Fêting a 'Spiritual And Social Home'
Marc and Eve Karstaedt received enthusiastic greetings as they introduced their 7-year-old son, David, one of the few children at the Jewish Center's annual gala on Monday.
"Family is the first thing that comes to mind when I think of the Jewish Center," Mrs. Karstaedt, a stay-at-home mom, said of the Modern Orthodox synagogue and community center on the Upper West Side.
"It serves as a spiritual and social home," Mr. Karstaedt, a wealth adviser and international wealth specialist at Morgan Stanley, said, noting the support he received from members when his father died, and comparing it to the lonelier experience of mourning his mother in his native Zimbabwe, which is now much in the news.
The event, held at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, honored members across the generations: the Karstaedts; Joseph and Lily Kaplan, a couple with grandchildren; and a single member, Esther Hollander, whose date was her twin brother, Zvi Hollander.
The center also used the event to announce its new senior rabbi, Yosie Levine, 31, who has been an associate rabbi for less than a year. With the announcement of one arrival came a departure: The event commemorated the departure of the Jewish Center's current rabbi, Ari Berman. Rabbi Berman, 38, plans to live in Israel; he has been affiliated with the synagogue for 14 years. Rabbi Levine, previously the associate rabbi, begins his term June 30.
One of the night's honorees, Mrs. Kaplan, a real estate agent, grew up attending the synagogue and was married there. Her husband eventually became its president, serving for two years.
The Jewish Center "has become a place that is of great social importance" in his life, Mr. Kaplan, who wore a tiger-striped bow tie, said. "It's a place to meet friends, greet friends, and keep friends."
As much as the event conveyed the warmth of the Jewish Center community, it also gave guests a chance to reflect on its role in the wider Jewish community.
The center was founded in 1915, and was the first home of Modern Orthodox Judaism, which today has many institutions that embrace it.
The center prides itself on offering a variety of programs, including lectures by dignitaries such as Colin Powell and seminars on biblical teachings. "There's even a paper-cutting class," Mrs. Kaplan said.
agordon@nysun.com
