Introduction Message from Rabbi Spivack What Our Members Say Look Around Bulletin Directions Hebrew School Midrash from Rabbi Spivack		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 Harold Spivack Rabbi Harold Spivack has been with the ACI since 2000. A native of Philadelphia, Spivack attended Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem in New York. After serving as a United States Army Chaplain in France, Spivack occupied the pulpit of the Cape Cod Synagogue. He was the founding rabbi of Temple Isaiah in Great Neck. He retired from there in 1982 to complete his law degree. He was admitted to the bar in 1984. Since that time, Spivack has served congregations on Roosevelt Island and in Greenport. Rabbi Spivack is married to Dr. Frieda Spivack. They have two children and two grandsons. Read the Rabbi's welcome message. Cantor George Lindenblatt Cantor George Lindenblatt has been with the Astoria Center of Israel for 35 years. He is one of the few cantors who can say they were raised in an Orthodox family, graduated from a Reform cantorial school, and now serve a Conservative synagogue. It is perhaps this diverse background that accounts for his ability to reach out, with genuine heart, to a wide spectrum of people within the Jewish community. Here at ACI, he is not only our melodious voice of prayer on the bimah but a friend and counselor to many. 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 her fiance John Nasetti; daughter Suzanne, her husband Boaz Gilad, and their children Noa and Ella; and daughter Nicole and her husband Paul Kahn.

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