Young Israel marks centennial: An American Orthodoxy

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A reunion of history took place on Sunday, with a long roster of honorees that highlighted the century-old history of the Young Israel movement. Current leaders feasted alongside children and grandchildren of past Young Israel presidents, speaking on the movement’s role in preserving Orthodox Judaism in America and securing its connection with Israel.

The dinner, held at Terrace on the Park in Queens, attracted a capacity crowd that stated with speeches and concluded with dancing, as Young Israel dispatched its 201st sefer Torah donation to the Israel Defense Forces.

“Orthodoxy once meant many things,” said Rabbi Meir Bilitzky, senior rabbi of Young Israel of New Hyde Park, speaking of a time when shuls without mechitzas called themselves Orthodox. “Young Israel set a line that defined Orthodoxy.” A century ago, a typical Orthodox synagogue offered little attraction for the younger generation of immigrants, who were more likely to assimilate or follow the nascent Reform and Conservative streams of observance.

In response, Young Israel offered aliyas to all members, regardless of donation amount, had younger men lead the services, and delivered sermons in English rather than Yiddish. At the same time, synagogue officers were required to live an Orthodox lifestyle, and all shuls had mechitzas separating men from women. “Conventional wisdom at the time dictated that shuls with mechitzas would vanish in the face of modern Judaism,” said National President Shlomo Z. Mostofsky, ESQ.. “Nevertheless, we now have 140 branches in the United States.”

As testament to its ability to retain members, Hillcrest resident Mel Wadler spoke of his bar mitzvah, wedding, and shul president position within Young Israel. “That’s how generations go. You can be a good citizen and a Torah-true Jew.” Sitting next to Woodmere resident D. Bernard Hoenig, Wadler spoke of how their Young Israel upbringing led them to become advocates for Israel, establishing American Friends of Ateret Cohanim. Hoenig’s father Moses served as a president of National Council of Young Israel. “If not for Young Israel, we wouldn’t have Orthodoxy as it is today,” Hoenig said.

Another pair of Young Israel activists, Dr. Joseph Frager of Jamaica Estates and Dr. Paul Brody of Great Neck, were given the Defender of Jerusalem award for their work over the past year in bringing American media personalities to Israel, including former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, commentator Glenn Beck, and actor Jon Voight. Alongside mainstream destinations such as Yad Vashem and the Kotel, they also toured Ateret Cohamin projects in eastern Jerusalem and nearby settlement communities, and addressed the Knesset.

Dr. Frager is the long-time organizer And Dr. Brody and his wife Drora, also a recipient of the Defender of Jerusalem award, serve as chairpersons of the Annual Israel Day Concert in Manhattan’s Central Park, which is under the auspices of the National Council of Young Israel. Dubbed by the organizers as the “concert with a message,” it attracts over 20,000 spectators and supporters. This year, they secured Republican presidential contender Herman Cain, who spoke on strengthening Washington’s relationship with Israel. “The main theme is to keep Jerusalem united, never to be divided again,” Brody said.

Raised in the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills, Brody’s bar mitzvah and wedding were both officiated by Rabbi Fabian Schonfeld, who has stood behind the pulpit for 61 years and was one of the rabbinic leaders honored at the dinner. Brody added that his wife also comes from an activist background of helping fellow Jews. “Her mother’s parents lived in Yemen, where they literally saved Jewish children from conversion to Islam, and dressed men as women, smuggling them into Palestine in the pre-Magic Carpet years.”

Frager grew up in Philadelphia, where his father served as synagogue president. He credits the presence of media personalities in Israel with changing the discussion on “land-for-peace” and strengthening the Republican Party’s support for Israel. “Mike Huckabee was probably the most prominent visitor to these places, providing a new way of looking at the Yesha enterprise as trailblazers and pioneers of the nation.”

Other examples of Young Israel’s strong connection with Israel is that synagogue assets belong to the national organization, so that if a synagogue closes, they are redistributed to communities in Israel. If a Young Israel synagogue attempts to leave Orthodoxy, the building and its assets would remain as the property of Young Israel. Mostofsky defended the National Council against liberal critics. “They want to water down Torah-true Judaism,” he said. Mostofsky, a fourth generation Young Israel member, added that the movement was not “sliding to the right” as some suggest, but consistent in its values, having promoted taharas hamishpacha, day schools, and shatnes testing, among other items, since its inception. A similar example of Young Israel policies can be found in West Hempstead, where Rabbi Meyer Fendel founded the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County. With the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch as the school’s guiding document, it was able to avoid initial attempts at a Conservative takeover of the school.

Rabbi Schonfeld added that while Young Israel members have an American appearance, they adhere to the same basic guidelines as more visibly Orthodox congregations. “There’s no such thing as Modern Orthodox. There’s Orthodox and non-Orthodox.”