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The year was 1952. Twelve families in the
Wantagh area joined together to form a Reform Jewish Congregation. Under the
leadership of Irving Schneider, they affiliated with the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations (UAHC). Irv was elected the first President and in
remembering those early years he wrote: - "I remember the original
meeting of 12 families and our determination to establish a Reform
Congregation. After overcoming many obstacles, we were able to secure the
Congregational Church on Wantagh Avenue where we held our first Friday
evening services with our part-time Rabbi, Benjamin Krasnow. We grew through
intensive efforts on the part of our membership, and we rented the bar on
Merrick Road. I can remember how we laid floors, put in plumbing, and one of
our members, Ben Rossman, built the first arc. Then through numerous fund
raising efforts, which included a journal, we were able to buy the present
land the Temple sits on today.”
It was in the building on Merrick Road that
our Sisterhood and Men's Club (now Brotherhood) were founded. Suyo Sr. was
also started to bring together Jewish youth in the area. The Religious School
flourished under the direction of Julius Borakove. Events such as
Kindergarten graduation, the first Confirmation Class with four girls (Nancy
Baer, Alice Bruno, Barbara Golden, Andrea Singer), the first Bar Mitzvah
(Michael Shemansky), the first Bat Mitzvah (Regina Mandel), now past
president Dr. Regina T. White-Chereskin, the establishment of Suyo Jr., and
the beginning of our beautiful volunteer Temple Choir all took place in the
building on Merrick Road.
In 1954, ground was broken at our present
Temple site. In 1956, we moved into a partially finished building. In June of
1957, a Confirmation Class of 10 affirmed their vows to Judaism. In 1984,
three children of members of that Confirmation Class were Confirmed on the
same Bema.)
The year 1957 saw Bernard Cohn assume the
leadership of the Congregation replacing David Hachen, who had been the first
"full-time" Rabbi. The Congregation continued to grow at a rapid
pace.
During Alex Edelman's term as President
(1957-59) the decision was made to build the school wing and Walter Lewis was
hired as Choir Director.
Barry Worgan, President 1960-61, remembered
that during the High Holidays he had to make the Yiskor Appeal. The previous
year, donations were low and he was determined to make a stirring and
passionate plea. He worked on the speech for many hours and as he began to
speak, he saw his friend Joe Scherzer frantically waving his arms from the
rear of the sanctuary. Barry just continued to the end, sat down, and then
learned the microphone had not been on during his speech. In spite of this,
more money was raised than during the previous year.
Bernie Wollin, President 1961-63 and 64-65
reminisced: - "TO BUILD OR NOT TO BUILD" . . . that was the
question being vigorously debated. Two divergent views - close membership and
cancel expansion versed open membership and completion of facilities -
foremost being a permanent sanctuary.
Despite the obvious advantages, attaining
approval was most difficult. The substantial savings in cost of construction
and mortgage interest, plus the usage of a completed building, gave the
decision to precede a high mark. Of necessity, strong fund raising efforts
continued in high gear. Bingo, Bazaar, Show, Men's Club, Sisterhood, Sports
Pools, all exceeded previous results. Our 12th Anniversary "Diary
Record" Journal was an outstanding achievement . . . the highlight being
a recording narrated by our beloved Cantor Walter Lewis, featuring excerpts
from our past hit shows.
These efforts, coupled with an intense
educational campaign, stressing the individual financial responsibility of
all members, left little doubt the future of our temple was assured. .
The membership reached a peak of 800 plus
families. Adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah as well as Adult Confirmation were
introduced. Our nursery school and religious school receive the highest
commendations. Our Brotherhood, Sisterhood and Youth Groups are looked on
with pride. Our Chai Club is the
envy of many temples, and many have introduced Chai Clubs of their own. We now have a Couples Club and a
Young Families Group. Everyone
can find a lace in our Temple family.
The installation of Stained Glass Windows into
our Sanctuary became a reality in 2002.
The artist Jeffrey Packard was commissioned to do the windows. The 36 windows have almost all been
dedicated by members of the Temple.
They are of the history of our forefathers as well as of more modern
events and the Life Cycles of our Religion.
In September of 1953, in time for the 50th
Anniversary of the Temple, a beautiful new Sanctuary was completed. The
sanctuary provides for the handicapped and gives a more spacious feeing with
its arched pews.
