The Reconstructionist Synagogue of the North Shore (also known as RSNS) is a Reconstructionist Jewish

synagogue A synagogue, ', 'house of assembly', or ', "house of prayer"; Yiddish: ''shul'', Ladino: or ' (from synagogue); or ', "community". sometimes referred to as shul, and interchangeably used with the word temple, is a Jewish house of worshi ...

located in the Incorporated Village of Plandome in the

Town of North Hempstead North Hempstead is one of three towns in Nassau County, on Long Island, in New York, United States. The population was 237,639 at the 2020 census. History The area was first settled by Europeans around 1643 and became part of the town of Hem ...

, in Nassau County, on the North Shore of

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

, in

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

, United States.

History

The congregation was first founded as the Jewish Reconstructionist Society of New York in the 1950s by a group of socially-concerned and involved Jewish families. One of the key founders of the congregation was Rabbi Ira Eisenstein, who would also serve as its rabbi. In the 1970s, the society purchased an old mansion for $137,000 on Glenwood Road in Roslyn Harbor, New York with the intention of using it as a synagogue. However, officials and residents in Roslyn Harbor refused to approve of the plans, citing issues with zoning, and the congregation ultimately took the matter to court. The lawsuit proved unsuccessful, and in 1977, four nearby residents gave the congregation $30,000 to sell the building for use as nothing other than a residence. The mansion was sold, and the congregation then purchased and moved into the

Roslyn Union Free School District The Roslyn Union Free School District (also known as Union Free School District No. 3) is an American public school district located in Nassau County, on Long Island in New York, United States. The district serves the entirety of the villages ...

's former Highland Elementary School in the nearby village of Roslyn Estates that same year. The congregation moved from the former Highland School in Roslyn to its current location in Plandome in October 1993, which is slightly northwest of Roslyn. In 2007, antisemitic graffiti was found on the property. The hate incident shocked many congregants, as this was the first time the congregation was targeted at the Plandome location for 15 years at the time. When services for the

Rosh Hashanah Rosh HaShanah ( he, רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה, , literally "head of the year") is the Jewish New Year. The biblical name for this holiday is Yom Teruah (, , lit. "day of shouting/blasting") It is the first of the Jewish High Holy Days (, , " ...

and Yom Kippur were held virtually in 2020 due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the temple made headlines when cardboard cutouts of congregants filled the seats in the sanctuary. The idea, which was first proposed by congregants Marvin and Barbara Schaffer, was inspired by the cardboard cutouts which the New York Mets filled the seats of Citi Field with.

Clergy

The congregation is led by Rabbis Jodie Siff and Lee Friedlander, supported by Rabbi Emeritus, Ira Eisenstein. The cantor is Eric Schulmiller.

References

External links

* {{Synagogues in the United States Manhasset, New York Reconstructionist synagogues in the United States Synagogues in Nassau County, New York 1950s establishments in New York (state) Synagogues completed in 1993 20th-century synagogues in the United States