• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Inside Press

Magazines serving the communities of Northern Westchester

  • Home
  • Advertise
    • Advertise in One or All of our Magazines
    • Advertising Payment Form
  • Digital Subscription
    • Subscribe
    • Subscriber Login
  • Print Subscription
  • Contact Us

Congregation B'nai Yisrael

Congregation B’nai Yisrael: Armonk’s Neighborhood Synagogue Celebrates 50 Years

August 24, 2019 by David Propper

Rabbi Strom and Cantor Sugarman

When Douglas Krantz interviewed to become the rabbi at Congregation B’nai Yisrael in Armonk in 1979, he was 31 and in graduate school in New York City.

Sensing an undeniable connection to the congregation though, he ended up dropping out of school to become the CBY’s first full-time senior rabbi. Besides meeting his wife, he said leading CBY was the “best fortune of his life.”

Krantz ended up being the rabbi for 34 years. He loved how members were willing to question things and wanted to understand why the temple was doing things a certain way.

“Our major goal where we agreed instantly was that the role of the congregation was to nurture and raise the next generation of Jews,” Krantz said.

And CBY has accomplished that and much more as it celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The reform temple, which was founded by only a small handful of families in 1969, has thrived in Armonk for five decades, giving Jewish people in the community a true connection to their culture and religion.

Two founding members, John and Barbara Stern, still go to CBY and are pleased to see its growth.

Forming the Temple

The Sterns moved to Armonk in 1969. At the time, there was a Jewish community locally, but those that attended synagogue would go to one in Chappaqua for services. There was an idea of creating a school in town for Jewish children and possibly even starting a synagogue. Eventually, four to eight families started the small reform congregation.

The original name was the Association for Armonk Jewish Families.

As more families joined, there was a divide whether to simply be a school for youngsters or morph into a full-service congregation with most families opting for the latter, John Stern recalled.

The families would have services inside different homes and would also use different local churches, including a Lutheran Church in the late 1970s where CBY is now situated along Banksville Road after that Lutheran Church closed.

John Stern said his and other founding members’ goal was to see CBY become a strong pillar in the reform Jewish community.

“It was always the intention to grow along with Armonk,” John Stern said. “Community is an integral part of Jewish life. There’s a great drive to be together and be part of a community.”

Barbara Stern said it is thrilling to see the congregation evolve with younger leaders taking the reins. She stressed this growth is what she and her husband dreamt of.

Rabbi Strom Paves the Future for CBY

In 2015, the congregation welcomed Rabbi Joshua Strom as head rabbi. Strom lives in neighboring Chappaqua with his three young boys and wife Tali Ruderman Strom who works for UJA Federation. The family is actively involved in Northern Westchester Jewish life.

Strom said he really enjoys the CBY congregants and the rich history that exists at the synagogue. He wants the congregation to be the center of Jewish life for people through worship, education and putting those Jewish values into practice by taking social justice action within the community and world.

“There are so many ways to tap into Jewish life,” Strom said.

One way Strom represented Jewish values is when he appeared on the nationally televised game show earlier this year, Beat Shazam, which sees if contestants can name a song in only a couple of notes and is hosted by Jamie Foxx. The themed episode he was on was called “Keep the Faith” that featured other contestants from religious backgrounds.

Strom and his game show partner, Andrew, who is also a rabbi, won, but Strom said he thought it was more important to give people a clearer idea of what a Jewish leader can actually look like.

“Andrew and I don’t look like what a whole lot of people in America might think or assume a rabbi looks like,” he said. “I got a lot of comments from people in my congregation–not only was this super fun and wonderful–but especially with everything going on in our country and world today, people were saying ‘you being on television, this is actually good for the Jews. This is a good representation.”

Aaron Kwittken, who has been a congregation member for 11 years and started his tenure as temple president on July 1, said he thinks it’s important that Armonk and the rest of Northern Westchester has institutions where people feel enthusiastic and secure practicing Jewish values.

Come Be You at CBY: A Welcoming Synagogue

CBY has become a staple in the community, Kwittken said, because the synagogue is a “very welcoming, very inclusive environment.”

People who are interfaith or from the LGBTQ community are welcomed, Kwittken noted. Congregants are encouraged to “come be you” which initials are CBY, the synagogue’s acronym. Kwittken also lauded the current Rabbi, Joshua Strom, for his leadership.

“We’ve always had a modern mindset and a very forward looking, progressive attitude, it’s really helped us attract and maintain members for half-a-century now,” Kwittken said.

