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Andrew Schwartz

Union Temple, Brooklyn’s Oldest Jewish Congregation, Thrives As A Center Of Social Action And Education, Uniting Families Of All Backgrounds

Students at Union Temple’s preschool.

Emily Burke

O From left to right: Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, preschool director Susan Sporer, and president Doris Kleuger.

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New York Family Brooklyn | May 2009

n a recent afternoon, the students at Union Temple’s preschool in Prospect Heights celebrated their 100th day of school. To mark the occasion, the class held a party. Each child brought in 100 objects, including individual pieces of candy and Cheerios, to decorate festive paper hats. They even created a chain with 100 links and counted 100 bites of pizza as they hunted for 100 hidden pom-poms. “Kids get a sense of the passing of time as they realize how long it takes for 100 days to pass,” says preschool Director Susan Sporer, who taught at the preschool for 10 years before taking on the role of director in 2001. “They compare the 100 items their peers bring in and delight in counting all the way to 100.” While the students were reveling in the notion that they’d spent 100 days at school, the adults at Union Temple were celebrating an even bigger anniversary. This year marks the temple’s 160th “birthday”—founded in 1848, it’s Brooklyn’s first Jewish congregation. While this is an important opportunity for the temple’s leaders and members to reflect on the synagogue’s unique past, if there’s one thing that makes Union Temple stand out, it’s a forward-thinking attitude and ability to reflect the needs of its ever-evolving community. With a preschool and summer camp program popular with Jewish and non-Jewish families alike, cultural events and classes open to the public, and an ever-expanding roster of social outreach programs, Union Temple remains an integral part of Prospect Heights and beyond. “Above all, we are committed to education, social justice, and the community,” says Doris Klueger,

the temple’s president. “Our members have always cared about giving back.” Since Union Temple was founded, tikkun olam, or social action, has been a vital component of its mission. During World War II, for example, the temple’s sisterhood turned its focus from sewing for themselves to producing surgical dressings for soldiers, and the temple itself was ready to serve as an emergency disaster relief center. Today, the temple encourages acts of charity, kindness, and justice year round, whether through semi-annual food drives, letter-writing campaigns to local legislators, or volunteering opportunities at the Hebrew Union College soup kitchen. May 17 marks the temple’s annual Mitzvah Day, which in past years, has included a blood drive and clothing donations. “Our sisterhood has always been active,” says Rabbi Linda Henry Goodman, who has been with the temple since 1992. “Their programs are socially conscious as well as just social.” Union Temple is strongly committed to arts and culture, too. The temple’s dinners, lectures, music, and film series are open to anyone in the community, and there’s no shortage of opportunities for neighborhood children. “Kinder Kef,” a monthly activity group for 4- to-6year-olds, uses games, stories, and crafts to teach kids about their Jewish heritage, including traditions and blessings. A “Tot Shabbat” is hosted on the third Saturday of each month for parents and their little ones to enjoy a morning of singing, art, and stories, along with a challah snack. The temple’s membership pool reflects the diversity of its surrounding community. The congregation is made up of an assortment of musicians, writers, and artists, as well as lawyers and MBAs, among other professionals, many in interfaith marriages. Some venture to Brooklyn from Queens and New Jersey. “I’d say about 70 percent of our members are from Prospect Heights and Park Slope, but we have very committed people who don’t let geography get in their way,” says Rabbi Goodman. The temple incorporates traditional elements into its services and programs, but Rabbi Goodman says “progressive Judaism” is what distinguishes Union Temple from other institutions. “The reform movement is not a sect; it’s a stream,” she says. “There’s more that binds us all together than separates, but we’re more about personal autonomy than following strict rules.” For both member families and non-members from the surrounding community, however, one of the biggest draws to the temple remains its popular preschool. Rabbi Goodman says the school incorporates Jewish content in a way that doesn’t alienate the school’s Christian and Muslim students. Fewer than half of the students are Jewish, and there is no religious education beyond the focus on holidays. “Even the non-Jewish parents participate in the holiday-themed events,” like Passover potluck luncheons, Sporer says. Parents tend to be very involved (even if their contribution to the potluck is store bought). Three of the school’s four directors have been Christian—for Rabbi Goodman, what’s most important is not their religious background, but that they’ve been “wonderful educators.” Like with any great preschool, the curriculum works to promote creativity and individual responsibility while preparing students for kindergarten. The chickadees (2year-olds), sparrows, swallows, robins (all 3-year-olds), and hummingbirds (4-year-olds) in Sporer’s care are taught by a staff of five teachers supported by aides, yoga and music teachers, and education specialists who ensure students are progressing on schedule. Beyond preschool, Union Temple also offers after-school religious education for children in grades 1-7. Modern Hebrew and Jewish history are taught, so students acquire a thorough understanding of customs and rituals. Drama, music, art, cooking, and writing are incorporated into the religious school to allow kids the opportunity to express themselves and develop their strengths. The program echoes the temple’s mission of service to the community, so students are involved in many social action activities, including this month’s Mitzvah Day. The temple’s summer camp is also a popular choice among Brooklyn families. Designed for kids between ages 2½ and 5, the camp experience includes plenty of indoor and outdoor play, weekly swimming lessons, and field trips—often to the nearby Brooklyn Museum. (Registration for summer 2009 is still open.) “Year-round, we provide a truly vibrant, wonderful experience for the kids,” sums up Klueger. “In terms of educational opportunities, we offer families a great option.”G

“The reform movement is not a sect; it’s a stream. There’s more that binds us all together than separates, but we’re more about personal autonomy than following strict rules.”

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May 2009 | New York Family Brooklyn

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