Young Israel
Encyclopedia
The National Council of Young Israel (NCYI) or Young Israel (in Hebrew: Yisrael Hatza'ir, ישראל הצעיר), is a synagogue
-based Orthodox Judaism
organization in the United States
with a network of affiliated "Young Israel" synagogues. NCYI was founded in 1912 by Rabbi Israel Friedlander
and Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
to combat the wave of assimilation by Jews into secular American society.
were striving primarily for social and economic advancement, often leaving their religious observances behind. Because most jobs required working on Saturdays, observance of the Jewish Sabbath
was rare, as were many other traditions. The Young Israel movement aimed to provide a positive Orthodox synagogue experience for newly arrived immigrants and their future generations. The organization used the traditional communal synagogue to provide educational, religious, social, and spiritual programming. The first Young Israel synagogue was established in 1913 on East Broadway
, on Manhattan's Lower East Side
. David Warshaw traces the origins of the new synagogue to the summer of 1913, when some members of the YI group were asked into a storefront shul (informal synagogue) (at 205 East Broadway) to complete a minyan
, and much to their delight, were allowed to lead the service."
Today, NCYI serves as the national coordinating agency for nearly 150 Orthodox congregations of nearly 25,000 member families throughout the United States and Canada. NCYI also serves as a resource to its sister organization in Israel
, entitled Yisrael Hatzair - "The Young Israel Movement in Israel", encompassing over 50 synagogues in Israel. It is a grass roots organization administrated on the congregational model, taking its direction from local and national lay leadership as well as rabbis and professional staff. Its socio-cultural outlook is strongly influenced by the Religious Zionist Movement, with strong support of Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people. Congregations belonging to NCYI are generally named "Young Israel of...", followed by the name of the city or neighborhood.
NCYI is a not-for-profit service organization, as defined by their 501(c)(3) status. The main headquarters is located in Manhattan
, with regional offices in Florida, California, New Jersey and Jerusalem.
Eliot Spitzer
's Charities Bureau. According to The Forward
: "New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, renowned for his jousts with the titans of corporate America, recently saw his own office tied in knots and thrown into turmoil during a three-year investigation into a small Orthodox synagogue organization. The group, the National Council of Young Israel, came under scrutiny in 1999 after applying for a mortgage on a nursing home it owned and operated in a New York City suburb.
NCYI further alienated some of its members by declaring that no women or converts to Judaism could serve as President of any synagogue affiliated with NCYI. According to the Jewish Star, the rabbi of a synagogue with a female president was threatened by NCYI's leadership.
The congregation is particularly noted for the architecture of its building. In 1994 the synagogue building suffered a severe fire, caused by a deteriorated electrical panel In 1996, the Young Israel dedicated a new building designed by Graham Gund
. The building has a wrought-iron menorah sculpted by David Tonnesen. Instead of stained glass, the building uses art glass that has the effect of scattering rainbows over the congregation. Notable members include Aaron Feuerstein
and Jeff Jacoby. Rabbi Saul Berman
is a former rabbi of the Young Israel. The current rabbi is Rabbi Dr. Gershon C. Gewirtz.
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
-based Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
organization in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
with a network of affiliated "Young Israel" synagogues. NCYI was founded in 1912 by Rabbi Israel Friedlander
Israel Friedlander
Israel Friedlander, also spelled Friedlaender was a rabbi, educator, translator, and biblical scholar...
and Rabbi Mordecai Kaplan
Mordecai Kaplan
Mordecai Menahem Kaplan , was a rabbi, essayist and Jewish educator and the co-founder of Reconstructionist Judaism along with his son-in-law Ira Eisenstein.-Life and work:...
to combat the wave of assimilation by Jews into secular American society.
History
Early in the 20th century, American JewsAmerican Jews
American Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
were striving primarily for social and economic advancement, often leaving their religious observances behind. Because most jobs required working on Saturdays, observance of the Jewish Sabbath
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
was rare, as were many other traditions. The Young Israel movement aimed to provide a positive Orthodox synagogue experience for newly arrived immigrants and their future generations. The organization used the traditional communal synagogue to provide educational, religious, social, and spiritual programming. The first Young Israel synagogue was established in 1913 on East Broadway
East Broadway (Manhattan)
East Broadway is a two-way east-west street in the Chinatown and Lower East Side neighborhoods of the New York City borough of Manhattan. East Broadway begins at Chatham Square and runs eastward under the Manhattan Bridge, continues past Seward Park and the eastern end of Canal Street, and ends...
