-date=November 30, 2010 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm |title=Member Synagogues |work=Vaad Harabonim of Queens |access-date=December 7, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229211523/http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm |archive-date=December 29, 2010 }} Queens Jewish Center has services every day of the week, including holidays.{{cite web |url=http://foresthills.patch.com/listings/queens-jewish-center |title=Queens Jewish Center - Forest Hills |work=NY Patch |access-date=July 19, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111123061758/http://foresthills.patch.com/listings/queens-jewish-center |archive-date=November 23, 2011 }}
Organization affiliations
The Queens Jewish Center is a member of the Orthodox Union,{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.org/holidays/calendar#synagogues |publisher=Orthodox Union |title=Member Synagogues |date= |access-date= }} the Queens Jewish Community Council,{{Cite web |url=http://qjcc.org/members.htm |title=QJCC Member Synagogues |publisher=Queens Jewish Community Council |access-date=2010-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727192418/http://qjcc.org/members.htm |archive-date=2011-07-27 |url-status=dead }} and the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.
Architecture
The Queens Jewish Center building won honorable mention in the 1955 Queens Chamber of Commerce, Annual Building Awards. The architect was David Moed of Manhattan and the builder was the LeFrak Organization.{{cite web |url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/4498193907/in/set-72157623669566373/ |title=1955 Queens Chamber of Commerce, Annual Building Awards |work=Flickr |date= |access-date= |author= }}
The structure actually consists of two separate buildings. On October 3, 1946 an option was taken on the vacant plot where both synagogue buildings now stand. Ground was first broken for the first building (also referred to as the Talmud Torah building or Bais Hamedrash building) during an elaborate ceremony on June 5, 1949, by Judge Paul Balsam and Center President Herman A. Levine. The ground-breaking for the main synagogue building took place on June 21, 1953 and was made possible by generous benefactor, Mr. Harry LeFrak.
Clergy
The following individuals have served as rabbi of the Queens Jewish Center:
class="wikitable sortable"
!Order !! Officeholder !! Term started !!Term ended !! Time in office !! Notes | |||||
align="center"|{{nts|1}} | Eliezer Harbater | align=center| 1943 | align=center| 1946 | align="right"|{{age in years|1943|1946}} years | rowspan=3| |
align="center"|{{nts|2}} | Aryeh Gotlieb | align=center| 1946 | align=center| 1949 | align="right"|{{age in years|1946|1949}} years | |
align="center"|{{nts|3}} | Morris Max | align=center| 1949 | align=center| 1966 | align="right"|{{age in years|1949|1966}} years | |
align="center"|{{nts|4}} | Joseph Grunblatt | align=center| 1967 | align=center| 2006 | align="right"|{{age in years|1967|2006}} years | |
align="center"|{{nts|5}} | Benjamin Geiger | align=center| 2007 | align=center| 2013 | align="right"|{{age in years|2007|2013}} years | {{cite news |title=Prayer Shawls, Flip-Flops Mingle at ‘Shul on the Beach’ |author=Spence, Rebecca |work=The Forward |date=September 26, 2007 |url=http://www.forward.com/articles/11708/ |access-date= }} |
align="center"|{{nts|6}} | {{nowrap|Simcha Hopkovitz}} | align=center| 2013 | align=center| 2018 | align="right"|{{age in years|2013|2018}} years | |
align="center"|{{nts|7}} | Judah Kerbel | align=center| 2019 | align=center| incumbent | align="right"|{{age in years|2019}} years |
Notable members
- Paul Balsam, a judge
- Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander, rabbi of Touro College{{cite web |url=http://www.touro.edu/media/bg/leadership.asp |title=News Center: Leadership - President and Founder |work=Touro College |date= |access-date=July 6, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100629033941/http://www.touro.edu/media/bg/leadership.asp |archive-date=June 29, 2010 }}
- Harry LeFrak, a builder and philanthropist
- Leon Wildes, immigration lawyer
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.MyQJC.org/}}
{{Synagogues in the United States}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Synagogues in Queens, New York
Category:Orthodox synagogues in New York City
Category:Synagogues completed in 1955