Here stands Congregation Be’ Er Avraham an Orthodox synagogue. It is located in the heart of Brooklyn Heights. This special place serves a unique role in the community. It welcomes people from divergent religious backgrounds. All levels of observance are welcome here.
Let’s step back to 1988. Stephen and Penny Rosen decided to become more observant religiously. They wanted to establish an Orthodox Shabbat minyan. The Rosens contacted Rabbi Shimon Hecht of B’nai Jacob in Park Slope. Rabbi Hecht supplied them with a Torah scroll and books. He also gave them a young man to lead services. Space was rented from a local theater group. Flyers were posted and calls were made. The hope was that someone would show up for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services.
Initially there were only a few people. There were the Rosens and Drs Walter and Brenda Molofsky. A young man Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin and his brother Shua were there too. Shua was recruited to walk from Crown Heights with the Rabbi. Amazingly other people came and there was a minyan. Congregation Be’ Er Avraham the first Orthodox synagogue in Brooklyn Heights was born.
For the next nine months Yom Kippur holiday and Saturday morning services were held at the Rosen’s residence. The Congregation was officially founded as a religious corporation in December 1988. It was named B’nai Avraham. This name honored Stephen Rosen’s grandfathers. Both had the Hebrew name Avraham.
Rabbi Raskin noted something interesting. B’nai Avraham literally means children of Abraham. This is the name given to converts. The Congregation has had many converts among its members. After nine months at the Rosens’ the Congregation rented an apartment on Clinton Street. Later Congregation Be’ Er Avraham moved to a commercial space at 100 Clinton Street.
In 1996 the synagogue moved to its current location at 117 Remsen Street. The building was purchased from the Brooklyn Heights Synagogue a Reform synagogue. The Reform synagogue acquired a larger building three doors away.
In 2000 the Mei Menachem Community Mikvah was built. It is one of the most beautiful mikvahs in the New York area. Congregation Be’ Er Avraham continues to serve its vibrant community. It provides daily morning and evening minyan. Many weekly classes are held for adult learning.
Rabbi Aaron L. Raskin is a well-known author and teacher. He has hundreds of online classes on his YouTube channel. Topics include Kabbalah Hebrew letters and Jewish holidays. His books include Letters of Light and By Divine Design.
Today Congregation Be’ Er Avraham continues to welcome all. Whether you are a yeshiva graduate or totally new to Judaism you will find a comfortable place in this vibrant community.