UPPER EAST SIDE, Manhattan (PIX11) — The Altneu Synagogue celebrated its grand opening with a dedication ceremony Sunday that brought out the community for what organizers are calling a transformative chapter for Jewish life in New York City.
Hundreds of congregants and community members gathered at the Shul to celebrate the milestone, joined by dignitaries, including Israeli President Isaac Herzog. He touched on the importance of solidarity amongst the Jewish community.
“We are a very strong and united nation committed to doing good in the world, and the fact of the matter is that despite all odds, in the most difficult times since World War II, we are building another Jewish community, and another Jewish community, and another Jewish community right here,” Herzog said.
President Herzog’s address came at a poignant moment — on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day and just one week after a ceasefire and hostage release deal was reached between Israel and Hamas.
Among the attendees was Gary Dreyer, a congregant at the Altneu, whose family has been displaced by the conflict overseas. As he grapples with an uncertain future for his loved ones, he hopes the synagogue will serve as a unifying force.
“I think this is really a space that is at the forefront of bringing people together … We have a wonderful mix of backgrounds people who grew up very observant, people who grew up not so observant and sort of bridging those gaps and coming together through faith and through empathy,” Dreyer said.
The synagogue was founded just three years ago, by Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt, where congregants met at other locations every week because the Shul had no permanent home. With this being the first major event held at the Altneu’s East 70th Street location since moving into the building nearly a year ago, Rabbi Goldschmidt reflected on the synagogue’s mission.
“When you’re not at work and you’re not at home, where do you go? What’s your third place? For some people, it’s a Starbucks. For others, it’s a gym. We want to be the third space for people. We want this to be their happy space where they focus on community but also on their soul,” said Goldschmidt. Rabbi Goldschmidt is hoping the synagogue will serve as a lasting cornerstone of the community for generations to come.
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