The Forest Hills Jewish Center operates in accord with the classic rabbinic teaching of kol yisrael arevim zeh la-zeh: all Jews are responsible for each other, no matter who we are, what denominational label we wear, or where we call home. We are a small part of the Jewish community, and we are pleased to be affiliated with the United Synagogue and the Jewish Theological Seminary.
Our History
In 1930, in the nascent neighborhood of Forest Hills, a group of women became a Sisterhood to create a Hebrew School for their children. The Forest Hills Jewish Center was born from their initiative in 1931. It was originally a part of the Reform movement, but in 1934 Ben Zion Bokser z”l, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary, was hired. Rabbi Bokser led our congregation with strength and distinction for the next 50 years, as we moved from a storefront to the Kessel Street building in 1939, and, after World War II, to our present home on Queens Boulevard, which opened as synagogue and center for the entire community in 1949.
In 1937 the E and F trains reached Forest Hills, greatly increasing the area’s population, and in 1950 our preschool, which would go on to receive many United Synagogue awards, got its start. The ’50s and ’60s were the Forest Hills Jewish Center’s heyday, when we had 1,800 member families and the Hebrew School grew from 300 to 900 students.
Following the tradition of many distinguished Assistant Rabbis who have become Rabbis of their own shuls, Gerald Skolnik came to us directly from the Seminary in 1981. Rabbi Skolnik quickly won the hearts of the congregation, and, after the untimely death of Rabbi Bokser in 1984, became Senior Rabbi, guiding the Forest Hills Jewish Center to become a vibrant center of learning and prayer. After serving with distinction for 42 years, Rabbi Skolnik retired; in May 2023, we welcomed Daniel Graber, who has brought his own energetic, innovative, warm, and welcoming style to the pulpit.
Our services have always been enriched by Cantorial voices. Isaac Gorsky, z”l, and Zvee Aroni, z”l, preceded the 1963 arrival of Erno Grosz, z”l, a graduate of the Cantorial School of The Jewish Theological Seminary. For the following thirty-six years his sonorous voice was a highlight of Shabbat and High Holiday services. Adam Frei followed Cantor Grosz from 1999-2009, sharing his gentle, low key, passionate style. From 2009-2022, we were inspired by the warm and rich tones of Henry Rosenblum. Now, our worship is uplifted by Randall Levin, who fills our sanctuary with new and varied selections of liturgical music.
The new clerical leadership of Rabbi Graber and Hazzan Levin has just started. The Forest Hills Jewish Center is poised for another era of innovation. Our members include more than 300 families, with roots in Eastern Europe, Russia, Germany, England, Ireland, Israel, Egypt, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, and Asia. Our future is very bright and warm and beautiful, and we’d like nothing better than to see it with you.
Our Values
Under Rabbi Bokser’s leadership, women became more and more integrated in the Shabbat and Holiday services, and, under the aegis of Rabbi Skolnik, our services became fully egalitarian.
The Forest Hills Jewish Center has always had a social conscience—developed by Rabbi Bokser, expanded by Rabbi Skolnik, and continued by Rabbi Graber. In the late ’80s, we joined Jews from across the country raising our voices to free Soviet Jewry. We have rallied for Israel. When the scourge of AIDS came to our city, Rabbi Skolnik headed a committee of UJA to combat it. It was Rabbi Skolnik’s communications with our Christian neighbors that created the moving, annual Thanksgiving Interfaith service. We are a part of the larger Jewish community, but we are also a part of the larger community of Queens and beyond, and we take that responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.
