Rabbi Arthur Schneier

SENIOR RABBI

Rabbi Arthur Schneier is internationally known for his leadership on behalf of religious freedom, human rights and tolerance, with specific interest in China, Russia, Central Europe and the Balkans.  Founder and President of the Appeal of Conscience Foundation (1965) and spiritual leader of New York’s Park East Synagogue (1962), he was awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal by President William J. Clinton, citing him for “his service as an international envoy for four administrations” and as a Holocaust survivor, “devoting a lifetime to overcoming forces of hatred and intolerance.” Recipient of U.S. Department of State Special Recognition Award for “…his ecumenical work in favor of mutual understanding, tolerance and peace….”

A Holocaust survivor, Rabbi Schneier is known for his pioneering role in the struggle on behalf of Soviet Jewry and the rebuilding of Jewish religious life in Russia, the Ukraine and Eastern Europe.  He has successfully negotiated the return of the Moscow Synagogue to the Jewish community and was instrumental in the restoration of the Ohel Rachel Synagogue in Shanghai. As part of President Clinton’s delegation to China, Rabbi Schneier was privileged to present the Ohel Rachel Synagogue with the first Torah scroll in more than 50 years, donated by Park East Synagogue.

A staunch supporter of Israel he has had personal contacts with Prime Ministers Begin, Rabin, Shamir, Peres, Netanyahu, Barak and Sharon to help the struggle on behalf of Soviet Jewry and peace in the Middle East. 

A U.S. Alternate Representative to the U.N. General Assembly (President Reagan) and Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad (President George H. Bush), Rabbi Schneier initiated the Resolution for the Protection of Religious Sites, adopted by the U.N. General Assembly (2001) and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the Stockholm International Forum for the Prevention of Genocide, Sweden (President George W. Bush, 2004.)  Member of the High-Level Group, United Nations, Alliance of Civilizations, appointed by the Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Rabbi Schneier convened six international conferences: the Dialogue Among Civilizations Forum that brought together 9 heads of state from Eastern Europe in Ohrid, Macedonia (2003-co-sponsored with UNESCO and the President of Macedonia); Kosovo: Conference on Peace and Tolerance in Vienna, where for the first time religious leaders of the Muslim, Serbian Orthodox and Catholic communities met face to face (1999); Yugoslavia:the Religious Summit on the Former Yugoslavia in Switzerland and the Conflict Resolution Conference in Vienna, mobilizing religious leaders to halt the bloodshed in former Yugoslavia (1992, 1995); the Peace and Tolerance Conference in Istanbul, Turkey in cooperation with the Turkish Government and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I (1994).  The November 2005 Peace and Tolerance II conference in Istanbul, Turkey, was co-sponsored by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and focused on Kosovo-southeastern Europe, Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Keynote speaker on Christian, Jewish and Muslim dialogue:  Inter-Religious Conference convened by King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, Madrid 2008; Religious Leaders of the G8, Cologne, 2007; World Conference on Religion, Moscow, 2006; Islam in a Pluralistic World Conference, Vienna 2005; Asian Religious Summit, Bangkok, 2002,the Vatican.

In April 2008 Rabbi Schneier hosted His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI during his historic and unprecedented first visit to Park East Synagogue, marking the first time a Pope has visited a Synagogue in the United States and only the third time any Pope has ever visited a Jewish house of worship.

Founder of Park East Day School (early childhood through 8th grade) now known as Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School where many of the Israeli diplomats’ children have been enrolled.

Recipient of eleven honorary doctorates from U.S. and European universities. His alma mater, Yeshiva University, honored him by establishing the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Center for International Affairs in 2004.

Member of Council on Foreign Relations; Asia Society; United Nations Development Corporation; United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Committee on Conscience; Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations; Joint Distribution Committee; Past President and Honorary Chairman, Religious Zionists of America, Honorary Chairman, World Jewish Congress American Section.

Rabbi Schneier is the recipient of The Grand Decoration of Honor in Gold with Star for Service to the Republic of Austria; Order of the Republic of Hungary; Dr. Karl Renner Prize of the City of Vienna; Order of St. Daniel of Moscow (Moscow Patriarchate, Russian Orthodox Church); Religious Liberty Award.

