# Queens Jewish Center

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Orthodox synagogue in Queens, New York

Queens Jewish Center The Queens Jewish Center – 108 Street entrance Religion Affiliation Orthodox Judaism Ecclesiastical or organizational status Synagogue Leadership Rabbi Judah Kerbel Status Active Location Location 66-05 108 Street, Forest Hills, Queens, New York City, New York Country United States Location in New York City Coordinates 40°43′49″N 73°50′52″W / 40.73028°N 73.84778°W / 40.73028; -73.84778 Architecture Architect David Moed General contractor LeFrak Organization Groundbreaking 1946, 1949 Completed 1955 Website myqjc.org [1][2][3]

**The Queens Jewish Center**, also known as **Queens Jewish Center and Talmud Torah** or **QJC**, is an Orthodox synagogue in [Forest Hills](/source/Forest_Hills%2C_Queens), [Queens](/source/Queens%2C_New_York), [New York City](/source/New_York_City), [New York](/source/New_York_(state)), United States.

The synagogue was established by a dozen families in 1943 to serve the growing central Queens Jewish community.[2] The current spiritual leader is Rabbi Judah Kerbel.[1][3] Queens Jewish Center has services every day of the week, including holidays.[4]

## Organization affiliations

The Queens Jewish Center is a member of the [Orthodox Union](/source/Orthodox_Union),[5] the Queens Jewish Community Council,[6] and the Vaad Harabonim of Queens.[3]

## Architecture

The Queens Jewish Center building won honorable mention in the 1955 Queens Chamber of Commerce, Annual Building Awards. The architect was David Moed of Manhattan and the builder was the LeFrak Organization.[7]

The structure actually consists of two separate buildings. On October 3, 1946 an option was taken on the vacant plot where both synagogue buildings now stand. Ground was first broken for the first building (also referred to as the Talmud Torah building or Bais Hamedrash building) during an elaborate ceremony on June 5, 1949, by [Judge Paul Balsam](/source/Paul_Balsam) and Center President Herman A. Levine. The ground-breaking for the main synagogue building took place on June 21, 1953 and was made possible by generous benefactor, Mr. Harry LeFrak.[2]

## Clergy

The following individuals have served as [rabbi](/source/Rabbi) of the Queens Jewish Center:

Order Officeholder Term started Term ended Time in office Notes 1 Eliezer Harbater 1943 1946 2–3 years [2] 2 Aryeh Gotlieb 1946 1949 2–3 years 3 Morris Max 1949 1966 16–17 years 4 Joseph Grunblatt 1967 2006 38–39 years [2][1] 5 Benjamin Geiger 2007 2013 5–6 years [1][3][8] 6 Simcha Hopkovitz 2013 2018 4–5 years 7 Judah Kerbel 2019 incumbent 6–7 years

## Notable members

- [Paul Balsam](/source/Paul_Balsam), a judge

- [Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander](/source/Bernard_Lander), rabbi of Touro College[9]

- Harry LeFrak, a builder and philanthropist[2]

- [Leon Wildes](/source/Leon_Wildes), immigration lawyer

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-autogenerated1_1-3) ["QJC Family"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101130121704/http://www.myqjc.org/family.htm). *Queens Jewish Center*. n.d. Archived from [the original](http://www.myqjc.org/family.htm) on November 30, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_2-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_2-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-autogenerated2_2-5) ["History"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101127153943/http://www.myqjc.org/history.htm). *Queens Jewish Center*. n.d. Archived from [the original](http://www.myqjc.org/history.htm) on November 27, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2010.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-autogenerated3_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-autogenerated3_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-autogenerated3_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-autogenerated3_3-3) ["Member Synagogues"](https://web.archive.org/web/20101229211523/http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm). *Vaad Harabonim of Queens*. Archived from [the original](http://www.queensvaad.org/about_vaad/members.cfm) on December 29, 2010. Retrieved December 7, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Queens Jewish Center - Forest Hills"](https://web.archive.org/web/20111123061758/http://foresthills.patch.com/listings/queens-jewish-center). *NY Patch*. Archived from [the original](http://foresthills.patch.com/listings/queens-jewish-center) on November 23, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Member Synagogues"](http://www.ou.org/holidays/calendar#synagogues). [Orthodox Union](/source/Orthodox_Union).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["QJCC Member Synagogues"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110727192418/http://qjcc.org/members.htm). Queens Jewish Community Council. Archived from [the original](http://qjcc.org/members.htm) on July 27, 2011. Retrieved December 7, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["1955 Queens Chamber of Commerce, Annual Building Awards"](https://www.flickr.com/photos/8095451@N08/4498193907/in/set-72157623669566373/). *Flickr*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Spence, Rebecca (September 26, 2007). ["Prayer Shawls, Flip-Flops Mingle at 'Shul on the Beach'"](http://www.forward.com/articles/11708/). *The Forward*.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["News Center: Leadership - President and Founder"](https://web.archive.org/web/20100629033941/http://www.touro.edu/media/bg/leadership.asp). *Touro College*. Archived from [the original](http://www.touro.edu/media/bg/leadership.asp) on June 29, 2010. Retrieved July 6, 2010.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.MyQJC.org/)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Queens Jewish Center](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_Jewish_Center) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queens_Jewish_Center?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.