After reading the inspiring stories of our Founding Families whose hard work, sacrifice and vision came together to create the beautiful HEA community of today, memories began flooding back about my childhood synagogue. My family belonged to the Laurelton Jewish Center in Laurelton, Queens, from the 60s through the early 70s. The LJC was a traditional Conservative synagogue whose membership consisted primarily of families raising the Baby Boomer generation. Young newlyweds moved from their parent’s homes or small apartments in Brooklyn, Bronx, and Manhattan to the Laurelton suburbs to pursue their American Dream. That time in Laurelton was considered a Golden Age for the Jewish community.
I fondly remember going to the LJC “Ktan-Tan” preschool class, Mrs. Kimmel’s music class, the magnificent Sukkah with real hanging fruit, setting up grape juice and challah for Junior Congregation, and checking out books from the library – The Wise Men of Chelm series being a favorite. My most prominent memory, though, is of the vividly colored stained-glass windows in the main sanctuary depicting familiar Bible stories. When I did an internet search of the LJC, the first image that came up was of those beautiful windows, and they were as magnificent as I had remembered. I would stare at them during services (sitting with my dad, impatiently waiting for the main service to end) thinking about the stories they told and watching the daylight stream in, making them come alive in a divine way. The synagogue was sold sometime in the 70s to a Baptist congregation and from what I read, that congregation is dwindling as well, their future uncertain.
I recently took a trip to NY and visited the old neighborhood driving by the LJC. There was a metal fence around the now rundown building and the windows from the outside looked like random pieces of dark glass. I was saddened by what I saw and decided that I did not want to take any pictures. Instead, I wanted to remember the building as it looked so many years ago.
I thought about this further and realized that the windows were still intact and on sunny days, the light would still be streaming in and at night, the light from the sanctuary would still make them come alive from the outside. It was a reminder of what I have learned throughout my life – darkness and light co-exist together and it is a matter of having faith that light will be present even when darkness, at time, seems to overcome. It also made me realize why I have always been so fascinated by the beautiful Witkin windows in the HEA main sanctuary - they connected me to fond childhood memories.
The Anniversary Journal brought back warm and meaningful memories from our current members to be shared with all. My hope is that the HEA will be around another 100 years and beyond repeating that same cycle of L’dor v’dor.
Shabbat Shalom!
The windows of the Laurelton Jewish Center in Laurelton, Queens, NY