The 50th Anniversary brought the
first 50 years of our Congregation to a close. The Suburban
Temple can be very proud of the first 50 years of its history and the
influence it has had in the community.
It is now looking ahead to the next 50 years in the 21st Century
as one of the legacies that formed Temple B’Nai Torah.
Rabbis
of Our Congregation
The first Rabbi of the Congregation was a
Part Time-Rabbi Bernard Krasnow; He was followed by the first full time
Rabbi, David S. Hachen who served the Congregation from 1953 through
1957. Rabbi Hachen began a tradition which lasted for many years,
Open House at the Rabbi’s House on Rosh Hashanah afternoon. He also held Havdalah services at his
home.
Rabbi Bernhard Cohn followed, and served from
197 through 1962. He tendered
.his resignation in January of ’62 effective July. He went to join his father-in-law as Rabbi of Temple
Habonim in New York City.
The Pulpit Committee, after diligent a
search, recommended Robert A. Raab as Rabbi, and the Congregation approved. Rabbi Raab served the Congregation
for 36 years. He retired in 1998
and became Rabbi Emeritus.
Rabbi Jeffrey Gale was the last Rabbi of The
Suburban Temple and served as one of the Rabbi during the transition year of
Temple B’Nai Torah. He came to the Temple from, Winnipeg, Canada. Rabbi Gale was active in interfaith
activities.
Our
Cantors
In the beginning our Temple did not have full
time Cantors, we had Choir Directors.
Walter J. Lewis served as our Choir Director from 1958 and in October,
1961, the Congregations bestowed the title of Cantor on him. In April of 1981, our beloved Cantor Lewis
passed away. Members of the choir filed in and conducted the Bar and Bat
Mitzvah until the search for a new Cantor was completed.
Cantor Bernie Barr succeeded Cantor Lewis and
was Cantor of The Suburban Temple for ten years. Cantor Arlene Bernstein was the first female clergy of our
temple and began the series of female Cantors we have had. Our next Cantor was Shoshona Lash,
followed by Cantor Sheila Case.
Cantor Carla Boscoe-Reynolds was the last
Cantor of The Suburban Temple and served as Cantor during the transition year
of Temple B’Nai Torah. She introduced
a new Bar/Bat Mitzvah program at the Temple. She also added a teen choir in addition to the children’s
and adult’s choirs
Our
Religious School
When The Suburban Temple started its
religious school, almost from its inceptions, its first educator, was Julius
Borakove. The religious school
grew under his leadership as the temple moved from its first quarters in the converted
bar and grill to the building on Jerusalem Avenue, first with no classrooms,
and finally into a school building.
In May of 1962 the Religious School received accreditation from U.A.
H. C.
Susanna Heiman became the Religious Educator
in 1971. Susanna has first hired
in 1964 as the Advisor for SUYO, Jr and then became the advisor for
SUYO. When it was time choose a
new Principal for the Religious School there was no doubt that Susanna Heiman
was the person for the job.
As Religious School Director, Mrs. Heiman
received grants to create a class for students with learning disabilities,
allowing students to be Bar/Bat Mitzvah who otherwise would not have
been.
The Religious School became one of the best
in on Long and was led by Susanna Heiman until her retirement in 1994, when
Susanna Heiman became Religious Educator Emerita. She inspired many of her students to follow in her
footsteps and become religious educators.
The
Susanne E. Heiman Religious School
In October, 2002
Susanna E. Heiman’s contributions to religious education and to The Suburban
Temple were recognized as the religious school was named in her honor. She
was a Renaissance woman: an Archaeologist, a Hebraic and biblical scholar,
who could communicate her knowledge to all who were interested. She was in demand whether it was to
teach Hebrew or to give lectures in one of her many areas of expertise. She was a master teacher and her
colleagues both on Long Island and nationally loowhichked to her for guidance
and inspiration.
The Suburban
Temple can also be proud that from its Religious School have come four Reform
Rabbis, Stanley Skolnick of New Jersey, Jeffrey Salkin of Atlanta, Georgia,
David Holtz of Tarrytown, New York, and Jonathan Hecht of Plainview, New York. There will now be our first
Cantor,
Suburban Temple looks forward to its future (
a legacy of Temple B’Nai Torah), proud of its past, and the legacy of Judaism
it has established for the present and future generations:
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