Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale
Encyclopedia
CSAIR - The Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale is a Conservative
, egalitarian congregation and a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
. The synagogue is located in the Riverdale, Bronx
neighborhood of New York City. The congregation's spiritual leader is Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, who was appointed to the position in 1998.
The congregation was founded upon the three traditional pillars of Judaism—Torah
, Avodah
, and Gemilut Chasadim
—religious study and observance, acts of social responsibility, and deeds of loving-kindness
, respectively. CSAIR's mission statement declares that it is dedicated to enlightening the mind through learning, nourishing the soul through prayer, and creating a caring community.
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.
, a group of Palestinian-American men attacked the synagogue with Molotov cocktail
s on the eve of Yom Kippur
. Mazin Assi, one of the attackers, was convicted of attempted arson, weapons charges and hate crimes, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
, egalitarian congregation and a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America...
. The synagogue is located in the Riverdale, Bronx
Riverdale, Bronx
Riverdale is an affluent residential neighborhood in the northwest portion of the Bronx in New York City. Riverdale contains the northernmost point in New York City.-History:...
neighborhood of New York City. The congregation's spiritual leader is Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, who was appointed to the position in 1998.
The congregation was founded upon the three traditional pillars of Judaism—Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, Avodah
Avodah
Avoda, or Avodah , is a Hebrew word, literally meaning "work".In a modern context, usually refers to business-type activities, it can also mean agricultural work and, more traditionally, serving God....
, and Gemilut Chasadim
Chesed
The Hebrew noun khesed or chesed is the Hebrew word for "kindness." It is also commonly translated as "loving-kindness," or "love." Love is a central Jewish value, and leads to many particular commandments. Chesed is central to Jewish ethics and Jewish theology...
—religious study and observance, acts of social responsibility, and deeds of loving-kindness
Loving-kindness
Loving-kindness is a term coined by Myles Coverdale for his Coverdale Bible of 1535, as an English translation of the Hebrew word chesed ; in that text it is spelled "louinge kyndnesse". It is also used in this sense in the American Standard Version and various other versions of the Bible...
, respectively. CSAIR's mission statement declares that it is dedicated to enlightening the mind through learning, nourishing the soul through prayer, and creating a caring community.
CSAIR has daily morning and evening services, regular holiday services, an additional monthly havurah
Chavurah
A chavurah or havurah is a small group of like-minded Jews who assemble for the purposes of facilitating Shabbat and holiday prayer services, sharing communal experiences such as lifecycle events, and Jewish learning...
alternative service, extensive child-focused religious and educational services, the Marsha Dane Hebrew School, and various adult education programs.
Attack by Muslim terrorists
In the 2000 New York terror attack2000 New York terror attack
In the 2000 New York terror attack, a group of Palestinian-American men attacked Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale in New York City with Molotov cocktails on the eve of Yom Kippur in 2000. Mazin Assi, one of the attackers, was convicted of attempted arson, weapons charges and hate...
, a group of Palestinian-American men attacked the synagogue with Molotov cocktail
Molotov cocktail
The Molotov cocktail, also known as the petrol bomb, gasoline bomb, Molotov bomb, fire bottle, fire bomb, or simply Molotov, is a generic name used for a variety of improvised incendiary weapons...
s on the eve of Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
. Mazin Assi, one of the attackers, was convicted of attempted arson, weapons charges and hate crimes, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.