Having been barred from entering the Chaim Albert shul at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, community members gathered outside the hospital complex for a menorah lighting and rally, urging for the shul to be reopened.
Amidst years of struggle, the Jewish community connected to the Chaim Albert Synagogue at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center (KJMC) held a menorah lighting outside the hospital complex after being denied access to the synagogue. The gathering, held on the seventh night of Chanukah, was both a celebration and a statement in the face of opposition.
The Chaim Albert shul, a standalone building located within the KJMC complex, has remained off-limits to the Kingsbrook Jewish community since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. The synagogue was originally established in 1928 as part of Kingsbrook’s mission to serve the Jewish community, complete with a kosher kitchen and a focus on religious and cultural inclusion.
After Kingsbrook’s merger with Brookdale and Interfaith Hospitals to form One Brooklyn Health (OBH), the community faced increasing restrictions. OBH has maintained a ban on religious services in the synagogue, citing COVID-related policies, despite lifting similar restrictions elsewhere. Weekly minyanim, holiday services, and even requests for Yom Kippur davening have been rejected, prompting frustration and outrage among local Jews.
Despite these barriers, the Kingsbrook Jews organized an outdoor menorah lighting on the sidewalk outside the synagogue building, located at E 49th Street and Rutland Avenue. The event symbolized light amid darkness, much like the Maccabean Revolt commemorated during Chanukah. Attendees shared food, prayed, and upheld a 96-year-old tradition of Jewish religious services tied to Kingsbrook’s founding.
“The menorah lighting reminds us that just as the Maccabees fought to preserve Jewish practices, we too must stand up for our religious rights,” said one attendee.
The Kingsbrook community is urging One Brooklyn Health to honor its mission statement, which promises to “respect the diversity of our communities.” They argue that the closure of the synagogue—a vibrant Jewish institution forced to suspend services only due to pandemic-related orders—contradicts OBH’s commitment to cultural and religious inclusion.
Community members have also pointed out discrepancies in OBH’s policies. While Yom Kippur services were denied, OBH recently hosted a Gospel Fest in October 2024, sparking accusations of selective accommodation.
Community leaders are calling on New York Governor Kathy Hochul to address the issue and ensure the preservation of the Chaim Albert Synagogue. They highlight the historical and cultural significance of the synagogue, which was built with funds from the Jewish community nearly a century ago.
“This is the wrong neighborhood to erase Jewish heritage,” said a local organizer. “Kingsbrook was built with a Jewish purpose, and we’re not going to let that legacy disappear.”
The event was supported by Shomrim, who ensured attendees felt safe and secure as they gathered for this symbolic lighting.
For more information about the Kingsbrook Shul and its history, visit kingsbrookshul.com. Community members are encouraged to reach out to local officials to advocate for the reopening of the synagogue and the continuation of its sacred traditions.
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I don’t get it. It never belonged to Chabad. It wasn’t a Chabad moisad. The hospital closed, and so did the shul. I didn’t see this reaction when other Jewish hospitals were sold years ago when the Rebbe lived here. It’s the property of one Brooklyn, not the Schunah. Don’t get these people.There is a reason elected officials are reluctant to get involved. Its not a Chabad moised period.If it was illegal it would have been stopped in court. Mendy and Musshkies get real. at the same time, it is disgusting to ignore a community and build something against our values, we still arent entitled to it. did chabad raise money for the shul? did they pay electric? did they pay ac? rent? cleaning? it’s not ours. i think the re should be affordable housing built for our community and we build our own shul on that spot to replace the older one.