Riverdale Jewish Center

Riverdale Jewish Center
Religion
AffiliationModern Orthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Dovid Zirkind
  • Rabbi Tzvi Benoff (Assistant Rabbi)
StatusActive
Location
Location3700 Independence Avenue, Riverdale, The Bronx, New York City, New York 10463
CountryUnited States
Riverdale Jewish Center is located in Bronx
Riverdale Jewish Center
Location in the Bronx
Geographic coordinates40°53′17″N 73°54′46″W / 40.88806°N 73.91278°W / 40.88806; -73.91278
Architecture
FounderYeshiva University
Date established1954 (as a congregation)
Website
rjconline.org

The Riverdale Jewish Center, abbreviated as RJC, is a Modern Orthodox synagogue located at 3700 Independence Avenue, in the Riverdale neighborhood of the Bronx, New York City, New York, United States.[1]

History

The synagogue was founded by the Communal Services Division of Yeshiva University and has always identified itself as a bastion of that institution.[citation needed]

Its rabbis included its founder Jacob Sable, Irving Greenberg, Yehezkel Hartmann, Joshua Shmidman, Abner Weiss, and Jonathan Rosenblatt.[2][3]

In May 2015, the New York Times claimed that Rosenblatt had a history (in the 1980s and 1990s) of inviting teenage boys to play squash or racquetball often accompanied by sitting in a sauna naked together.[4] There were no allegations of sexual touching or criminal conduct;[5] and Rosenblatt retained his position as rabbi of the RJC.[6][7]

The Senior Rabbi is Rabbi Dovid Zirkind and the assistant rabbi is Rabbi Tzvi Benoff.[8][self-published source?]

The charter school Atmosphere Academy uses part of the building during the week for 8th grade classes.[citation needed]

Attacks on the synagogue

In the 2009 New York City bomb plot the New York City Police Department foiled a plot by American Muslims to bomb the synagogue.[9] On May 30, 2009, New York Governor David Paterson announced he would give the Center and the Riverdale Reform Temple $25,000 each to improve their security.[10]

In 2021, the synagogue was subject to vandalism, including rocks thrown through the synagogue's windows.[11][12]

Notable members

References

  1. ^ Freedman, Samuel G. (May 30, 2009). "Two Rabbis Find They're Separated Only by Doctrine". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Ohlheiser, Michelle; Boorstein, Abby; Larimer, Sarah (November 18, 2014). "American victims of synagogue attack include rabbi from 'family of princes'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  3. ^ "RJC: Rabbi Rosenblatt to Step Down". The Jewish Link of Bronx, Westchester & Connecticut. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  4. ^ Newman, Andy; Otterman, Sharon (May 29, 2015). "Debate over the Rabbi and the Sauna". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Shahrigian, Shant (March 2, 2016). "DA found no criminal conduct by Rabbi Rosenblatt". The Riverdale Press. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  6. ^ Newman, Andy (June 29, 2015). "Rabbi Who Had Naked Chats in Sauna Intends to Keep His Job at Riverdale Jewish Center". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  7. ^ Yoffie, Eric H. (August 21, 2015). "By Keeping 'Naked Sauna' Rabbi, Riverdale Jewish Center Is Failing Its Community". Haaretz. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Leadership". Riverdale Jewish Center. n.d. Retrieved December 26, 2022.[self-published source?]
  9. ^ Hernandez, Javier C.; Chan, Sewell (May 21, 2009). "N.Y. Bomb Plot Suspects Acted Alone, Police Say". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Targeted Bronx synagogues to get security funds". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. June 2, 2009. Archived from the original on May 10, 2012.
  11. ^ "Bronx synagogue vandal strikes again at Riverdale Jewish Center". The Jerusalem Post. April 27, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  12. ^ Silow-Carroll, Andrew (April 28, 2021). "Bronx synagogue vandal strikes Riverdale Jewish Center in latest attack". The Times of Israel. Retrieved December 8, 2023.