Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale
40°53′52.36″N 73°54′25.81″W / 40.8978778°N 73.9071694°W The Conservative Synagogue Adath Israel of Riverdale (CSAIR) is a Conservative, egalitarian congregation and a member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The synagogue is located in the Riverdale, Bronx neighborhood of New York City. The congregation's spiritual leader is Rabbi Barry Dov Katz, who was appointed to the position in 1998.
The congregation was founded upon the three traditional pillars of Judaism—Torah, Avodah, and Gemilut Chasadim—religious study and observance, acts of social responsibility, and deeds of loving-kindness, respectively. CSAIR's mission statement declares that it is dedicated to enlightening the mind through learning, nourishing the soul through prayer, and creating a caring community. CSAIR has daily morning and evening services, regular holiday services, an additional monthly havurah alternative service, extensive child-focused religious and educational services, the Marsha Dane Hebrew School, and various adult education programs.
On October 8, 2000, the eve of Yom Kippur, a group of Palestinian-American men attacked the synagogue with Molotov cocktails. Mazin Assi, one of the attackers, was convicted of attempted arson, weapons charges and hate crimes, and sentenced to 15 years in prison.[1] Assi said he threw the firebombs at "the rich Jews in Riverdale" because he alleged they send money to Israel for "killing people."[2]
References
- ^ Samuel G. Freedman (May 29, 2009). "Two Rabbis Find They're Separated Only by Doctrine". The New York Times. Retrieved December 13, 2009.
- ^ Dareh Gregorian (March 27, 2009). "ACTS VS. BLDGS. 'HATE CRIMES'". The New York Post.
