Manhattan’s Jewish Renaissance: The ALTNEU Effect
On Shabbat morning, after the Musaf prayer, despite battling the flu, Rabbi Goldschmidt stood and addressed the five hundred families that filled ALTNEU. The silence in the hall was absolute as he shared a story that touched every heart.
He spoke about Merav, Agam Berger’s mother. Merav, who hadn’t seen her daughter for so long, yet at this crucial moment, expressed deep concern about unnecessary violation of the Sabbath. “Think about this,” said the Rabbi, his hoarse voice trembling with emotion, “a mother whose heart is torn with longing for her daughter, yet even at this moment, she thinks about the sanctity of the Sabbath.”
Even though the Chief Rabbi had given permission to travel, Merav requested that the Sabbath not be violated unless absolutely necessary. Rabbi Goldschmidt managed to convey in his words the tremendous power of this moment – the tension between a mother’s love for her daughter and the devotion to keeping the Sabbath.
And then, just one day after this moving sermon, on Sunday, a special event took place at ALTNEU. The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, and his wife Michal came to celebrate one year since this thriving community moved into their new home. It was a significant milestone for a community that had grown in just three years from a handful of families to five hundred families.
Alex Tsigutkin and his wife Diana, who led the community from vision to impressive reality, stood there as living witnesses to the power of faith and dedication. Merav’s story from the Sabbath still echoed in the air, reminding everyone that behind the impressive numbers and meteoric growth stand deep values of devotion and faith.


