Every summer, the Newburgh Jewish Community Center at 290 North Street in Newburgh invites members and friends of the Jewish community to convene under the summer sky to partake in a joyous celebration.

Newburgh JCC Executive Director Stefanie Kostenblatt said, “This summer soiree completed by blue skies and the evening breeze of mid-August is the picture-perfect encapsulation of the world we celebrate in the Jewish faith and give thanks for.”

The annual Outdoor Shabbat sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County brings the community together in celebration with a ritually observant Kosher dinner and music concluded with an abbreviated Jewish service led by two Rabbis. This year two new clergy representing the conservative and reform congregations are making their debut in Newburgh. Rabbi Kohn and Rabbi Rosner have just arrived in Newburgh from their individual tenancies in California and Pennsylvania. It was their first event together in their shared space at 290 North Street.

“A wonderful community fills our Temple and our shared Jewish community campus! From my first encounter, I was struck by the genuineness and kindness of the people here, which I am now privileged to serve as Rabbi,” said Rabbi Kohn.

The righteous path of Judaism is one of commitment and constancy. The approaching Jewish Year of 5780 represents nearly six Millenium of a slowly adapting belief system which calls for rest on the seventh day (Shabbat). Conservative and reform worshipers hold different beliefs about the extent of observation that is required, but both agree on the basic principles of creating a better world together. Judaism encourages active discussion of all things with the rules of Torah to guide the conversation.

Seventy-five members of the community helped to welcome Rabbi Kohn and Rabbi Rosner to the campus at 290 North Street in Newburgh during outdoor Shabbat. Information about upcoming High Holidays services can be found at congregationagudasisrael.org/ and tbjnewburgh.org/.