The White Shul is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year
The White Shul, Congregation Kneseth Israel, is housed in a not-so-white building in Far Rockaway, New York. Founded in 1922, the shul started out in the Far Rockaway Chamber of Commerce, a stately white building on the corner of Nameoke and Dinsmore — hence the nickname, which stuck. In 1964, Kneseth Israel moved to its present location at Empire Avenue and Sage Street.
At the helm of the White Shul in the early years was Rabbi Shimshon Zelig Fortman, a tremendous talmid chacham and the father-in-law of Rabbi Moshe Sherer. Rabbi Raphael Pelcovitz then served as rav for 40 years and rabbi emeritus for another 20, playing a pivotal role in helping to build the broader community. During Rabbi Pelcovitz’s tenure, a vibrant Russian minyan was established to accommodate the burgeoning Jewish Russian community of the ’70s.
Rabbi Pelcovitz was followed by Rabbi Tzvi Flaum, who served as the shul’s rav for the next decade.
In 2008, Rabbi Eytan Feiner — who grew up as a member of the White Shul — became the rav. Rabbi Feiner was quick to recognize the needs of the community, whose demographic had shifted significantly, and created various minyanim and programs to serve its diverse constituents. Several years ago, Rabbi Motti Neuburger became the associate rabbi of the White Shul, giving shiurim and serving a full rabbinic role.
Create a free account to keep reading.
