The Queens Jewish Center, also known as Queens Jewish Center and Talmud Torah or QJC, is a synagogue in Forest Hills

Forest Hills, Queens

Forest Hills is a neighborhood in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York, United States.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood is home to upper-middle class residents, of whom the wealthier residents often live in the neighborhood's Forest Hills Gardens area...

, Queens, New York known for its significant contributions to the Jewish community. The synagogue was established by a dozen families in 1943 to serve the growing central Queens Jewish community. The current spiritual leader is Rabbi Benjamin Geiger.

Organization Affiliations

The Queens Jewish Center is a member of the following Jewish organizations:

• Orthodox Union
  Orthodox Union
  The Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America , more popularly known as the Orthodox Union , is one of the oldest Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States. It is best known for its kosher food preparation supervision service...
  
   (OU)
• Queens Jewish Community Council (QJCC)
• Vaad Harabonim of Queens (VHQ)

Architecture

The Queens Jewish Center building won honorable mention in the 1955 Queens Chamber of Commerce, Annual Building Awards. The architect was David Moed of Manhattan and the Builder was the LeFrak Organization.

The structure actually consists of two separate buildings. On October 3, 1946 an option was taken on the vacant plot where both Synagogue buildings now stand. Ground was first broken for the first building (also referred to as the Talmud Torah building or Bais Hamedrash building) during an elaborate ceremony on June 5, 1949, by Judge Paul Balsam

Paul Balsam

Paul Balsam was a justice on the New York State Supreme Court from January 1, 1965 until his death in 1972. He was born, and lived throughout his life, in Ozone Park, Queens...

 and Center President Herman A. Levine. The ground-breaking for the Main Synagogue building took place on June 21, 1953 and was made possible by generous benefactor, Mr. Harry LeFrak.

Rabbi Tenure

• Rabbi Eliezer Harbater (1943-1946)
• Rabbi Aryeh Gotlieb (1946-1949)
• Rabbi Morris Max (1949-1966)
• Rabbi Joseph Grunblatt (1967-2006)
• Rabbi Benjamin Geiger (2007-present)

Notable Members

• Harry LeFrak
• Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander
  Bernard Lander
  Rabbi Dr. Bernard Lander , founder and first president of Touro College, was a social scientist and educator, a preeminent leader in the Jewish community and a pioneer in Jewish and general higher education.-Biography:...
  
  
• Judge Paul Balsam
  Paul Balsam
  Paul Balsam was a justice on the New York State Supreme Court from January 1, 1965 until his death in 1972. He was born, and lived throughout his life, in Ozone Park, Queens...