On October 18, 1825, 28 men gathered in a private home and adopted a resolution for the formation of a new congregation. They reconvened on ...

The First Coloured Presbyterian Church stood at 119 Elm Street at what is today the corner of Canal and Lafayette Streets. Built only two years ...

From BJ’s founding, weekly services were adapted to accommodate the changing needs of the congregation. One of the first innovations was the introduction of some ...

B’nai Jeshurun’s legacy of political action began in the nineteenth century. On August 19, 1840, a meeting was held at B’nai Jeshurun—one of several gatherings ...

Until the middle of the nineteenth century, synagogues in the United States were led by hazzanim and learned lay leaders. Difficult questions regarding Jewish law, ...

In the nineteenth century, in general, cemeteries in Manhattan were on the move—literally. Suitable land for burial in Manhattan was already limited, and in 1823 ...

When B’nai Jeshurun was formed in the 1820s, the assumption was that the majority of children would receive their education from private tutors hired by ...

In 1850, the population of New York City, the largest city in the country, was 515,000. By 1860, it was 813,000, an increase of 58%. ...

In general, Rabbi Rev. Dr. Morris J. Raphall seemed to enjoy the full confidence and affection of the BJ board and community. There were, however, ...

Over the first 100 years of B’nai Jeshurun, there were two categories of congregants: members and seat holders. Initially, becoming a member was somewhat like ...

Sing Hallelujah! The year 2025 marks the 150th (or sesquicentennial) year since BJ acquired its first organ. The organ’s installation in the congregation was one ...

At B’nai Jeshurun, by the middle of the nineteenth century, the majority of congregants were of German descent and many were advocating for modern reforms. ...

As early as 1880, BJ recognized that it would need to move uptown to continue to serve the Jewish community, which had begun to migrate ...

The influx of Eastern European Jews in the 1880s and 1890s acted as a catalyst for the organization of synagogue Sisterhoods. The large mainstream Jewish ...

The push-pull between reformers and traditionalists in the congregation began in the 1860s but was contained by Rabbi Morris Raphall, who insisted on mainly orthodox ...

During the Shabbat prayer service at BJ nowadays, as people sit in the sanctuary singing niggunim from Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa, ...

In the 88th Street Sanctuary, the only complete stained glass window remaining from the original design is the round rose window at the back of ...

Rabbi Israel Goldstein (B’nai Jeshurun’s rabbi from 1918–1950) was instrumental in formulating the centennial celebration. The celebration had its official inception at the One Hundredth ...

Our hearts are with the people of Los Angeles and all those affected by the devastating wildfires in California. We pray for the safety of ...

West Side Campaign Against Hunger, Citymeals on Wheels, God’s Love we Deliver Winter Feast, Hope for New York “His Toy Store,” and Bowery Mission are ...

This summer, Rabbi Felicia Sol joined the eighth cohort of the Shalom Hartman Institute’s Rabbinic Leadership Initiative. She shared a little bit about the importance ...

In an academic year marked by challenges for Jewish students, her sentiment of gratitude is perhaps heartening to hear, amidst the headlines and stories of ...

Get to know some of BJ's new staff.

In February, in partnership with the New Israel Fund, we hosted Dr. Rula Hardal and May Pundak, the inspirational Israeli and Palestinian co-executive directors of ...

Amidst the backdrop of the ongoing war in Gaza, "Shared Grief, Shared Hope" stands as a testament to the power of empathy and the human ...

Joan Roth’s captivating exhibit, “Jewish Women: A World of Tradition and Change,” now on display in the BJ Community House Gallery. The exhibit illuminates the ...

Earlier this month, Rabbis Roly Matalon and Felicia Sol led a delegation of almost 50 BJ members on a trip to Israel to visit our ...

Last week, BJ hosted “Arabs and Jews Choosing a Shared Future,” a conversation about Jewish-Arab cooperation, in partnership with New Israel Fund. 

On Monday evening, the Upper West Side Jewish Community gathered together in prayer and solidarity for our brothers and sisters in Israel. Watch or read ...

Like so many of us, BJ’s new president, Ilene Rosenthal, was looking for meaning in her life when she found BJ. Though Ilene grew up ...

BJ held its annual meeting on Tuesday, June 6. Here’s a recap of some of the main points shared, and you can watch the meeting here ...

Passover begins the evening of April 5. Whether you’re having a seder with friends or on your own, are attending a community gathering, or just want ...

We join the world in mourning the devastating loss of life in Turkey and in Syria and for those injured in the earthquakes in the ...

As members of a community whose core values are rooted in inclusivity, community, and growth, we are constantly looking to grow in ways that reflect ...

On the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, we reflect on how it affected our community as well as those who volunteered from BJ ...

Starting immediately, we’ll be referring to our programming for children from birth through 8 years as “Early Childhood Families.” We hope that the new name ...

Starting immediately, we’ll be referring to our programming for children from birth through 8 years as “Early Childhood Families.” We hope that the new name ...

Starting immediately, we’ll be referring to our programming for children from birth through 8 years as “Early Childhood Families.” We hope that the new name ...

Starting immediately, we’ll be referring to our programming for children from birth through 8 years as “Early Childhood Families.” We hope that the new name ...

Starting immediately, we’ll be referring to our programming for children from birth through 8 years as “Early Childhood Families.” We hope that the new name ...