Location Hollis Hills, New York Status Active Phone +1 718-776-3500 Architectural type Synagogue | Affiliation Conservative Judaism Opened 1949 Construction cost 40,000 USD Groundbreaking 15 May 1949 | |
 | ||
Leadership Rabbi David Wise,
Cantor Sol Zim. Website www.hollishillsbaysidejc.org Completed 1949; 68 years ago (1949) Address 210-10 Union Tpke, Flushing, NY 11364, USA Similar Rego Park Jewish Center, Hale Center Theater O, Temple Israel Center, East Meadow Jewish C, Jewish Center | ||
Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center is a synagogue located in the neighborhood of Hollis Hills in Queens, New York. Hollis Hills Bayside Jewish Center is an egalitarian synagogue providing worship in the Conservative tradition. As of 2016, 240 families are members of the synagogue. The synagogue today reflects a consolidation of the Hollis Hills Jewish Center and the Bayside Jewish Center.
Contents
History
Construction of the present building, as the Hollis Hills Jewish Center, was completed in 1949.
Bayside Jewish Center was created in 1938 when two groups of Jewish families who held services in two locations - one above a store on Bell Boulevard and the other in a store on 32nd Avenu joined together, bought land and erected a building on it on 35th Avenue between 206th and 207th Streets.
In 1958 the property was condemned to make way for the Clearview Expressway. The next building cornerstone was quarried from Mt. Olive in Jerusalem and was laid in 1959. The dedication took place on October 6, 1960. The building was sold in 2016 as part of the consolidation process.
Both congregations have had many members who were Holocaust survivors; in some cases both spouses are survivors. One of the Bayside members was on Schindler's List.
Clergy and staff
Hollis Hills Jewish Center's first rabbi was Naphtali Z. Frishberg. Rabbi Frishberg had formerly been a rabbi at Temple Beth El in Springfield, Massachusetts. Rabbi Frishberg served until 1955, when he became the rabbi of Beth Emereth Synagogue in Larchmont, New York.
Hollis Hills Jewish Center's first cantor was Sol J. Sanders. Born in Poland, Sanders immigrated to the United States in 1921. Sanders served in the United States Army in the South Pacific during World War II, and he subsequently graduated from Hebrew Union College's School of Sacred Music in 1952. Sanders served as cantor of Hollis Hills Jewish Center from 1952 to 1962, when he left to serve at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas.
Reverend Frank E. Strassfeld served Hollis Hills Jewish Center for 49 years, in roles such as Shammes and Director of Religious Activities and Daily Services. Born in Poland on December 26, 1922, Rev. Strassfeld immigrated to the United States in 1935. During World War II, Rev. Stassfeld served in the United States Army Air Corps. Strassfeld died in November 1998. The main sanctuary is dedicated as Reverend Frank E. Strassfeld Sanctuary, and the block of Union Turnpike directly in front of the building was named Reverend Frank Strassfeld Turnpike in 2000.
As of 2015, Hollis Hills Jewish Center's clergy are Rabbi David Wise and Cantor Sol Zim. Zim has served since 1964. H. Joseph Simckes is Rabbi Emeritus.
In 1952 Dr. William A Orentlicher was engaged as Rabbi of the Bayside Jewish Center. (He remained with until his retirement fifty years later.). Rabbi, Moses Kirsh, joined as Rabbi of BJC on November 1, 2007 and remained as Rabbi until shortly before the consolidation.