After Spiritual Facelift, Radio City Synagogue Keeps Doors Open All Day Long

Benjamin Aminoff first came to what is now the 47th Street Synagogue in Manhattan some 40 years ago when he moved to the United States from Jerusalem to work as a colored stones salesman. “It was the only synagogue that was convenient for me to come and pray,” says Aminoff, who believes himself to be the synagogue’s oldest member.

Aminoff, who still comes to the diamond business building’s third floor synagogue daily to attend services, says he’s excited to see the crowd at services growing under the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch of Midtown Manhattan, which assumed leadership of the 60-year-old synagogue late last year.

Located in the heart of the Diamond District in a building indistinguishable from the others around it, the synagogue offers services, Torah classes and a community for those working in the area as well as passing through.

Known as the Radio City Synagogue, it transitioned leadership late last year, when Rabbi Jonah Weinberg, who had previously led the synagogue, became sick. Chabad was approached about stepping in to keep the synagogue going. Weinberg’s son, Rabbi Moshe Weinberg, helped keep the synagogue together while the transition took place, and in September, Rabbi Shmuly Levitin assumed the pulpit.

“We continue the 60 year-tradition of the Radio City Synagogue, plus we bring to it the added dimension of Chabad of the Diamond District,” says Chabad of Midtown Manhattan director Rabbi Joshua Metzger, whose organization runs six affiliate locations in that part of New York City.

David Barel, a diamond dealer who has been coming to the synagogue for at least 20 years, says he’s thrilled about the energy the new rabbi has brought to the synagogue, which he considers a second home.

“The rabbi brings life to the places, gives talks about the weekly Torah portion,” explains Barel, who lives in New Jersey. “People need some nutrition daily. Thank G-d we get it through Chabad.”

Bookshelves line the walls by the entrance into the space, which houses two long tables and a series of folding chairs. Posters in Hebrew hang around the synagogue, which is open from 10:00 in the morning until 6:00 or 6:30 in the evening. The ark, the traditional cabinet where the Torah is kept, is against the front wall. A sign on the door lets people know they’ve picked the right knob to turn when they emerge from the elevators down the tiled hallway.

Now that it’s open all day, people can use the synagogue as a resource, popping in to ask questions about various Jewish issues and logistics, says Yoel Taub, of Monsey, N.Y. The building used to only be open during prayer times, he notes, adding that people use it as a base for spiritual activity away from the workplace.

“The lights are on, people can come anytime, sit and learn, pray, schmooze,” he says. “It makes people feel welcome. Now people in the middle of the day know a place where they could be.”

Taub also likes the synagogue’s setup. While other services take place in random rooms in various buildings, this offers an official synagogue setting.

“You walk in and say ‘now I’m in a Torah world,’ ” he says.

Article continued at Chabad.org – Barry Beifeld, who lives in…