A legacy of social involvement as Central marks 75 years in Rockville Centre

As members of Central Synagogue of Nassau County prepare to celebrate the temple’s 75th anniversary, they will look back at a tradition of active community service during several events that are scheduled for this weekend.

On May 13, a Shabbat dinner and service will feature guest speaker Peter Weidhorn, chairman of the board of trustees of the Union for Reform Judaism. Longtime members of the synagogue — for 36 years or more — will be recognized. Members of the community are welcome to attend. A gala dinner honoring the synagogue, its past presidents and the congregation’s current president is set for Saturday night, and the festivities will conclude with a barbecue on Sunday for members and families of students in the religious school.

The congregation started in December 1935, when 58 families met at the Milburn Country Club to discuss the possibility of forming a liberal Jewish congregation. Four months later Central Synagogue of Nassau County was incorporated, followed by the hiring of Roland Gittlesohn as the first full-time rabbi. Religious services were held at the Masonic Temple on Lincoln Avenue while Saturday religious school classes were conducted at Wilson Elementary School.

In 1940, property on DeMott Avenue was purchased for a permanent home but completion of the building was delayed by the outbreak of World War II and two strikes. Construction was resumed in early 1947, enabling the congregation to hold High Holy Day services in the building on September 9, 1947. A small chapel, in memory of a congregant killed in the war, was also completed that year.

In March 1952, the school building was begun. In 1955, when all building was completed, the congregation held a year-long celebration that included an address by Eleanor Roosevelt. But one major design element needed correction – the building had been erected before the Disabilities Act and the congregation would age. A many-year fundraising effort was needed until there were sufficient funds and architecturally approved designs to install a necessary elevator to all floors in the buildings.

Other internal renovations have taken place over the years. The stage that was part of the auditorium and which was the scene of several outstanding musical productions was removed and a reception area created in its place. A large basement space that previously housed a recording for the blind studio was converted into an indoor play area for the pre-kindergarten school, Jacob’s Ladder.

The synagogue established the Long Island Extension Center for Hebrew Union College and Jewish Institute of Religious Education in 1962. 1969 marked the first Community Interdenominational Thanksgiving service and was held at Central Synagogue – a Rockville Centre tradition that continues to this day. In 1977, Rabbi George B. Lieberman, who succeeded Rabbi Gittlesohn in 1954, became the first rabbi to speak from the pulpit of St. Agnes Cathedral at that service in observance of Thanksgiving.

Central has provided a forum for many famous and outstanding speakers. Among them are Elie Wiesel, Mark Van Doran, former New York City Mayor John V. Lindsay, Bill Moyers, and, of course, Eleanor Roosevelt.

Temple congregants were also addressed by many of the village’s clergy, of various denominations. When Rabbi Lieberman retired after 25 years of service, Lewis Littman, succeeded him and served until 1982. Paul Joseph followed, and Jeffrey Salkin took his place in the rabbinate in 1988. 1996 was the first year of Julian Cook’s leadership. In 2002 Marc Gruber became the spiritual leader of the congregation and is its current rabbi.

Central has maintained its leadership and active community participation over its many years. It will continue to do so with a strong and active Social Action committee; running a highly regarded pre-kindergarten school that has a diverse group of students and a clergy involved in, and committed to interfaith dialogue.