" How does one begin to tell the story of what a Synagogue is and what it has been through the ages. Where do we begin to describe the meaning it has in our daily lives, and in the values we shall want our children to Learn and to live by? With what words shall we try to express what the Synagogue meant to our Fathers and their Fathers before them? A temple is somehow always more than the sum of its parts. It is something that is even beyond the warmth and the feeling of Sabbath and Holy Days. It cannot be contained in a list of scheduled programs and activities. Its' meaning is not Found alone in the Adult Education Classes, nor in Forums and Panel Discussions. It is more than the fellowship found in the Sisterhood or Brotherhood. The Synagogue even transcends the sound of the voices of Children in study and at play. For a Temple is not something in space alone that can be described. It is a part of time that has to be experienced together."
So wrote our then Rabbi, Robert Schenkerman in 1974 as we launched the building campaign for our new construction. But the story of Temple Beth Torah does not begin there. In the late 1960's Dix Hills and Melville were rapidly changing from a more rural area studded by horse and vegetable farms to a suburb. New housing brought the need for schools, churches, and Temples. A Conservative Synagogue already existed, but there was no really local Reform Temple. In 1969 Four families met in what would become the first location of our Temple, King of Kings Lutheran Church on Old South Path. . This very first meeting led to the formation of a Congregation which grew to 100 families within five months of its inception. In 1971 Rabbi Howard S. Schwartz became our first Rabbi and the Congregation acquired its first temporary home, a house on Carmen Road.
We soon outgrew our little house on Carman Road and began the search for a more permanent home. The land was purchased and groundbreaking for our current building took place in 1974. The cornerstone for our building was commissioned on our first congregational trip to Israel in that same decade.
" SEEK THE PEACE OF JERUSALEM"
"The stone was heavy. The tired hands strained under its weight. The tired hands Strained under its weight. These were not the calloused, weathered hands that had Cut, carved and carted the stones that became the cities of Pharoh. They were The sensitive hands of a modern professional man. The stone being transported Held a special significance. It had been carried over 6,000 miles from the holy City of Jerusalem to Dix Hills,New York. It was destined to become part of the Temple building, the cornerstone of Temple Beth Torah." - Ann Klein
Since the original building was completed in 1976, the Temple has grown from 300 families to its present 900 families, and the building has been expanded several times. First in 1984 when the present Sanctuary was added, followed by the Jeffrey Zuckerman Youth Lounge and the Atrium. Who can forget then Governor Mario Cuomo taking the shovel from our then young Rabbi, Marc Gellman who was having trouble putting it into the ground and saying, "please Rabbi, my people are more experienced in this area than yours". And once again in 1996 with the expansion of our Sanctuary and the addition of a balcony. In July 1997 we felt the need to provide our Temple Family with a state of the art catering facility. A long-term agreement was made with Morrell Caterers and we added the Rubin Ballroom, our new kitchen, renovated our existing social hall and added a circular driveway and canopy making the physical facility worthy of our dynamic and growing Temple Community. Finally, in 2001 we completed the expansion of our building with the addition of space to what is now the Hariet and John Wolf Learning Center, encompasing both additional classrooms and the Weingrow Multi Media Center.
But a Temple is more than just bricks and mortar. It is the people who lead it, both lay and professional, who give it it's soul.
It is difficult to believe that we have had only three head Rabbis in our 38 years, or that Rabbi Marc Gellman has just celebrated his 25th anniversary as spiritual leader of our congregation. Who could have foreseen how we as a congregation, and he as our Rabbi would grow and mature together? It is our good fortune that" Temple Beth Torah" and "Rabbi Marc Gellman" have become synonymous. He has brought us recognition and honor by his leadership and scholarship and has been the overriding factor in our continued growth and prestige.
Just as difficult to believe is that we have had only two temple administrators. Abby Zimmerman who served until 1974 and Kay Giammusso who has held this position until recently when we welcomed Jackie Geston as our first Administrative Manager. Without these ladies fine work and devotion, neither the Congregation nor the Rabbis could function.
Music plays an overriding role in Jewish life and prayer. We have been blessed with various Cantors who have served. Cantor Steven Stein, who joined our Congregation in 1998, together with Joseph Graffeo who has been our Music Director for over two decades, and our all volunteer Temple Choir bring a particualr level of spirituality and beauty to our services.
Our religious School which now serves well over 400 students and is headed by our Rabbi Educator Rabbi Debra Bennet and a staff of more than 30 teaching professionals began very modestly. In its first year the Temple ran its religious school with volunteers from the Congregation. It was not until our second year that we hired professional teachers. In September 1989, we joined with Temple Beth David and Temple Beth El to provide our children with the opportunity to attend a Community Hebrew High School, which now also includes Temple Chaverim. In 1992 , with the expertise and guidance of Jerry Manton the David Joshua Berg Nursery School opened its doors to our pre-schoolers and Paula Rothman was hired as our first Nursery School Director. The Arthur Goldman Playground was also dedicated that year. Under the guidance of Zelda Miller since 1998, our now fully certified nursery school has been operating at full capacity for several years.
In 1996 we were fortunate to retain Rabbi Susie Henson Moskowitz as our Rabbi-Educator for the David Joshua Berg Religious School which has, with her guidance become an exciting and dynamic place for our children to receive their Jewish education. Ten years later, in 2006 Rabbi Moskowitz moved to the pulpit on a full-time basis as our associate Rabbi, bringing a warmth and perspective.
Our good fortune does not end with our professional leaders. What would we do without our Officers and Board of Directors who have kept us moving forward while staying solvent over the years? Where would we be without Marilyn Lieberman who has brought us Art and Culture from within and without? Where would we be without Harriet Wolf who helped initiate our commitment to the Wyandanch project and Janice Hassenfeld who has not only kept it going but invigorated it for the past several years? It is not possible to name all of those who have given of themselves over the years. But it is also not possible to forget them, for without them there would be no Temple Beth Torah in Dix Hills, NY and nothing with which to fill it.
-with thanks to Dr. Harold Kopman, Past President, Temple Beth Torah
