Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie

Whispers of Ladino still echo within the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie. Here, in the heart of Brooklyn, stands a testament to a resilient community. The Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie has been a cornerstone of Sephardic life since 1965. It was founded by Ladino-speaking Jews, primarily from Greece and Turkey. These families, hailing from the Ottoman Empire, had initially settled in neighborhoods like New Lots, Brownsville, and East New York in the early 1900s. The Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie became their spiritual home, a place to preserve their unique traditions. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie welcomed a new wave of immigrants from Cuba. Many of these families had roots in Greece and Turkey, having emigrated decades earlier. Later, Iraqi, Israeli, and Bukharian Jews joined the vibrant tapestry of the community. The Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie prides itself on its traditional liturgy, conducted in Hebrew and Ladino. This commitment to Ladino has been crucial in preserving the Sephardic culture. While rooted in tradition, the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie also embraces inclusivity, welcoming both Sephardim and Ashkenazim. The Center has a remarkable history. Until 2012, it stood at the corner of Flatlands Avenue and East 94th Street. The congregation then moved to its current home within AAA Canarsie on East 95th Street. Notably, the Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie holds a unique distinction. It was one of the first Sephardic congregations to be led by an Ashkenazi rabbi. Rabbi Myron Rakowitz, from Yeshiva University’s REITS School, guided the congregation from 1969 until his passing in 2017. The Sephardic Jewish Center of Canarsie’s story, like the Ladino language it cherishes, is a blend of old and new, a testament to the enduring spirit of a community that found a home in Canarsie.