Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on May 9, 2014

Written by Herald Staff, plainview@antonnews.com Friday, 09 May 2014 00:00

For the past year, Manetto Hill Jewish Center (MHJC), a progressive Conservative synagogue in Plainview, has been celebrating its 45th birthday. And members both long-timers and new ones are comfortable in its skin.

A small, but growing synagogue, its motto large enough to serve you, small enough to know you, has been embraced by its 200-family congregation. Ronni Mordechai, a mother of two young adult children from Levittown, joined MHJC three years ago.

My husband and I found a community, of caring people who shared our values, that we didnt have before, she said. From the moment we stepped foot in the door, we felt welcomed, appreciated and wanted. Especially my husband, Shlomo, who is a regular worshipper and pretty darn handy with a hammer and paintbrush.

Lisa Fogelson agrees. Two years ago, she and her husband, Jason, started a monthly Shabbat and Me program for parents and children two-years-old and under. This year, they started a Shabbat Tots program for older children. They provide fun, educational services with puppets and musical instruments. They even spearheaded a unique, musical childrens service open to the community on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year and one of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar.

As a new mother, I was looking for an egalitarian synagogue, one that would nurture our son and truly make him and us feel welcome, Fogelson said. We also wanted to make sure he would receive a quality Jewish education leading up to and after his bar mitzvah. Manetto Hill has more than met our expectations. We found an extended family here.

Following the retirement of its long-term and beloved Rabbi Morris Bernstein five years ago, the synagogue board decided to take advantage of the transition and engage in strategic planning. Headed by then-president Larry Kurtzman, himself the son of MHJC founding members, a large committee was formed, comprised of a diverse group of congregants.

We balance the advantages of traditional and progressive aspects of Jewish life, said Kurtzman. We revised our mission to reflect who we are today: a Conservative, egalitarian warm synagogue that creates an inviting home for the lifelong spiritual, educational and fellowship needs of our members and the community at large. We truly care about our members and the entire Jewish community.

Major strides were made in attracting new members, raising more funds, improving its Hebrew school, and continuing its active community programming. A special and extremely affordable dues structure, including free Hebrew school, was initiated to attract new members and young families.

Its never been more exciting to be part of Manetto Hill, said Harvey Cohen, ritual committee chairperson and a long-time pillar of the MHJC community.

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