Kwittken said it’s rare for founding members, like the Sterns, to still be so deeply involved with the synagogue and it’s noteworthy that the temple has only needed three full-time senior rabbis in five decades.

“Not only does it make us rare, but it makes a treasure of northern Westchester,” he said.

It’s great to interact with a cross-generational group of people that Kwittken said he might not have met if not for the temple.

Rabbi Strom and Rabbi Krantz

Golden Anniversary Celebrations In the Works

To mark the 50th year, the temple will be celebrating the congregation’s founding members, including Rabbi Krantz, and will have notable speakers, including from The Union for Reform Judaism. Various other activities and programs are in the works, Kwittken said. A large gala was also held in April, honoring four families that represent the past and the future of the synagogue.

The temple’s executive director, Ava Saperstein, said she believes the synagogue has “turned a corner” and is on the “upswing.” In the last year, about 30 families have joined CBY, resulting in 340 families overall and many have children enrolled in the religious school.

There is also young clergy, like Rabbi Strom, with the temple that are still able to connect with older members, but can also relate to younger ones, Saperstein said.

Cantor Sugarman Joins the Clergy Team

Part of the youthful clergy members includes the temple’s new cantor, Lilah Sugarman, who started July 1. Before interviewing with CBY, Sugarman, who grew up in Los Angeles, had never heard of Armonk, but now she’s happy to call it home.

When she interviewed with CBY, she just knew, just like Rabbi Krantz had known decades earlier, it was the right fit for her.

“CBY has a really strong history of connecting the community to Judaism in very different ways,” she said. “I’m excited to continue to do that.”

Lifelong Learning at CBY

At CBY, the congregation stresses that Judaism is a lifelong journey that requires ongoing education and spiritual discovery.

“We discover the building blocks of Jewish life, explore our sense of selves in the context of our Jewish heritage, and apply the lessons and ethics of our Jewish people throughout our journeys,” CBY’s website states.

With that in mind, CBY offers learning opportunities starting in 3rd grade in preparation for a child’s bar/bah mitzvah. But the chance to better understand Judaism doesn’t stop there, with post confirmation courses for teens that’s focused on leadership and courses for adults to continue their Jewish journey.

The adult education program is accessible with different days and times for those members that want to pursue further learning. Rabbi Strom holds Torah study several times a month, including every Saturday morning from September to June.

He’ll even travel to New York City one Wednesday a month for a class called Times Square Torah for those congregation members that work in the city.

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Armonk, CBY, Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Rabbi, Rabbi Krantz

High Holiday Recipes Featuring the Best of Fall’s Bounty

August 25, 2017 by The Inside Press

COMPILED BY AREA SYNAGOGUES

Fall ushers in the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year 5778 and Yom Kippur known as the Day of Atonement when many Jews typically fast. But the Jewish New Year is a time of sweet holiday recipes featuring all the best of fall’s produce for families to eat together. Whether you are Jewish or not, these recipes are easy to make and are sure to delight the senses.

Classic Noodle Kugel

 Ingredients  Directions

4 eggs

½ cup sugar

¾ stick butter

1 tsp. lemon juice

1 cup sour cream

1 cup whipped cottage cheese

2 cups apples, chopped

½ cup raisins (optional)

1 tsp. cinnamon

12 oz. wide egg noodles

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook the noodles until tender according to package directions. Drain and set aside. In a large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, and lemon juice together. Stir in the cooked noodles and combine until noodles are thoroughly coated. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour mixture into greased 11×7 inch baking pan. Bake until firm and golden on top, about 50 minutes.

Recipe courtesy of Temple Shaaray Tefila

 

 

Morah Mindy’s Chocolate Chip Applesauce Cake

 Ingredients  Directions

2 cups flour

1 stick of margarine

1 cup sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. baking soda

1 egg

15 oz. applesauce

1 cup mini chocolate chips

Mix all these ingredients together and bake in a lightly greased square pan at 350 degrees for one hour.

Recipe courtesy of Mindy Citera, Director of Early Childhood Education at Bet Torah

 

 

Holiday Chicken

 Ingredients  Directions

4 tsp. butter, melted

¼ cup honey

¼ cup Saucy Susan or apricot jam

4 tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 tbsp. white wine

2 tbsp. soy sauce

12 chicken pieces (bone in)

Paprika

In a large baking pan, mix together the first seven ingredients to prepare the marinade. Coat the chicken well; cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Turn the chicken pieces skin side up; baste with sauce, sprinkle with paprika, and bake 1½ hours, basting occasionally, until brown and cooked through.

