A happy housewarming: Agudah of the 5 Towns celebrates

By Sergey Kadinsky

The shul, which is led by Rabbi Yitzchok Frankel, was formed 12 years ago in the living room of Judge Andrew Goldsmith. As the congregation grew, community members bought an old home on a large piece of land. The house was beyond repair and they set out to demolish it and build a modern shul, but along the way they hit a sizable snag.

“Before we took down the old building, a bank gave us a commitment,” said Shalom Parnes, the shul president. “We took it down, and the bank then reneged.”

A second bank also promised a mortgage, and then backed out. Finally, Bank of America stepped in and construction began around Passover in 2009. “The trailer was supposed to last a couple of months,” said Far Rockaway resident Yitzchak Baraff. “I had my aufruf in the trailer.”

“All my wife and I wanted was a nice place to daven,” recalled Goldsmith. “Today is a fresh start for our kehila.”

Goldsmith also said that the wait has heightened expectations for the shul. “There were many obstacles to overcome, and we can expect great spiritual dividends,” said Goldsmith. “So many of us worked hard to make it happen.”

Among them, Goldsmith singled out Parnes, who provided water to the trailer. “It’s February and he’s filling buckets of water for the trailer,” said Goldsmith. “We need presidents like that.”

Goldsmith also thanked Cedarhurst mayor Andrew Parise for his work in ensuring the approval of the building. “Our congregation owes this mayor a debt of gratitude,” said Goldsmith. “He fought in Patton’s army and was a liberator of concentration camps.”

Parise ensured that proper variances were granted for the synagogue, and the new building lines up alongside its neighbors, with a sizable front lawn, and a sloping roof concealing the third floor women’s section. The main sanctuary is on the second floor, with the first floor used for public celebrations. For safety, the main entrance does not face Peninsula Boulevard, but a courtyard behind the synagogue.

The synagogue’s Torah scroll was led in a festive procession from the Goldsmith home, where it was sponsored by his in-laws, Rabbi Dr. Zev Goldberg and his wife Terry, in memory of Rifka bas Yitzchok.

Rabbi Frankel said that in a time of fragmentation, his synagogue continues to attract a crowd of many different hats, while adhering to a tradition of Torah scholarship.

“We’re proud of our label,” said Frankel. “It’s no secret that it’s built on the shoulders of gedolei Israel, who are committed to an ideal.”

Alongside Rabbi Frankel of the synagogue, leading rabbinic figures paraded alongside the Torah, including Rabbi Dovid Feinstein, Rabbi Reuven Feinstein, and Rabbi Malkiel Kotler.

“In our youth on Lag b’Omer, we came back with red faces sunburned,” said Frankel. “The sun is out and it’s a tremendous simchah.” Rabbi Frankel quoted the Ponevezh Rav, Yosef Shlomo Kahaneman, about the new building. “I had a dream, but I was not asleep,” said Frankel, before contining. “The establishment of Agudath in the Five Towns is no longer a dream.”