Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale

40°53′52.36″N 73°54′25.81″W / 40.8978778°N 73.9071694°W / 40.8978778; -73.9071694ArchitectureArchitect(s)Percival GoodmanTypeSynagogueDate established1954 (as a congregation)Completed1962Websitewww.csair.org

The Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) is a Conservative, egalitarian congregation and synagogue located in Riverdale, The Bronx, in New York City, New York.

Founded in 1954, the congregation is a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and is led by Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, who was appointed to the position in 1998.

History

The Conservative Synagogue of Riverdale was founded in 1954, with Max Kadushin serving as its first rabbi. The first building to be erected by the new congregation was its Hebrew school.

In 1962, a new sanctuary, designed by architect Percival Goodman, was dedicated and the community started to grow. In 1973, the Conservative Synagogue merged with Adath Israel of the Grand Concourse. When the two joined, a plaque was dedicated: "We loved our house of worship. It enriched our lives and uplifted our souls."

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 firebombing

On the morning of October 8, 2000, the eve of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year, two Molotov cocktails were thrown, but did not ignite, at the synagogue's door. Two Palestinian men were arrested and found guilty for the attack, and were the first suspects to be prosecuted under recently-enacted New York's Hate Crimes Act of 2000. Mazin Assi was found guilty on seven counts of weapons possession, harassment and attempted arson, along with hate crimes violations and received 15 years in prison. The getaway driver Mohammed Alfaqih was found guilty on one count of criminal mischief and sentenced to 4 years in prison.^[1][2][3]

Notable members

• Ruth Westheimer (born 1928), better known as Dr. Ruth, German-American sex therapist, talk show host, author, professor, Holocaust survivor, and former Haganah sniper.^[4]

Notable rabbis

• Norman Salit (1896-1960)

References

External links

• Official website