black and white early 20th century confirmation group photo

Our History

A History of Significance

Sinai Free Synagogue is Westchester’s “newest” Reform congregation, but our roots go back over 100 years. Formed in 1999 by a merger of Mount Vernon’s Sinai Temple and the Free Synagogue of Westchester, our congregation has a long, distinguished history.

Sinai Temple, founded in 1906, was the first Reform congregation in Westchester County. One of its early worshipers was Civil War veteran, Moritz Lowenstein. Eleanor Roosevelt was one of many distinguished speakers to energize the group at services. In the 1970s, Sinai Temple of the Bronx (whose spiritual leaders included Rabbi Herman Saville) moved from the Grand Concourse and merged with Sinai Temple of Mount Vernon, which occupied a beautiful building on Crary Avenue from 1926 until the merger with the Free Synagogue of Westchester.

The Free Synagogue of Westchester was founded in 1927, patterned after the liberal viewpoint of the Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in Manhattan. The congregation’s previous home, just south of our beautiful synagogue, served as a secret storage point for arms bound for Israel as the new nation was fighting for its independence. The original house on the property had been a stop for slaves heading to freedom via the Underground Railroad.

Both congregations were known for their active membership and dynamic rabbis who were at the forefront of the move to establish the State of Israel and were early and outspoken supporters of the civil rights movement in America.

In the fall of 2006, Judea Reform Temple of the Bronx closed its doors and joined with SFS to celebrate our shared heritage and communal values.

Through the Years

See our history come to life in this series of classic Confirmation group photos! The slides will advance automatically, or you can use the arrows (« ») below the image to explore the gallery.

  • group confirmation photo from early 20th century
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Our Rabbis, Past and Present

Use the arrows (« ») to explore our Rabbinic history – get to know the names of the rabbis who’ve served and helped shape the identity of this community with their dedication and commitment.

  • George Alexander Kohut

    1906-1907

    Sinai Temple

  • I. Warsaw

    1907-1908

    Sinai Temple

  • Joseph I. Gorfinkle

    1908-1929

    Sinai Temple

  • Max Maccoby

    1927-1956

    Free Synagogue

  • Dr. S. Andhil Fineberg

    1929-1937

    Sinai Temple

  • Dr. Henry E. Kagan

    1937-1969

    Sinai Temple

  • Leon A. Jick

    1957-1966

    Free Synagogue

  • Max Hausen

    1966-1972

    Free Synagogue

  • Hirshel L. Jaffe

    1970-1973

    Sinai Temple

  • James H. Perman

    1972-1993

    Free Synagogue

  • Cyrus Arfa

    1974-1988

    Sinai Temple

  • David Lipman

    1988-1999

    Sinai Temple

  • Bernard M. Zlotowitz

    1993-1994

    Free Synagogue

  • Morris W. Barzilai

    1994-Present

    Free Synagogue/Sinai Free Synagogue