SummaryInterview with Rabbi Nosson (Nathan) Blumes. Importance of documenting Jewish life in Brooklyn. Center established in 1920 by group of well-established Jewish people who wanted to create a community center in Crown Heights (02:05) Members were predominantly Eastern European and economically successful in the United States (03:30) Founded by Rabbi Israel H. Levanthal (05:08) Center was a model for other Jewish community centers in America (05:45) Members began moving away in 1950s and 1960s. Rented space to Chabad Center and later gave the whole building to the Chabad to suport a thriving Jewish community and adapt to the evolution of the population (08:15) Former members no longer in Brooklyn retain links to the Center (10:30) Children and grandchildren of former members are still extremely connected to their Jewish identity, not assimilated, and very active in Jewish causes.
NoteTitle supplied by cataloger. Audio interview conducted 2022 February 28, by Ariane Loeb at Educational Institute Oholei Torah. Collected through the Brooklyn Collection Jewish History Project of Brooklyn Public Library. This project is funded by the David Berg Foundation.
SubjectJews--Education--United States ; Community centers ; Yeshivas
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TitleBrooklyn Jewish Center collection.
Biographical NoteBrooklyn Jewish Center was established in 1920 to create a Synagogue Center offering a wide range of services to the Jewish community including a sanctuary, ballroom, day school, swimming pool, health club, full-service kosher restaurant and an extensive adult education program. The center's founding rabbi was Rabbi Israel H. Levinthal. From the 1920s to the 1980s the Center was an important gathering point for the Jewish community. In the 1980s given changes in the Jewish population in the neighborhood, it was gifted to the Chabad-Lubavitch Movement and became the Oholei Torah Yeshiva.