Fresh Meadows Jewish Center

Did you know that the Fresh Meadows Jewish Center wasn’t always here? It started with a simple act a neighbor going door to door. Leonard Levy searched for mezuzahs a symbol of Jewish faith. He asked residents if they wanted a new synagogue. This humble beginning in 1949 laid the foundation for the Fresh Meadows Jewish Center we see today. The early meetings took place in homes. Thelma and Leonard Levy and Ruth and Harry Krieger opened their doors. Isadore Schwartz became the first president. A sisterhood formed. Twenty women met at Sara and Sam Rosof’s home. Sara Rosof led them. Their first High Holiday services were in a rented store on Horace Harding Boulevard and 183rd Street. The Fresh Meadows Jewish Center grew quickly. More families moved in. They needed a permanent home. The Long Island Expressway wasn’t finished. The state condemned houses along the route. The Fresh Meadows Jewish Center leaders seized this opportunity. They obtained the land where the Center stands today. Fundraising for the building happened in a tent. It was at 193rd Street and Peck Avenue. The first building held the sanctuary social hall and offices. This is now the ballroom. The Hebrew school was in the basement. It was completed in 1951. The Bessie and Harry Feinerman School building followed in 1959. This was to house the growing number of students. The beautiful Anna and Louis Zweig Sanctuary was built in 1966. The Fresh Meadows Jewish Center wasn’t alone in its journey. In 2002 the Flushing Jewish Center merged. Then in 2007 the Queensboro Hill Jewish Center joined them. This created the Flushing-Fresh Meadows Jewish Center. The story of the Fresh Meadows Jewish Center is one of community resilience and growth. It’s a testament to the enduring spirit of faith. It shows the power of neighbors coming together. It’s a vibrant community hub. It’s still thriving today. The Fresh Meadows Jewish Center continues to serve its members and the wider community. It offers services and programs for all ages. It’s a true center of Jewish life in Fresh Meadows.