New York City’s smaller religious congregations are facing an unprecedented challenge as real estate prices skyrocket, making it increasingly difficult to find affordable and suitable spaces for worship and community gatherings. Many are forced to rent, leading to innovative partnerships and creative solutions to secure a place to call home.
Key Takeaways
- Rising real estate costs in NYC are pushing smaller congregations to find alternative housing solutions.
- Renting space requires specific needs, including capacity, secondary areas for events, and availability on key religious days.
- Creative partnerships with other organizations, both Jewish and non-Jewish, are emerging as a viable strategy.
- The loss of leases due to unforeseen circumstances, like school bankruptcies, adds to the instability for some congregations.
The Rental Quandary
For many smaller congregations, purchasing property is an unattainable dream due to the astronomical costs. Renting becomes the only option, but finding a space that meets specific needs—sufficient capacity for services, areas for post-service gatherings like kiddush lunches, and availability on Fridays, Saturdays, and holidays—is a significant hurdle in the competitive Manhattan real estate market.
Rabbi Adam Mintz of Kehilat Rayim Ahuvim shared his congregation’s months-long search for a space on the Upper West Side. They eventually found a suitable location within the National Council of Jewish Women’s building, a partnership that proved mutually beneficial, providing the congregation with below-market rent and the NCJW with a new income stream.
Innovative Partnerships and Shared Spaces
As rents have soared since around 2000, congregations have had to become increasingly creative. This includes leasing from diverse properties that can accommodate religious services. For instance, Kehillat Harlem rents a storefront, and Prospect Heights Shul is housed within Luria Academy, a Jewish school in Brooklyn.
However, securing a space doesn’t always guarantee long-term stability. Independent minyan Darkhei Noam faced an abrupt need for a new home when their landlord, Manhattan Country School, went bankrupt. Similarly, the Fort Tryon Jewish Center is being displaced by the closure of the Fort Washington Collegiate Church.
The "Shul With A Pool" Perspective
David Kaufman, author of "Shul with a Pool," notes that the current real estate climate is a stark contrast to the 1970s and 80s when renting premises was far more accessible. He highlights the growing trend of congregations seeking to lease space from larger Jewish organizations or community hubs.
Rabbi Mintz advocates for this model, having recently moved his congregation, now known as Shtiebel @ JCC, into the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. He believes this approach, where Jewish organizations rent out their underutilized spaces to smaller Jewish groups, strengthens the broader Jewish community.
Future Outlook
While partnerships with Jewish organizations are gaining traction, some areas, like Washington Heights, lack sufficient Jewish organizations to host other congregations. Rabbi Mintz hopes for initiatives, perhaps a dedicated fund, to incentivize these mutually beneficial real estate arrangements. The success of these creative solutions is crucial for the continued vitality of smaller congregations in New York City.