If you love Roosevelt Island like I love Roosevelt Island, you’ve got to be happy with our New York home.  We are no longer one of New York’s best kept secrets; we are now one of New York’s best.   With a new tram, new park and the promise of a new retail corridor, our neighborhood continues to improve and people I meet no longer have trouble figuring out where I live.  Roosevelt Island is a wonderful community, and more and more folks are finding that out.  And the Roosevelt Island Jewish Congregation continues to be a part of our community’s growth, both spiritually and as a place for us to come together in culture and prayer. 

This past year was one of our most exciting.  It began with our wonderful High Holiday services, led by our engaging Rabbi Moritt and accompanied by Sara Mosenkis as cantor.  Sara will be back this year and we look forward to another melody-infused High Holiday season.   We held traditional Friday Shabbat services and also several Family Shabbat services which included songs, dinner and activities for children.  Our Purim service featured one of the best Purim schpiels we’ve ever seen, and it was written by one of our congregants.  One of the highlights of the year had to be the collaboration we did with our neighbors at the Main Street Theater and Dance Alliance.  The evening involved a wine and cheese tasting, reserved seats to their most enjoyable production of Fiddler on the Roof, and followed by a Q and A about the traditions and meanings in the play, hosted by Rabbi Moritt.

For this coming year, we have planned even more community-wide events, including a movie screening and discussion, outdoor activities and plenty of children’s activities, such as the upcoming “Pajama Havdala”.  And of course, we’re still very much honored to be led in worship by our wonderful Rabbi Moritt, whose guidance and enthusiasm this past year has been a light shining on our entire Island.

For those returning members, I look forward to celebrating our culture together for another year. For those who are new to us, I encourage you to take a look at our schedule and find a service or event to attend, and get to know your Island Jewish community.  I am quite certain you will be as happy with your choice as I am.

If you have any questions, suggestions or concerns, I can be reached at 212-486-3338, or you can send an email to Information@RIJC.org.