In May of 2023, TBS leadership announced a proposal to sell its building in order to create a long-term protected endowment. TBS leadership is proposing to move its offices and schools to the Rockland Jewish Community Campus and to lease back the sanctuary at 228 New Hempstead for up to two years. This proposal will go to the congregation in the coming weeks for a vote. In the meantime, please see below a timeline for this process.
Updates from Leadership
President’s Update
It’s hard to believe it’s been a year since we were together at the last congregational meeting and we have been incredibly busy at TBS. Throughout the year we have
Rabbi’s Update
We are Reform Jews, a denomination founded in Germany less than a hundred years after Napoleon first granted Jews citizenship in France. In the aftermath of Napoleon’s emancipation, Jews could suddenly attend
Rabbi’s Remarks at Town Hall Meeting
At our last town hall gathering, I spoke to this congregation about what I consider the importance of selling this building. I made the case that this building’s sanctity is based
Frequently Asked Questions
Rockland demographics have shifted, and current dues and donations do not cover the operational costs of a building that needs repairs and updating. Temporary rental of the school has helped, but we need a long-term solution for the congregation. We need to sell the building to ensure TBS is there for future generations and to make membership more affordable for the present.
We have a buyer, but the sale is not complete without approval from the congregation and the New
York Attorney General’s office.
The leases for both the JCC space and the sanctuary are now completed, and we need to
submit them to the Attorney General’s (AG’s) office, once we have conditional approval, we can bring it
to a congregational vote and then get final AG approval. The AG office usually takes 6-12 weeks to review upon submission.
An investment committee has been formed that will hire a professional investment firm to manage
our proceeds. This removes all fiduciary responsibility from TBS. A portion will go towards rent and
overhead (insurance, internet, utilities, etc.) at the JCC. We are also looking into restructuring dues and
membership fees to make belonging more affordable for all.
JCC has the space available. They have been extremely welcoming and inclusive to our community
members. We will have our offices and school in the new space and be able to have all programming
there as well.
Rabbi Leiken grew up within a JCC Community. It is important to recognize that lack of change has
caused dwindling synagogues. Our competition is to get non-affiliated families to join and at the same
time to keep our identity. JCC offers a great variety in recreation, education, fitness and Jewish affiliated
events. A partnership with TBS is beneficial to both sides, without becoming competitive.
We have a 10-year lease with the ability to cancel after 2 years with one year’s notice.
New models of sanctuaries are to be used for multi-purposes. Sacred space can be modular. What matters most is the people in the room - that creates the sacred space. We will have a committee to work on moving our plaques and other items.
Everything within 7800 square feet is for TBS. The space can be transformed for our needs. It has a
separate entrance on the side and another entrance through the main building.
Religious school for the 2023-2024 school year is already underway at the JCC, under the leadership
of Shanna Straut. We have had an incredible turnout. The feedback from parents and students alike, has
been extremely positive. Enrollment is up and we have seen more interest from potential new members in the community.
We have leased back the TBS sanctuary for the next two years. Services and life cycle events will be held in our current sanctuary. The buyer is the school that has been renting from us for the last two years.
We believe it is. Our goal is to create a vibrant Jewish community and ensure there are options for the
future of Reform Judaism in Rockland County. Demographics have changed and we need to adapt and
restructure to sustain as well as make way for future generations. We have looked at this from many, many angles over the past few years and we feel this is the best path forward.