Young Israel of Fort Lee’s roots go far back. For over 30 years, since Rabbi Neil Winkler established the congregation with a skilled hand and a welcoming, open home, people have moved to Fort Lee for the luxurious apartment buildings and its close proximity to the hubbub of city life in New York. While membership growth has traditionally been fueled by retirees moving into the community, recently there has been a surge of young families and singles who have also joined the shul. In fact, this Shabbat, the community will host a gala kiddush sponsored by approximately 15 young singles and families who have become connected to the synagogue.
Michael and Amy Burnett and their two daughters, Suzy (age 4) and Marley (age 3), started attending Shabbat services about a year ago. They have rarely missed since. “There is a very powerful feeling walking into the sanctuary on Shabbat morning. The warm welcome we received and the friendships that we have formed have given us a sense of family within the congregation. Many other families feel similarly; that’s why we all decided co-sponsor a kiddush as a small way of saying thank you,” they told The Jewish Link.
David and Maya Sudranski are also thrilled with their community. The Sudranskis moved to Fort Lee after selling their house in Teaneck about three years ago. They moved to take advantage of all the amenities that Fort Lee has to offer, including significantly lower taxes, the security of living in an apartment building with a doorman, a pool and playground area as part of the building complex as well as the short distance to New York. Their two children, Joseph and Lea, happily attend Yeshivat He’Atid and love coming to shul on Shabbat. Maya remarked, “We could not be happier in Fort Lee. It is exactly the lifestyle we were searching for.” Maya added that her husband “never has to shovel snow, mow the lawn or deal with the maintenance of a home. We also love the shul. Rabbi Goldberg and his wife, Michal, have created a very warm, meaningful and welcoming environment.”
Avi and Leslie Slivko and their two children have been living in Fort Lee for over five years. Avi noted, “Over the past two years, we have watched with pride as our shul has attracted more and more young singles and families. It is very special to be part of a multigenerational community. It is truly an honor to daven next to a generation of people who immigrated to the U.S. and rebuilt their lives from the ashes of the Holocaust. The truth is, as much as I enjoy coming to shul, my son, Levi, loves it even more. That makes me very happy.”
As part of the outreach to the younger community, Rabbi Zev Goldberg, who was hired as rabbi of Young Israel of Fort Lee in 2014, as Rabbi Winkler made aliyah, hosts a class on Thursday nights that includes cholent and beer. Rabbi Goldberg makes the cholent himself. “It’s a labor of love. I would never outsource the cholent,” he said. Last year, the group studied the weekly Torah portion, and this year they have started studying the siddur. The shiur has been a successful way to draw new faces into the shul. Rabbi Goldberg noted, “Over the past two years, I have met many new people who are otherwise unfamiliar with their heritage. They are thirsty to learn more about Judaism. It has been a tremendous source of nachat for me to watch Jews discover the beauty of our Torah.”
To learn more about the Young Israel of Fort Lee community, contact Rabbi Zev Goldberg—[email protected] or visit the synagogue website at yiftlee.org.
By Audrey Cole
