Garden City Jewish Center

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In 1953, seven families, united by energy, zeal and optimism, decided to establish a house of worship, study, and social gathering. Their dream was based on the conviction that Jewish life should have a place in the community of Garden City As word of the young group spread, other Jewish families joined with them and the young congregation grew to forty members. Because there was no permanent place to worship, initially Sabbath services were held in various members' homes. In 1953, the Cathedral of the Incarnation offered its Cathedral House for the High Holy Days services, which were led by Rabbi Moritz Speier of the Mineola Synagogue. Then, with the assistance of Adelphi College's president Dr. Paul Dawson Eddy, permission was granted to use the Science Room in Blodgett Hall for Friday night services, and Adelphi's Playhouse was made available for High Holy Day services. A religious school was initiated, too, which initially held classes in the Equitable Life Insurance Company's Hempstead building until Dr. Eddy offered the use of Adelphi's Hillel offices. Although grateful for these considerations, the families remained determined to acquire a place of their own. However, the task was to prove more arduous than they had anticipated. Not only would they have to overcome the usual difficulties of establishing a house of worship, but they would have to overcome local resistance to what would be Garden City's sole synagogue. One of the first problems faced was that of affiliation, which was complicated by the fact that membership came from divergent backgrounds of Jewish observance. This matter was to be settled by a vote: the Garden City Jewish Center would become part of the Reform movement of the Jewish faith, and we proceeded to join the Union of American Hebrew Congregation. In the beginning, Rabbi Daniel Davis was our liaison with the UAHC, recently renamed the URJ, and he further assisted us during our struggle to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy from the Village of Garden City. Then, on October 31, 1954, a constitution was adopted and officers were elected. This document would undergo a series of revisions, until the adoption of By-laws at the January, 2004, Congregation Meeting. By 1955, we had a Youth Group and a Judaica shop. But, most significantly, on January 20, 1956, we purchased the property intended as the site for our temple. It was now that we faced our greatest challenge when the Board of Appeals of the Incorporated Village of Garden City denied our application to use the building as a synagogue. Assisted by our attorney, C. Walter Randall, we submitted an appeal to the New York State Supreme Court in Mineola. A decision by Supreme Court Justice Marcus Christ reversed the ruling of the Garden City Board of Appeals. A permit was finally granted for occupancy of a temple at 168 Nassau Boulevard. We had our home. What we had purchased was a private home. What we had to create was a house of worship. All went to work with hammers, paint brushes, dust cloths, buckets, and enthusiasm. The music room was transformed into our sanctuary by the joint efforts of not only our congregants but members of other community faiths as well, so that the Long Island Newsday printed a feature article about the new temple, titling it "A Symbol of Brotherhood." On March 8, 1957, the first Sabbath was observed in our new temple building. Its formal dedication took place on December 11, 1957 with Rabbi Morris Rose officiating. He described the temple as a labor of love and devotion. The dedication was attended by George F. Whitlock, Mayor of Garden City ; Reverend James DeWolfe, Episcopal Bishop of Long Island ; Rabbi Daniel Davis, New York Director of the Federation of Reform Synagogues ; and Rabbi Alvan Rubin of Temple Sinai, Roslyn. The main speaker, C. Walter Randall, Esq., our friend throughout the months of legal challenges, was described as "eloquent, stirring and optimistic." After several years of having members