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Learn
About the Astoria Center of Israel ACI offers Jewish religious, cultural, and education services, as well as providing a long history of civic leadership throughout our more than 75 year history. The “roots” of The Astoria Center of Israel can actually be traced back to what some of us consider as our parent Shul, the former Congregation Mishkan Israel. Mishkan Israel, whose building was erected in 1906, stood next to our Shul from the time of our building inception in 1925—until a fire destroyed the Mishkan building in the 1980s. Records exist that can trace the beginnings of what became Congregation Mishkan Israel to the 1880s. So in a sense, we can say that the ACI has had a Jewish presence here in Astoria since before the turn of the twentieth century. Throughout the years, and under the leadership (both clergy and lay) of many devoted and creative people, ACI became and remains the dynamic Jewish spiritual, social, cultural, educational home to a multitude of people. Many still keep in contact with us from all over the world. We have always had excellent relations with other communal organizations in the area and have been a welcoming forum for civic events in Western Queens. Despite the dramatic population shifts that have seriously affected the ability of Jewish and communal organizations to prosper, our “Center”, strengthened by the vision of our forebears, still strives and maintains the level of Jewish life and communal service that affected so many who have passed through our portals. We continue to keep up the noble traditions that were imbued in us so many years ago. As we look forward, and welcome new people into our midst, we are inspired by the quotation that our founders inscribed on our Charter: "Behold how good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity". Learn more about the history of the ACI and our first rabbi, Joshua Goldberg. Rabbi
Jonathan Pearl, Ph.D. Teacher, spiritual guide, and musician/composer, Rabbi Pearl’s deeply thoughtful and welcoming approach inspires and challenges all. A graduate of the Academy for Jewish Religion, the nation’s oldest pluralistic rabbinical seminary, Rabbi Pearl was ordained before a beit din (rabbinic court) composed of a Reform rabbi, a Conservative rabbi, and an Orthodox rabbi – an historic first. Following his ordination, he was awarded the prestigious year-long Fellowship at “CLAL,” a pluralistic Jewish think-tank. Rabbi Pearl earned his Ph.D. in the Department of Hebrew and Judaic Studies at NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science. He co-wrote The Chosen Image: Popular TV’s Portrayals of Jewish Themes and Characters, the first-ever book on this topic, and co-founded the Jewish Televimages Resource Center, a media research group. An award-winning author, he has written – and been featured in – numerous articles and publications nationwide, and has lectured throughout the country. Raised in a Conservative rabbinic home in Queens, Rabbi Pearl’s own family has become an integral part of our synagogue’s life. His wife Judith co-chairs the Outreach Committee, their daughter Ayelet designs publicity material and is the lively teacher of the reviving Hebrew School, their son Eitan is Ba’al Korei at Shabbat and holiday services, and youngest son Noam is the Ashrei leader at services. Cantor
George Lindenblatt Cantor George was born in Budapest on the eve of
World War II. Escaping the country following the Hungarian Revolution
of 1956, he settled in New
York where he earned a Bachelor of Sacred Music degree from Hebrew Union
College. His wife, writer Elaine Freed Lindenblatt, is our long time bulletin
editor. Their family includes daughter Eve and husband John
Nasetti; daughter Suzanne, her husband Boaz Gilad, and their children
Noa, Ella ad Benjamin; and daughter Nicole and her
husband Paul Kahn. |
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