Recipe courtesy of Congregation B’nai Yisrael

 

 

Honey Cake

 Ingredients  Directions

3½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. kosher salt

4 tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

½ tsp. ground allspice

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup honey

1½ cups granulated sugar

½ cup brown sugar

3 large eggs at room temperature

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 cup warm coffee or strong tea

½ cup fresh orange juice

¼ cup rye or whiskey

½ cup slivered or sliced almonds (optional)

Note: This recipe fits in three loaf pans, two 9-inch square or round cake pans, one 9 or 10 inch tube or bundt cake pan, or one 9 by 13 inch sheet cake.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves and allspice. Make a well in the center, and add oil, honey, white sugar, brown sugars, eggs, vanilla, coffee or tea, orange juice and rye or whiskey, if using. (If you measure your oil before the honey, it will be easier to get all of the honey out.)

Using a strong wire whisk or in an electric mixer on slow speed, stir together well to make a thick, well-blended batter, making sure that no ingredients are stuck to the bottom.

Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). Sprinkle top of cake(s) evenly with almonds, if using. Place cake pan(s) on two baking sheets, stacked together (this will ensure the cakes bake properly with the bottom baking faster than the cake interior and top).

Bake until cake tests done, that is, it springs back when you gently touch the cake center. For angel and tube cake pans, this will take 60 to 75 minutes, loaf cakes, about 45 to 55 minutes. For sheet style cakes, baking time is 40 to 45 minutes.

Let cake stand 15 minutes before removing from pan.

Recipe courtesy of Temple Beth El and adapted from Smitten Kitchen

 

 

 

Filed Under: Armonk Cover Stories Tagged With: Bet Torah Synagogue, Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Cooking, High Holiday Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Jewish, Jewish Holidays, meal, prep, Synagogues, Temple Beth El, Temple Shaaray Tefila

Congregation B’nai Yisrael in Armonk: Prospective Member Barbeque, June 10!

June 2, 2016 by Inside Press

Congregation B’nai Yisrael is hosting an end of the year and prospective member BBQ on Friday, June 10 at 6:30pm, followed by Shabbat Services at 8 p.m. Come meet our clergy and members and learn what makes our community so unique. Open to everyone. RSVP at cbyarmonk.org/bbq.

Founded in 1970, Congregation B’nai Yisrael is a Reform congregation with over 300 family members.
.bbq fb graphic

Filed Under: North Castle Releases Tagged With: Congregation B'nai Yisrael

Congregation B’nai Yisrael Celebrates New Rabbi and Educator

September 1, 2015 by The Inside Press

rabbi_josh_stromRabbi Josh Strom has joined Congregation B’nai Yisrael (CBY) of Armonk as its new permanent rabbi. Rabbi Strom previously served as an Associate Rabbi for Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Colgate University and was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2008.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Rabbi Strom to our congregation and local Jewish community,” said Lisa Broomer, president of CBY. She added, “Rabbi Strom brings just the right combination of new ideas and respect for tradition to our congregation with boundless amounts of enthusiasm and passion for our shared Jewish values and beliefs. We are looking forward to many years of fulfilling worship, meaningful learning and heartfelt outreach both within and beyond our community with Rabbi Strom, in partnership with our beloved Cantor, Hayley Kobilinsky, who just celebrated ten wonderful lyrical years with CBY.”

“I am both humbled and thrilled to be joining this strong congregation and local Jewish community,” said Rabbi Strom. “CBY has a rich history for upholding both cultural and social values rooted in Jewish beliefs and traditions. I am eager to help lead and build CBY’s congregation and presence as it embarks on the next great chapter of its future.”

Melissa Cohavi also joins CBY as the new education director after serving Temple Sinai of Stamford, CT for 10 years. Melissa’s extensive education includes a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and a Masters in Social Work from Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

Lisa Broomer shared, “The Board of Trustees and congregation are very excited and inspired by the additions of Rabbi Strom and Melissa Cohavi.
Their dynamic personalities have already had a big positive impact in a short amount of time.”

Welcoming video interviews of Rabbi Strom and Melissa Cohavi are available through CBY’s website, www.CBYArmonk.org Founded in 1970, Congregation B’nai Yisrael of Armonk is a Reform congregation with nearly 350 family members.

