 White Plains, NY – Temple Israel Center, one of the largest and most influential Conservative Jewish synagogues, is celebrating its 100 year anniversary.
The Centennial celebrations began in September with the Jewish High Holidays, and will continue until the closing Centennial festivities on May 18, 2008. The year-long Centennial celebration includes a variety of community, educational, charity, musical, historical, and family programs and events.
The synagogue chose the slogan, “Windows on the Past, Doors to the Future,” to represent this special year. The phrase signifies a study of the synagogue’s historical role in both the local community and the Conservative Movement, while looking ahead to the future of the congregation, its influence in both these arenas, and the many points of entry available to its members. The Centennial logo features the Hebrew letter kuf, which stands for the number 100, and serves as an artistic representation of a both a door and a window.
“From the century vantage point, we look at where we have been, but we must also remember to cast our eyes to the future,” said Mark Zeichner, President of Temple Israel Center. “What about our community from our past and present should be preserved? What should be changed to make our synagogue community more of a role model?”
“Our centennial celebration gives us a wonderful opportunity to tell people in our region and throughout the Conservative Jewish movement about all of the fine programs that we offer here,” said Senior Rabbi Gordon Tucker. “I am especially looking forward to our symposium on Conservative Judaism in January. Our intention is to use it as an opportunity to open up a dialogue about how we can better define our understanding of what it means to be a Conservative Jew.”
2008 Key Events at Temple Israel Center
1/6/08 – 1/10/08 Artist Mordechai Rosenstein commemorates Centennial with specially commissioned art. Also creates art with children of the synagogue.
1/11/08 – 1/13/08 Scholar-in-Residence Shabbat Symposium with leading scholars on Conservative Judaism
3/15/08 Dinner Dance/Purim Ball
4/13/08 TIC hosts opera concert with talent from the Metropolitan Opera & Philharmonic
4/29/08 Jewish Art Museum sponsored film, “The Rape of Europa”
5/18/08 Closing Centennial Celebration
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