Brooklyn Kehillah Fights to Save Historic Shul

Jewish community battles to preserve century-old synagogue amid housing development plans in Brooklyn.

Brooklyn Kehillah Fights to Save Historic Shul Amid Housing Dispute

A Jewish kehillah in Brooklyn is fighting to save their historic shul. Members want to continue worshipping at the building their community established a century ago.

The once-vibrant Kingsbrook Shul is now covered in tarps, with water stains on the ceiling and a puddle on the floor. It sits on the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center campus, now owned by One Brooklyn Health. The congregation was founded alongside the hospital in 1924 after local Jews felt unwelcome at other city hospitals.

Minyanim were paused during the pandemic, but the kehillah says hospital management has refused to allow them back. Rabbi Zalman Goldstein said that, in June 2024, the hospital admitted it had no plans to reopen the synagogue.

The dispute is linked to plans to build affordable housing on part of the campus. In 2019, officials promised in writing that the congregation would maintain access. Rabbi Goldstein said once the shul was closed, officials seemed to consider taking the building entirely.

Last year, the kehillah filed a lawsuit against One Brooklyn Health. The hospital said the matter is in active litigation and declined to comment.

Rabbi Goldstein has not been able to use the synagogue, where he held his son’s bris, in nearly six years. Longtime member of the kehillah Mendy Rendler said the closed building is a painful reminder of their displacement.

Earlier this year, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced efforts to save the synagogue, though her office did not detail the plan. Rabbi Goldstein said, “Saving it is great. But a synagogue that’s not open is not in use.”