We Will Remember
The Tree of Life Heritage Foundation is gearing up to write a scholarly history book, and accompanying children's Hebrew School workbook, to remember the first-ever Eastern European synagogue in America. Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagodol, formerly of Norfolk Street on New York's Lower East Side was founded in 1852. BHH was THE central address for the immigrant Jewish community, and served as the seat of the only Chief Rabbi of New York. The shul and its leadership touched the lives of tens of thousands. In 2017, a 14 year old boy burned Beth Hamedrash Hagodol to the ground, wiping away forever a pillar of American Jewish history that stood for over 150 years. Absolutely nothing is left. We Jews are a people of memory, of symbol, and of history; so, the Tree of LIfe Heritage Foundation stepped up to create a lasting and meaningful memorial. If your family passed through Ellis Island, chances are high that Beth Hamedrash Hagodol was a part of their life. Our ancestors made us who we are today. Help us honor them. If you are from New York, or your family immigrated to New York, or if you value American Jewish history, or if you wish to fix an aggregious wrong, please support our project and spread the word. ALL donors will be proudly listed, as was the custom in Europe, in a special section of the book. Tzku L'mitzvot.
ברוך דיין האמת
May 14, 2017
Minutes ago, I was contacted by the assignment desk reporter from WNBC and by the New York correspondent for Haaretz. Both wanted comments. Puzzled I ran to the news sites and my heart shattered. Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagodol on New York's Lower East Side, my family synagogue since 1870, is in flames. The first Ashkenazi shul in America, the shul where my great grandfather was president, the shul where my grandmother and Tante Sadie grew up, the shul I proudly brought my daughter to visit, the shul we helped rescue as a family, is destroyed. I am devastated. ברוך דיין האמת
UPDATE May 17, 2017
A 14 year old boy destroyed a national treasure.
As a rabbi, a historian and preservationist, I am appalled. A 14 year old is old enough to know right from wrong. Demand they prosecute this boy as an adult, and let him and his parents spend the rest of their lives making restitution. Demand they charge the others who were present as accomplices. And, because it took place in a house of worship, it should be treated as a hate crime.
Contact the Mayor and demand this arsonist be tried as an adult for a hate crime. http://www.nyc.gov/html/static/pages/officeofthemayor/contact.shtml
http://jspacenews.com/14-year-old-arrested-arson-historic-lower-east-side-synagogue/
Minutes ago, I was contacted by the assignment desk reporter from WNBC and by the New York correspondent for Haaretz. Both wanted comments. Puzzled I ran to the news sites and my heart shattered. Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagodol on New York's Lower East Side, my family synagogue since 1870, is in flames. The first Ashkenazi shul in America, the shul where my great grandfather was president, the shul where my grandmother and Tante Sadie grew up, the shul I proudly brought my daughter to visit, the shul we helped rescue as a family, is destroyed. I am devastated. ברוך דיין האמת
UPDATE May 17, 2017
A 14 year old boy destroyed a national treasure.
As a rabbi, a historian and preservationist, I am appalled. A 14 year old is old enough to know right from wrong. Demand they prosecute this boy as an adult, and let him and his parents spend the rest of their lives making restitution. Demand they charge the others who were present as accomplices. And, because it took place in a house of worship, it should be treated as a hate crime.
Contact the Mayor and demand this arsonist be tried as an adult for a hate crime. http://www.nyc.gov/html/static/pages/officeofthemayor/contact.shtml
http://jspacenews.com/14-year-old-arrested-arson-historic-lower-east-side-synagogue/