The original Shaare Zion Congregation was started in 1941 and was located between Avenues T and U, and Ocean Parkway. The Hadaya families and several other community members donated the original house. That property was sold in 1957 and the money was used as a down payment towards the new synagogue now located at 2030 Ocean Parkway.
A general meeting was called and a substantial-sized committee was organized to structure the new synagogue, which promised to be the largest undertaking of our community ever. It became the new mother synagogue of the Syrian Jewish community in Brooklyn.
On any given weeknight, you’ll find about 60 young men and some not-so-young men there. Most of these men also participate in classes every morning and spend part of their Sunday and Shabbat learning Torah and developing their abilities in a positive way. The classes vary from beginner to advanced and cover all areas of Torah scholarship—Mishnah and Gemara, Halakha, Tanakh, Parashah and Mussar. Language is not an obstacle. Lashon Hakodesh, English and Arabic are spoken—as well as Spanish and Portuguese.
In the early days of our project, we invited Hakham Leon Guindi to conduct a morning class in Arabic. The result surpassed even our wildest fantasy. What started out as a class developed into a new minyan at 6 am followed by intense learning between 6:45 and 8 am (and sometimes beyond if the heated issues were not resolved to the satisfaction of the over 35 men who attend daily).
Another idea that proved to us that ‘you never know’ is the ladies program—especially our Monday sessions. We never imagined that over 70 women would find the time to become ‘regulars’ in a class of Halakha!
Famous woman guest lecturers visit the Dome to speak on issues of concern to our women. The series is called “Woman of Valor” and the crowds have grown with each new guest. Valet parking is provided to insure safety and convenience for the 500-600 women who attend.
As most of us know, a problem-free marriage is a rare occurrence. All of us need a period of adjustment in the first year to adapt to the demands of living with another person. Most of us also need some tutoring on the way to maintain the bliss of marriage after the ‘album and video’ are collecting dust on a shelf. Our seminars for newlyweds aim to address and remedy many of these problems. In a recent conversation with Hakham Baruch he told me, “You must tell the people that the learning of Torah may have grown recently, but it is of utmost importance to our community that the growth not only continue but it must increase. Torah is the answer to all of our problems whether it be marriage, drugs or any of the serious issues plaguing our beautiful kahal (congregation).” The Rabbi then added, “Be sure to tell them that The Shaare Zion Torah Center is of utmost importance to the character of future generations. Our future depends on its success and growth.”
Several years ago, the Rabbi initiated the program and today he is stressing its importance to us for the future of our community. What we have accomplished in the past several years is very important, but what is more vital to our community is what we still have to achieve. May Hashem grant us the wisdom, the foresight and the support to succeed in His holy work, Amen.
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Raymond Beyda is the director of the Shaare Zion Torah Center. The original article has been edited for length.