Filed Under: Happenings Tagged With: Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Inside Press, Jewish community, Judaism, Rabbi, theinsidepress.com

Rabbi Joshua Strom: New Leader at Congregation B’nai Yisrael

July 24, 2015 by The Inside Press

rabbi_josh_stromEditor’s Note: Congregation B’nai Yisrael is hoping members and prospective members will take the time to “get to know” their new Rabbi–Rabbi Joshua Strom–who just recently joined this vibrant North Castle congregation. Rabbi Strom joins B’nai Israel with not only an impressive Rabbinical background, but with a strong love for musical theater and hockey too!

Here are some highlights B’nai Israel provided about Rabbi Strom:

Rabbi Strom was born in northeast Philadelphia and raised in the suburb of Yardley, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. He is the younger of two sons born to Rabbi Elliot and Susan Strom, brother to Adam. He grew up spending summers at URJ Camp Harlam in the Poconos, through which he made many lifelong friends and met his wife, Tali, and many weekends throughout the school year with NFTY-PAR.

He graduated Pennsbury High School in 1998 and went on to attend Colgate University in Hamilton, New York, where he received a BA in English, graduating magna cum laude in 2002.
While matriculating at Colgate, Rabbi Strom became very involved in the men’s a cappella group, the Colgate 13, as well as musical and dramatic theater, appearing in half a dozen productions of various genres. Colgate is also the place where Rabbi Strom discovered his aspirations for a career in the congregational rabbinate, as well as where he learned to tolerate the cold and love the beautiful game of hockey.

In the year following his graduation, while applying to the rabbinical school of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, he worked at Congregation Beth Chaim in Princeton Junction, New Jersey as the assistant director of the religious school and youth group advisor.

Rabbi Strom began his rabbinical studies in the summer of 2003 in Jerusalem, and returned the following spring to begin studying at the New York campus. He served Temple Beth El in Chappaqua as a rabbinic intern for that year, and also began to teach at Temple Shaaray Tefila of New York City, where he would eventually become a rabbinic intern. Upon his ordination from HUC-JIR in 2008, Rabbi Strom went on to serve Shaaray Tefila as their assistant and then associate rabbi until the spring of 2015.

Rabbi Strom and Tali were married just weeks after his rabbinic ordination in 2008, and are now blessed with sons Jonah, born in May 2010, and Gabriel, born in December 2013.

Filed Under: North Castle Releases Tagged With: Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Inside Press, Judaism, Rabbi Joshua Strom, theinsidepress.com

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Please Visit

William Raveis – Armonk
William Raveis – Chappaqua
White Plains Hospital
Houlihan Lawrence – Armonk
Houlihan Lawrence – Briarcliff
Houlihan Lawrence – Chappaqua
NYOMIS – Dr. Andrew Horowitz
Raveis: Lisa Koh and Allison Coviello
Purple Plains
Compass: Miller-Goldenberg Team
Korth & Shannahan
Douglas Elliman: Chappaqua
Compass: Aurora Banaszek
Terra Tile & Marble
Sugar Hi
Roamfurther Athletics
David Visconti Painting & Contracting
King Street Creatives
Houlihan: Kile Boga-Ibric
New Castle Physical Therapy

Follow our Social Media

The Inside Press

Our Latest Issues

For a full reading of our current edition, or to obtain a copy or subscription, please contact us.

Inside Armonk Inside Chappaqua and Millwood Inside Pleasantville and Briarcliff Manor

Join Our Mailing List


Search Inside Press

Links

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Digital Subscription
  • Print Subscription

Publisher’s Note Regarding Our Valued Sponsors

Inside Press is not responsible for and does not necessarily endorse or not endorse any advertisers, products or resources referenced in either sponsor-driven stories or in advertisements appearing in this publication. The Inside Press shall not be liable to any party as a result of any information, services or resources made available through this publication.The Inside Press is published in good faith and cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in advertising or sponsor driven stories that appear in this publication. The views of advertisers and contributors are not necessarily those of the publisher’s.

Opinions and information presented in all Inside Press articles, such as in the arena of health and medicine, strictly reflect the experiences, expertise and/or views of those interviewed, and are not necessarily recommended or endorsed by the Inside Press. Please consult your own doctor for diagnosis and/or treatment.

Footer

Support The Inside Press

Advertising

Print Subscription

Digital Subscription

Categories

Archives

Subscribe

Did you know you can subscribe anytime to our print editions?

Voluntary subscriptions are most welcome, if you've moved outside the area, or a subscription is a great present idea for an elderly parent, for a neighbor who is moving or for your graduating high school student or any college student who may enjoy keeping up with hometown stories.

Subscribe Today

Copyright © 2025 The Inside Press, Inc. · Log in