Hollis Hills Jewish Center

Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center is a synagogue located in the neighborhood of Hollis Hills in Queens, New York. Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center is an egalitarian synagogue providing worship in the Conservative tradition. As of 2016, 240 families are members of the synagogue.[3] The synagogue today reflects a consolidation of the Hollis Hills Jewish Center and the Bayside Jewish Center.[4]

Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
LeadershipRabbi David Wise,
Cantor Sol Zim.[1]
StatusActive
Location
LocationHollis Hills, New York
Location within New York City
Geographic coordinates40.7331384°N 73.7601966°W / 40.7331384; -73.7601966
Architecture
TypeSynagogue
GroundbreakingMay 15, 1949[2]
Completed1949 (1949)[2]
Construction cost$40,000[2]
Website
www.hollishillsbaysidejc.org

History

Hollis Hills Jewish Center

Construction of the present building, as the Hollis Hills Jewish Center, was completed in 1949.[2] Hollis Hills Jewish Center was built in three stages. First the basement was built on the 211th Street side of Union Turnpike. The original sanctuary was in this structure. During the second phase, in the 1950s, a new sanctuary was built above the original sanctuary. Finally, the current sanctuary was built on the 210th Street side. This sanctuary was dedicated in 1960. The original two sanctuaries faced east. The current sanctuary faces west.

Bayside Jewish Center

Bayside Jewish Center was created in 1938 when two groups of Jewish families who held services in two locations — one above a store on Bell Boulevard and the other in a store on 32nd Avenue — joined together, bought land, and erected a building on it on 35th Avenue between 206th Street and 207th Street. In 1958 the property was condemned to make way for the Clearview Expressway. The next building cornerstone was quarried from Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and was laid in 1959. The dedication took place on October 6, 1960. The building was sold in 2016 as part of the consolidation process. Both congregations have had many members who were Holocaust survivors; in some cases both spouses are survivors. One of the Bayside members was on Schindler's List.

Clergy and staff

Hollis Hills Jewish Center's first rabbi was Naphtali Z. Frishberg.[5] Rabbi Frishberg had formerly been a rabbi at Temple Beth El in Springfield, Massachusetts.[5] Rabbi Frishberg served until 1955, when he became the rabbi of Beth Emeth Synagogue in Larchmont, New York.[6] Rabbi Max L. Forman succeeded Rabbi Frishberh.[7]

Hollis Hills Jewish Center's first cantor was Sol J. Sanders.[8] Born in Poland, Sanders immigrated to the United States in 1921. Sanders served in the United States Army in the South Pacific during World War II, and he subsequently graduated from Hebrew Union College's School of Sacred Music in 1952.[8] Sanders served as cantor of Hollis Hills Jewish Center from 1952 to 1962, when he left to serve at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas.[8]

Reverend Frank E. Strassfeld served Hollis Hills Jewish Center for 49 years, in roles such as Shammes and Director of Religious Activities and Daily Services.[9][10] Born in Poland on December 26, 1922, Rev. Strassfeld immigrated to the United States in 1935.[10] During World War II, Rev. Stassfeld served in the United States Army Air Corps.[10] Strassfeld died in November 1998.[11] The main sanctuary is dedicated as Reverend Frank E. Strassfeld Sanctuary, and the block of Union Turnpike directly in front of the building was named Reverend Frank Strassfeld Turnpike in 2000.[10]

As of 2015, Hollis Hills Jewish Center's clergy are Rabbi David Wise and Cantor Sol Zim.[1] Zim has served since 1964.[12] H. Joseph Simckes is Rabbi Emeritus.[13]

In 1952, Dr. William A Orentlicher was engaged as Rabbi of the Bayside Jewish Center. (He remained with until his retirement fifty years later.). Rabbi, Moses Kirsh, joined as Rabbi of BJC on November 1, 2007 and remained as Rabbi until shortly before the consolidation.

References
  1. "Clergy". Hollis Hills Jewish Center. Archived from the original on September 11, 2015.
  2. "Jewish Center Ceremonies Held". The New York Times. May 16, 1949. p. 13.
  3. Steve Lipman Aging Queens Shul Tightens Safety Net". The New York Jewish Week. Manhattan edition. February 19, 2016. p. 1,16-17.
  4. Two Synagogues Merge, NY1 Report .
  5. "Rabbi Will Be Installed At the Hollis Hills Center". The New York Times. January 27, 1951. p. 14.
  6. "Naphtali Frishberg, Rabbi in Larchmont". The New York Times. August 10, 1960. p. 31.
  7. "3 Rabbis Take Queens Posts". Daily News. September 2, 1955. p. 5.
  8. "Services Sunday for Sol Sanders, Retired Cantor". The Dallas Morning News. February 23, 1986. p. 31A.
  9. "Strassfeld—Frank E." (obituary). The New York Times. November 13, 1998. p. B15.
  10. "Queens Turnpike, Playground Renamed After Late Activists". New Voice of New York. January 5, 2000. p. 11.
  11. "Strassfeld, Frank E." (paid death notice). The New York Times. November 13, 1998. p. 15.
  12. Brown, Cailin. "Cantor Brings Song to Worship". The Times Union (Albany, New York). October 31, 1992. p. E1.
  13. Rabbi Emeritus H. Joseph Simckes". Hollis Hills Jewish Center. Accessed April 4, 2016.
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