(Courtesy of Fleetwood Synagogue) Fleetwood Synagogue in Mt. Vernon, New York held its annual journal dinner gala, eschewing an individual honoree and instead collectively honoring the shul’s 65th anniversary and its longtime members and traditions. A festive meal with an eclectic menu featuring braised lamb and sushi was served.

The shul’s social hall was decked out in all manner of shul kitsch and ephemera: items on display included past journal dinner booklets, board meeting minutes from the 1960s, shul photo collages, and banners and plaques from shul functions. It was an intriguing look at the shul’s past and a great window into the present and future as the dinner committee worked to collect memories from longtime members past and current for an insightful journal retrospective.

Rabbi Yosef Cohen, installed last fall, spoke of the bright future of a community with such deep roots. A thriving Modern Orthodox community in southern Westchester, Fleetwood features a diverse membership and programming for all.