"A Shared Mission": Historic Synagogue in New York Opens Its Doors to Chabad
Chabad emissaries will integrate into the leadership of the prestigious "Park East" synagogue. The move will give Chabad access to a historic venue in exchange for injecting manpower, young people, and families into the veteran community. Rabbi Schneier and Rabbi Krasnianski stated: "Our goal is to create opportunities for Jewish life to flourish."
At the Chabad House in the Upper East Side of New York and the historic "Park East" synagogue, it was announced that a new, extensive partnership will bring Chabad's rabbinic leadership and a series of its growing programs into the veteran community that has been operating for 136 years. This step marks a significant new chapter in the life of the Jewish community on the Upper East Side.
Starting from the upcoming Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Ben-Zion Krasnianski, who has led Chabad in the neighborhood for 35 years, will serve as a participating rabbi at "Park East" alongside the synagogue's veteran rabbi, Arthur Schneier. Rabbi Yosef Wilhelm, Chabad's emissary to young professionals, will serve as an assistant rabbi, while the broad staff of emissaries will enrich the synagogue's existing leadership and programs.
"Park East" is a prestigious, independent Modern Orthodox synagogue that has served for decades as a stage for world leaders and diplomats. Today, Chabad receives an operational foothold in one of Manhattan's most prominent Jewish landmarks, while "Park East" gains access to an active network of young people and families.
The arrangement provides a new home on the "Park East" premises for key Chabad initiatives, including the young professionals community, the "Friendship Circle," programs for young families, the Upper East Side "Kollel," and Chabad at Hunter College.
"Faith, Tradition, and Community"
"For 136 years, Park East has stood as a beacon of Jewish faith, tradition, and community," wrote Rabbi Schneier and Park East President Les Lieberman. They described this development as building upon the synagogue's existing character while opening the community to an expansion of Jewish programs.
"Our goal is simple: to build on the exceptional foundations of the Park East synagogue, and at the same time, to create even more opportunities for Jewish life to flourish," they wrote.
"We Dreamed of a Jewish Home"
"When we arrived on the Upper East Side, we dreamed of building a Jewish home where every Jew, regardless of their background or level of observance, would feel welcome," wrote Rabbi Krasnianski. What began with one couple has since grown into an extensive network of emissaries serving different sectors of the neighborhood.
Under the new partnership, the Park East campus will become an additional center for much of this activity, while the synagogue plans to expand its weekday and Shabbat programs, classes, lectures, and holiday events.
"A Convergence of Two Legacies"
"This is much more than two institutions sharing a building," Rabbi Krasnianski wrote. "This is a convergence of two great Jewish legacies with one shared mission: to strengthen Jewish identity and Jewish pride in every Jew on the Upper East Side."
