EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

Central To The Soul

New York City

is wrestling with core issues, like keeping pace with a
growing membership, that threaten congregational har-
mony.
Still, Central Synagogue, at 55th and Lexington in a
pleasant mid-town Manhattan neighborhood, is something
special for American Jewry.
Just over three years ago, flames, apparently ignited by a
blowtorch as workers installed an air conditioning system dur-
ing renovations, badly damaged the 129-
year-old architectural landmark.
The Moorish Revival building, now newly
restored, is the oldest, continuously used
Jewish house of worship in this city of 1.5
million Jews. It houses a vibrant, 1,700-fami-
ly congregation that has made a difference by
feeding the homeless, serving the elderly and
aiding the blind as well as other kinds of
ROBERT A. community outreach.
On Sept. 9, two days before terrorists
SKLAR
attacked
the World Trade Center several sub-
Editor
way stops to the south, congregants conse-
crated the $40-million restoration. I can only
imagine the bittersweet tears and muted spirit that must have
filled the 1,259-seat sanctuary on Shabbat six days later.
As I walked toward Central Synagogue this past Shabbat, I
was struck instantly by Jewish architect Henry Fernbach's
enduring 1872 design. But I also was eager to learn more_
about the origins of a congregation founded by immigrants
from Central Europe in 1839.
The U.S. Department of Interior added the Central
Synagogue to the national historic register in 1975, under
Gerald Ford's presidency. New York City deemed it worthy of
preservation in 1957.
The brownstone facade - is stunning, with green and gold
globes atop two turrets, an array of colorful Stars of David
and red steps that lead to tall, dark wood doors.
Inside, the 3-D effect of the Ark -- boasting beveled
columns, blue-domed turrets and a crown topped by a Star of
David — overshadows the stained glass windows, Eternal
Light, two balconies and English tile work.

Spiritual Journey

For Rabbi Peter Rubinstein, marking his 10th year as a spiri-
tual leader at the Reform synagogue, the meticulous rebuild-
ing has been a labor of love.
"Besides my family," he told the New York Jewish Week,
"nothing has occupied me more these past 36 months than
working to ensure the well-being of our synagogue and our
congregation."
Before the Shabbat service on Oct. 13 had begun, I noticed
that he was on the bimah, arranging the morning liturgy. So I
went up and re-introduced myself; we had first met last win-
ter.
"It has been a rough month for all of us," he said, remem-
bering who I was.
When I acknowledged the stress and emotions that poured
forth as the twin towers in lower Manhattan crumbled 32
days before, he said with profound sincerity "I truly hope
that you experience spiritual joy here."
And I did.
I was taken as much by the beauty of the prayer service as

by the beauty of the Ark.
Meanwhile, Rabbi Rubinstein's passion resonated on
Shabbat.
"Fragile as it might have been after the fire," he told wor-
shippers on a brisk, sunny morning, "Jewish continuity
remains intact here at Central Synagogue."
Rabbi Sarah Reines set the stage for the morning of reflec-
tion and refreshment in her prelude to the prayer for peace.
"At this time, when our world is so broken," she said, "we ask
God to make the world whole again."
Her message shook me.
It conjured visions of the faces of missing persons posted on
the window of a nearby storefront — the faces of Brooke
Jackman, 25; Jeffrey Dingle, 32; and Elizabeth Holmes, 42;
and other victims of the Sept. 11 atrocities that changed our
lives forever.

Fiery Colors

Red and gold hues — the colors of fire — adorn Central
Synagogue's sanctuary, and not by accident. The midrash
teaches that God came down on Mount Sinai "in fire" —
that the Torah is fire, that if you come too near, you get
burned, that if you stay too far away, you get cold.
Sounds of the street seldom matter in a synagogue, but
here, so near Ground Zero and where you are searched before
you can enter, they are magnified. "Every time we hear a loud
noise," said Rabbi Rubinstein, "we jump."
But, he said, we need to under-
stand context and set perspective "if
we're going to put what is broken in
balance."
Emita Levy, 81, a congregant for
35 years, understands that well.
Shortly before the September conse-
cration, she told the New York Jewish
Week that the fire and its aftermath
brought congregants closer to one
another.
"It isn't just that we made the
building more beautiful and magnifi- Rabbi Rubinstein
cent," she said, "but that we did it
while holding our congregation
together and seeing it grow."
She added, "There is great excitement that, in restoring the
synagogue to its original grandeur, we discovered something
beautiful about ourselves."
That discovery includes an enduring commitment by the
congregation to community service, to serving the greater
good of the city.
Following the service last Shabbat, I thanked Rabbi
Rubinstein for the spiritual boost and I wished him well.
He then told me about an Israeli friend whom he had been
comforting and consoling, but who now was worrying about
New York City "after our calamity."
I'll never forget what the rabbi then said.
He surely knew the smoldering ruins of the World Trade
Center, a mangled tomb for thousands of innocent victims,
was the immediate world image of New York City.
But that didn't keep him from saying what most Americans
would be proud to echo: "New York City lives on — and will
always do so."
For me, it was a Shabbat like no other.

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A
10/19

2001

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