Our Synagogue Is Cited In The Acknowledgments

 I met Andrea Strongwater about 20 years ago in a summer writing class at Cornell University. She was wildly energetic about her many pursuits — art, history, writing, painting, and anything having to do with Cornell. I, on the other hand, was quiet writer, elevating my own family’s stories into essays, while a mere visitor to the campus courtesy of my husband, an alum. I admired her many talents. She liked a story I’d written about my father. We became friends.

At the time, she was focused on an idea about somehow recreating the synagogues across Europe that had been destroyed through war, antisemitism and Hitler’s Nazis. To me, it seemed an unattainable goal — how to resurrect what had been destroyed. This practicality did not hinder Andrea’s zeal for the project.

Post Cornell, our email correspondence kept me updated on her myriad adventures and travels — and, of course, the state of the lost synagogues project.

Several weeks ago, I received a large package here at the senior community where I now live. My dinner companions were curious about the contents — the size of the package and the weight of it certain incentives to open it immediately. Under the watchful eyes of my tablemates, I carefully cut through the wrapping and the thick carton, from which emerged a book, Lost Synagogues of Europe, Paintings and Histories Written and Illustrated by Andrea Strongwater.

Teary-eyed with joy for my friend’s accomplishment and success, I opened the large format, 244-page volume, and had hardly leafed through the first page or two, when my fellow spectators wanted a closer look-see. They oohed and aahed at the stunning, full color illustrations, and remarked appreciatively at the intricacy of the research that revealed the splendor of the various synagogues.

Finally wresting the book from my dinnermates, I made my way home for some private time with Andrea’s magnum opus. I read with interest the Judaic context in the foreword by Dr. Ismar Schorsch, chancellor emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary, also Andrea’s introduction, which detailed her career and the process that finally resulted in the this historically significant and aesthetically fulfilling work.

            As I made my way through the introductory material, I found it remarkable just how many names had contributed to this undertaking, including, to my surprise, the following citation: “…Dr. Carol K. Ingall, the Dr. Bernard Heller Professor Emerita of Jewish Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary, attended my Zoom presentation to Congregation Tifereth Israel in Greenport, New York, and introduced me to Dr. Ismar Schorsch.”

Yes, as Andrea’s project was burgeoning, I invited her to present a “Lunch and Learn” session at our shul. Intrigued by the subject matter, many members and invited guests attended, including shul member Carol Ingall, who provided the introductions to JTS.

Over time, The Shofar has recommended books to its readers through an occasional column titled “Random Reads,” also through selections chosen by the Book Circle group, and from various authors invited to address our membership. With the approach of Hanukkah this month, I call your

attention to Andrea Strongwater’s recreation of an aspect of Jewish culture once destroyed and now resurrected in her stunning presentation —  offered at the astonishingly low price of $36.95.

— Sara Bloom