The Kehilla-A Short Historical Review
K'hal Adath Jeshurun ("KAJ") was the name of the famed Kehilla in Frankfurt-am-Main, in pre-war Germany. It was established by Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch who was brought in 1851 to Frankfurt to lead the small remnant of the Orthodox community which had been decimated by the Reform. Disassociating ("Austritt"- Independent Orthodoxy) from the Reform and under the banner of his "Torah im Derech Eretz" approach, Rav Hirsch founded a school (the "Realschule") and rebuilt the Orthodox Frankfurt Kehilla to great success.
In the late 1930's, driven out of Europe by Hitler and his followers, a small number of German refugees who had settled in the Washington Heights section of New York joined together to establish a Minyan of their own where they could maintain their accustomed Minhagim and cherished tradition.
When Rav Dr. Joseph Breuer arrived in New York in February, 1939, he was asked to become Rav of this Minyan, which, at the time, was only held on Shabbos. Upon accepting this position, Rav Breuer immediately offered his home so that there could be regular weekday services. Thus, the congregation was born, which, at the suggestion of the Rav, assumed the name of the famous Frankfurt Kehilla: K'hal Adath Jeshurun. Like the Frankfurt Kehilla, this congregation was to become a full-fledged Kehilla which was to serve as a bastion of Independent Orthodoxy and a bearer of the "Torah im Derech Eretz" approach.
Rav Breuer was the grandson of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch, and the son of Rav Dr. Salomon Breuer, who had succeeded Rav Hirsch in his position as Rav of the Frankfurt Kehilla. Rav Dr. Joseph Breuer had served as the Rav of the "Klaus" synagogue in Frankfurt, and as the Rosh HaYeshiva of the Frankfurt Yeshiva.
Rav Breuer saw the opportunity to rebuild the Frankfurt Kehilla of old, but at the same time making it a center that attracted not only people from Frankfurt and Germany at large but from many neighboring Kehillos of Europe. While in general the Kehilla continued the Minhagim of Frankfurt, some changes were introduced by Rav Breuer to accommodate members who came from other communities.
After the modest beginning, the Kehilla rented space in the Republican Club of Washington Heights. Soon the space proved too small and, in time for Pesach 1939, the hall of 90 Bennett Avenue was rented. During that year, a fire destroyed a large part of the hall and it became necessary once again to move to other quarters. The premises at 187th Street and Fort Washington Avenue were then rented until 1941, when the Kehilla purchased the building at 90 Bennett to serve as the Shul and, later, as the Yeshiva. Later, when the current Shul building at 85-93 Bennett Avenue was built in 1952, the facility at 90 Bennett Avenue served as a social hall. Originally called the Schuster Hall, it is now known at the Dr. Raphael Moller Auditorium.
In spite of great difficulties and enormous obstacles, Rav Breuer set out to establish the institutions required for an all-encompassing Kehilla. His initial effort called for the establishment and building of a Mikveh. Although he was advised by many that it was unrealistic to try to build a Mikveh at that time of war and economic uncertainty, Rav Breuer characteristically persevered and a building on 187th Street and Audubon Avenue was purchased and the Mikveh opened in 1944.
"The Kehilla needs a Yeshiva" was a repeated appeal by Rav Breuer. In 1944, the Yeshiva, named after Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch, was established and classes were held in both the Shul building and in 90 Bennett Ave. The Broadway building was built in 1958 and the High School building next to the Shul was built in 1963. The Rika Breuer Teachers Seminary was established in 1963, under the leadership of Rabbi Joseph Elias. In 1973, the Bais Medrash building at 220 Bennett Avenue was built.
Rav Breuer also oversaw the establishment of a Kashrus network, known for its integrity, as well as the gradual development of Gemilus Chessed institutions such as Chevros Kaddisho for men and women.
In 1946, Rav Breuer invited Rav Moshe Jacobovits to join him as Dayan of the Kehilla. Rav Jacobovits, a native of Lakenbach, Austria and a Talmid of the Pressburg Yeshiva, assisted the Rav in the growing Kashrus work and gave regular Shiurim. After his untimely passing in 1950, he was succeeded by Rav Eleazar Tarsis, a talmid of the Lithuanian Yeshivos and of Rav Dr. Salomon Breuer. In 1966, Rav Jacob Posen, a member of the Gateshead Kollel for many years, became the Dayan and in 1995 Rav Chaim Kohn became an additional Dayan for the Kehilla. Rav Eliyahu Glucksman served the Rabbinate with particular involvement with the youth of the community since coming to the Kehilla in 1967 and later as Dayan.
Ever concerned with the welfare of the Kehilla, Rav Breuer asked Rav Shimon Schwab, then Rav of Congregation Shearith Israel in Baltimore, to join him as Rav in 1957. With his command of the English language, Rav Schwab was of special influence to the younger members. Under his guidance, the Yeshiva added a Kollel and established a Smichah program. His erudition and oratorical ability gained for him and the Kehilla world-wide renown. For twenty-three years, Rav Breuer and Rav Schwab worked together to develop the Kehilla in all its aspects. Rav Breuer was niftar in 1980 and Rav Schwab in 1995.
In 1987, the Kehilla chose Rav Zechariah Gelley to join the Rabbinate and assume the position of Morah D'Asrah and Av Bais Din. Rav Gelley had been the Rosh Yeshiva in Sunderland, England for twenty-two years. In 2006 the Kehilla invited Rav Yisroel Mantel, Rav of Lucerne, Switzerland, to join the Rabbinate; his personal devotion to the members has already made a positive impact on the community.
The burden of the administrative work of the Kehilla has been carried over the years by the Board of Trustees, headed first by Mr. Walter Joseph, followed by Dr. Raphael Moller. Rabbi Edwin Katzenstein presided over the Kehilla at a crucial time after the petiros of Rav Breuer and Dr. Moller. Rabbi Katzenstein was succeeded in 1986 by Dr. Erich Erlbach, the current president.
KAJ under Rav Breuer and his successors continues to adhere to the philosophy of "Independent Orthodoxy"which rejects both the legitimacy of other branches of Judaism and any dealings with organizations associated with them. KAJ also bases its approach, and structure, on Rav Hirsch's philosophy of "Torah im Derech Eretz" which encourages involvement in the modern world under the dominion of Torah without any compromise of loyalty to Torah and its precepts. Learning Torah is a core of the Kehilla and there are many intensive Shiurim and learning programs at various levels for men and women of all ages.
Unlike most Ashkenazic synagogues in the United States, which follow the Nusach Askhenaz ("Polish") liturgical rite, KAJ follows Minhag Ashkenaz ("German"), in its liturgical text, practices, and melodies. Its first official Chazon was Mr. Abe Wertheim, who was joined in 1949 by Mr. Robert R. Frankel and in 1962 by Rabbi David Kenner; Rabbi Yisroel Meir Kenner served as Chazon in the late 1990's. Lter, Mr. Ezra Hes and Rabbi Ezra Lasdun were appointed Chazonim. The Chazonim and Baale Tefillo and the men and boys of the choir take great pride in perpetuating the familiar Niggunim.
True to the concept of a full service community ("Kehilla"), KAJ comprises a synagogue, various educational facilities, a social hall, and a Beth Midrash. The Kehilla also offers its members a Mikveh, a Chevra Kadisha and a renowned Kashrus supervision.
Partially adapted from A history of K'hal Adath Jeshurun by Rabbi Edwin Katzenstein, in The Living Hirschian Legacy: Essays on "Torah in Derech Eretz"and the Contemporary Hirschian Kehilla,; Feldheim Publishers (New York: 1988)