How about a story about a community gathering place with a rich history? The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights is such a place. It stands on 77th Street at the corner of 37th Avenue. It is not just a building. It represents a century of Jewish life in Western Queens.
The story of the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights begins in 1919. A few Jewish families started meeting for services. They called themselves the Queens Independence Society. In 1927 the center adopted its current name.
In the 1940s Jackson Heights saw rapid growth. Many immigrants came to the area. The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights grew too. By 1970 the center had a thriving community. There were weekly bar mitzvahs. The Hebrew school had 300 students.
The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights built its first sanctuary in the 1950s. It was located north of Roosevelt Avenue on 82nd Street. This building served the community for many years. It was between 35th and 37th Avenues.
In 1997 the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights sold that building. The buyer was the New York City Department of Education. Since 2000 the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights has been at its current location. It is on 77th Street at 37th Avenue.
Today the Jewish Center of Jackson Heights is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue. It embraces its history. It also looks forward to the future. The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights hosts Shabbat services every Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m.
The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights offers a joyous community wide celebration of Purim. The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights is more than just a synagogue. It is a vital part of the Jackson Heights community. It continues to evolve while honoring its past. The Jewish Center of Jackson Heights is still writing its history.