LI Synagogue Sees Potential Shift; Up To 300 Families Could Join

LONG BEACH, NY — One Long Island synagogue may soon see a spike in congregants. As many as 300 families are exploring a move to Long Beach and the BACH Jewish Center.

Rabbi Benny Berlin recently was part of the Orthodox Union's virtual Home Relocation Fair.

"Jewish communal needs have shifted in the last couple of years," Berlin told Patch. "You're seeing people leave places like Manhattan and more to the suburbs."

Berlin, who is the spiritual leader of the BACH Jewish Center, said Long Beach crosses many boxes for new homeowners.

"It offers a certain quality of life that doesn't exist in a lot of areas of New York and New Jersey," he said.

BACH's membership has already grown by 25-percent since June 2020.

"It's close enough to all the amenities that I would need," Berlin said about prospective new congregants. "We have our own bakery. We have our own butcher. We have our supermarket. But if you want to tap into even more amenities, you're just a 15-minute drive to Five Towns, and there you can find whatever you want."

While 296 families indicated to the Orthodox Union survey of potential interest in uprooting to Long Beach, Berlin is more realistic.

"I'd be happy if 10-percent of them would move," he said. "That could really change the tide."

Adding that many more families could lead to building a new Jewish preschool and other resources.

He said the families, while primarily located in the tri-state, are also living in other parts of the country.

"A lot of my focus the last two years has been on young families," Berlin said.