Hebrew Institute of Riverdale

Coordinates: 40°53′17″N 73°54′38″W / 40.88794842777°N 73.9105758179°W / 40.88794842777; -73.9105758179
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Hebrew Institute of Riverdale
The Bayit
Religion
AffiliationJudaism
RiteOpen Orthodoxy
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Steven Exler
  • Rabbanit Bracha Jaffe (Associate)
  • Rabba Sara Hurwitz (Part time)
StatusActive
Location
Location3700 Henry Hudson Parkway, Riverdale (The Bronx), New York City, New York
CountryUnited States
Geographic coordinates40°53′17″N 73°54′38″W / 40.88794842777°N 73.9105758179°W / 40.88794842777; -73.9105758179
Architecture
Date established1924 (as the Hebrew Institute of University Heights)
Completed1980 (current building)
Website
thebayit.org

The Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, commonly called The Bayit, is an Open Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 3700 Henry Hudson Parkway, in the residential Riverdale neighborhood of New York City, New York, in the United States.

The congregation's founding dates from 1924 and was led by Rabbi Avi Weiss from 1973 to 2015.[1][2] Weiss has since assumed the role as Rabbi in Residence and Rabbi Steven Exler assumed the role of Senior Rabbi.[3]

The congregation is known for its pioneering of women's participation in prayer and Torah study.[1][4] The synagogue introduced one Friday night "the first woman to lead this service in an established Orthodox synagogue in front of a mixed congregation."[5]

History[edit]

The congregation was founded in 1924 as the Hebrew Institute of University Heights. Due to changing demographics in the Bronx, the congregation relocated to Riverdale in 1971, and renamed itself as the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, establishing itself in rented premises in a boiler room of the Whitehall Building off the Henry Hudson Parkway.[1] In 1973, Avi Weiss, who had finished his training at Yeshiva University a few years earlier, became the synagogue's rabbi. The congregation met at the Whitehall apartment building in the early years, before constructing a permanent building in 1980.[1]

The Hebrew Institute became known for its activism in the campaign to free Soviet Jewry and in defense of Israel.[citation needed]

The congregation has grown to 850 families and served as a platform for Weiss's rabbinical advocacy.[6] The Jerusalem Post has called the Hebrew Institute "a training ground for young Modern Orthodox rabbis who go on to take over congregations of their own".[7]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d Olitzky, Kerry M.; Raphael, Marc Lee. (1996). The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook. Greenwood Press. pp. 223–224. ISBN 9780313288562 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Rabbi Avi Weiss to step down as rabbi of Hebrew Institute of Riverdale". Jewish Telegraph Agency. October 17, 2014. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014.
  3. ^ "Staff Bios". Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. n.d. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  4. ^ Weiss, Avi (2001). Women at Prayer: A Halakhic Analysis of Women's Prayer Groups. KTAV Publishing House. p. xii.
  5. ^ Breger, Sarah (March 8, 2013). "Do 1 Rabba, 2 Rabbis and 1 Yeshiva = a New Denomination?". Moment (magazine).
  6. ^ Pogrebin, Abigail (July 11, 2010). "The Rabbi and the Rabba". NY Mag. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
  7. ^ Jerusalem Post, May 24, 2002.

External links[edit]