Born in Vienna, Austria, March 20, 1930, Rabbi Schneier lived under Nazi occupation in Budapest during World War II and arrived in the United States in 1947.  He is married to Elisabeth Nordmann Schneier

Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt
Assistant Rabbi

Speaking Hebrew, English and Russian fluently, Rabbi Benjamin Goldschmidt, son of the Chief Rabbi of Moscow and the President of the Conference of European Rabbis, has been involved in many different programs and speaking engagements in all three languages and in various cultures across the globe. Having given public Passover Seders for the past several years to hundreds of people in Moscow, leading a group for March of the Living in Europe, heading the "Kanfei" camp in Australia and New Zealand, Rabbi Goldschmidt looks to inspire and infuse life and love of our Jewish heritage in all those that he comes across.

Born in Jerusalem, Rabbi Goldschmidt received a rigorous Talmudic education in the prime Lithuanian Yeshivas in Israel, Ponevezh and Hevron, and continued his post graduate studies at Beth Medrash Govoah in Lakewood New Jersey. Rabbi Goldshmidt is currently studying for his rabbinic ordination and heading a night learning program for high school boys at Yeshivat Ohr Reuven in Monsey, New York.

Assistant Rabbi Benjamin looks forward to investing his talents and experience to engage the Park East community as rabbinical intern, reaching out especially to the unaffiliated Russian speaking community in Manhattan.

Chief Cantor Yitzchok Meir Helfgot

Cantor Yitzchok Meir Helfgot was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. From the tender age of five, after hearing Moshe Koussevitzky’s recording of “Akavia Ben Mahalalel," Yitzchok Meir knew what his life's calling would be. At just eight years old, Cantor Helfgot recorded his first works, and then spent much of his childhood and teenage years studying voice and nussach (the art of prayer).

Cantor Helfgot held his first concert at twenty-three years old, performing three great works—Zibert’s “Mimkomcha,” Kwartin’s “Tiher Rabbi Yishmael” and Rosenblatt’s “Ad Hena”—all of which were masterfully executed and admired by those in attendance. It was at this point that the world began to realize the divine gift in Cantor Helfgot, taking us back to the Golden Age of Rosenblatt, Koussevitzky, Kwartin, Sirota and Hershman.

Truly living up to his name, Helfgot (literally translated as someone who helps 
G-d) rouses all who hear his golden voice to new spiritual heights.

Leading the way in today's revival of liturgical music, Cantor Helfgot has performed in concerts spanning six continents, where time after time he has left audiences spellbound. From New York to Beijing, from South Africa to Italy, and from Russia to Australia, Cantor Helfgot has drawn record crowds. Concertgoers agree it is almost impossible not to be warmed by the fire of his magnificent, soulful voice. Just when you think he has reached his peak, Helfgot takes you higher.

Cantor Helfgot currently serves as Chief Cantor of the Park East Synagogue in New York City. He appears regularly for Shabbatot around the world, and is currently booked for Shabbatot and concerts through the spring of 2008.

Cantor Helfgot’s recent recording, entitled “Barchi Nafshi – Bless Hashem O My Soul” and his latest album “Avot,” have broken Jewish record sales.

Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky

Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky was born in Liverpool, England, but spent his early schooling in the Netherlands and Johannesburg. At the age of nine his liturgical talents were discovered by world-renowned Cantor Johnny Gluck, and he subsequently joined his choir as a child soloist. At age sixteen he returned to England, where he was invited to lead High Holiday Services at prestigious Brighton and Hove Synagogue. At the same time, he furthered his Jewish Studies in the Manchester Yeshiva. Cantor Rogosnitzky pursued his higher education at the Royal Manchester School of Music and Art, where he earned his Masters Degree in Music Theory.

He has since lectured widely on music and its application to prayer and served as a guest lecturer at the Yale Conservatory of Music in the USA. Affectionately known as "Cantor Benny," he also gives classes and maintains a rigorous regime of study and practice of traditional and modern liturgy and music. He has produced several concerts, performing worldwide in New York, London, Tel Aviv, South Africa and Warsaw. Cantor Rogosnitzky's interests and talents are not limited to the sphere of music.

He worked closely with late international financier, Edmund Saffa, and has been instrumental in the organization of a myriad of successful charitable functions. He is also actively involved in Jewish outreach, both in the USA and Israel. He is passionately committed to making a meaningful difference in people's lives. In 1996 he was appointed as the senior cantor of the prestigious Jewish Center on the Upper West Side, where he served for 13 years. He now serves as Cantor at Park East Synagogue.