, on Manhattan's Lower East Side
Lower East Side, Manhattan
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
. David Warshaw traces the origins of the new synagogue to the summer of 1913, when some members of the YI group were asked into a storefront shul (informal synagogue) (at 205 East Broadway) to complete a minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
, and much to their delight, were allowed to lead the service."
Today, NCYI serves as the national coordinating agency for nearly 150 Orthodox congregations of nearly 25,000 member families throughout the United States and Canada. NCYI also serves as a resource to its sister organization in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, entitled Yisrael Hatzair - "The Young Israel Movement in Israel", encompassing over 50 synagogues in Israel. It is a grass roots organization administrated on the congregational model, taking its direction from local and national lay leadership as well as rabbis and professional staff. Its socio-cultural outlook is strongly influenced by the Religious Zionist Movement, with strong support of Israel as the homeland for the Jewish people. Congregations belonging to NCYI are generally named "Young Israel of...", followed by the name of the city or neighborhood.
NCYI is a not-for-profit service organization, as defined by their 501(c)(3) status. The main headquarters is located in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, with regional offices in Florida, California, New Jersey and Jerusalem.
21st century
In 2006, after lengthy litigation, Young Israel sold its 3 West 16th Street national headquarters and moved its small staff to leased office space in lower Manhattan; the sale of the building was the subject of litigation by what was then the Young Israel of Fifth Avenue, which was based in the building and would have been evicted if the sale went through as planned by the National Council. The organization had been subject to an investigation by then New York State Attorney GeneralNew York State Attorney General
The New York State Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of New York. The office has been in existence in some form since 1626, under the Dutch colonial government of New York.The current Attorney General is Eric Schneiderman...
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
's Charities Bureau. According to The Forward
The Forward
The Forward , commonly known as The Jewish Daily Forward, is a Jewish-American newspaper published in New York City. The publication began in 1897 as a Yiddish-language daily issued by dissidents from the Socialist Labor Party of Daniel DeLeon...
: "New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, renowned for his jousts with the titans of corporate America, recently saw his own office tied in knots and thrown into turmoil during a three-year investigation into a small Orthodox synagogue organization. The group, the National Council of Young Israel, came under scrutiny in 1999 after applying for a mortgage on a nursing home it owned and operated in a New York City suburb.
NCYI further alienated some of its members by declaring that no women or converts to Judaism could serve as President of any synagogue affiliated with NCYI. According to the Jewish Star, the rabbi of a synagogue with a female president was threatened by NCYI's leadership.
Young Israel Council of Rabbis
The Young Israel Council of Rabbis is the rabbinic arm of the organization.Divisions
Two components of the organization are the Women's League and the InterCollegiate Council (ICC).Young Israel of Brookline
Young Israel of Brookline is located in Brookline, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe described it as, “an influential synagogue described as modern or centrist Orthodox.”. It is known for the high level of Jewish scholarship among both the men and women of the congregation.The congregation is particularly noted for the architecture of its building. In 1994 the synagogue building suffered a severe fire, caused by a deteriorated electrical panel In 1996, the Young Israel dedicated a new building designed by Graham Gund
Graham Gund
Graham de Conde Gund is an American architect and the president of the Gund Partnership, an American architecture firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and founded by Gund in 1971...
. The building has a wrought-iron menorah sculpted by David Tonnesen. Instead of stained glass, the building uses art glass that has the effect of scattering rainbows over the congregation. Notable members include Aaron Feuerstein
Aaron Feuerstein
Aaron Feuerstein was the third-generation owner and CEO of Malden Mills in Lawrence, Massachusetts.When the Malden Mills factory burnt down on December 11, 1995, Feuerstein decided not only to use his insurance money to rebuild it, but to also pay the salaries of all the now-unemployed workers...
and Jeff Jacoby. Rabbi Saul Berman
Saul Berman
Saul J. Berman is a prominent American scholar and leading Modern Orthodox rabbi.As a rabbi, scholar, and educator he has made extensive contributions to the intensification of Jewish education for Jewish women on many levels, to the role of social ethics in synagogue life, and to the...
is a former rabbi of the Young Israel. The current rabbi is Rabbi Dr. Gershon C. Gewirtz.