Syosset, NY – The long-running saga over the fate of the East Nassau Hebrew Congregation in Syosset seems now to be at a crossroads.
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A controversial plan to sell the synagogue to a Korean church deserves judicial scrutiny, according to State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
In papers filed before State Supreme Court Justice Thomas Phelan in Mineola, Assistant Attorney General Dorothy Nese asked the judge to conduct a full evidentiary hearing if necessary before deciding whether to permit the sale.
At issue is which of two groups of residents are telling the truth when they claim to be the synagogue’s trustees.
A group that includes the congregation’s rabbi, Sol Appleman insists that there is no longer an active congregation and that there has not been a minyan there for several years. In court papers, Rabbi Appleman said he is seeking dissolution of the congregation so he can sell the synagogue and three homes it owns.
The group seeking to block the sale, he said, wants to bring about “a hostile takeover” of the building, which he said his late parents bought and later donated to the congregation. Rabbi Appleman’s father, Morris, had been the Orthodox congregation’s spiritual leader for more than 40 years.
He charged also that Chabad-Lubavitch of Plainview is behind the group seeking to block the sale and that “their real goal is to obtain possession of East Nassau’s real property.”
Gerald Gross, the attorney for the objecting residents, claimed in court papers filed by an associate, Elliot Pasik, that Rabbi Appleman was “trying to play this court like a fiddle” in order to pull off “an elaborate scam.” He insisted that the board Rabbi Appleman said truly represents the synagogue is actually a “sham” because it is “populated by his family and friends who do not reside in the Syosset area.”
“Rabbi [Appleman] has, quite intentionally, driven this synagogue into the ground, closing it, looting its assets, and behaved like a neighborhood street bully, all in an effort to enrich himself with a $300,000 plus judgment,” Pasik wrote.
Rabbi Appleman said in an interview that he has arranged for the proceeds from the sale of the congregations’ properties to go to 25 different charities and yeshivas.
A bet din or Jewish religious court awarded Rabbi Appleman more than $290,000 in back pay that he said the congregation owed him. A court later affirmed that award in an uncontested proceeding that the objecting residents are now seeking to vacate.
In her papers to the court, Nese said she has been following this dispute for more than two years. At first it concerned allegations that the rabbi improperly leased the synagogue to an outside group and was planning to sell it. To do so or lease it for longer than five years would need her office’s approval.
Nese said she wrote to Rabbi Appleman to tell him of complaints about his “purported misuse or misappropriation of the synagogue property” and the way he was “conducting himself as the rabbi.”
She said also that she is still awaiting information from him that she requested a year ago and that the objecting residents had sought to argue their case before a bet din. When Rabbi Appleman declined, the religious court issued a ruling barring him from selling the congregation’s property.
Rabbi Appelbaum said the proceedings were holding up funds that were eagerly awaited by charitable beneficiaries.
Rabbi Appleman said three different developers want to buy the houses and that “a church wants to buy the synagogue indirectly.” He said the sale price is $2.5 million.
Rabbi Tuvia Teldon, executive director of Lubavitch of Long Island, said his organization is trying to see if there are other area residents interested in saving the congregation.
“They need to get more people on board to convince the court that there are enough people who want it to be a viable congregation,” he said. “We’re trying to help them get their shul back.”
This reminds me of the Australian situation where the congregation wants to fire the rebbe to save money and survive….here the rebbe wants to “fire” the congregation (or what might be left of an olam that could revive the shul)
Rabbi Teldon is a true yiras shomayim. May HKB”H bentch him with hatzlacha to save the shul from going to corupt individuals.
Maybe Agudah will help “Rabbi” Appleman by filing an amicus brief!!
I know the Teldon family well. They have been key players in advancing orthodoxy all over eastern Long Island and bringing MANY people back toward a life of Torah. B”H he is involved now… I have seen Tuvia Teldon make miracles happen on Long Island. He is VERY well respected by local government officials as he works WITH communities… not against them…. to build shuls all over Suffolk County. His wife opened a yeshiva for young children a number of years ago in East Northport, NY, near the Young Israel there (Chaim Bausk’s shul). Nobody thought it would succeed, as a previous school had closed a few years prior. They have succeeded beautifully. Torah, genuine intelligence, and respect for the community are the winds in their sails and I have little doubt that they will be successful in obtaining this shul and re-building the community.
There hasn’t been any activity in this building for several years. I work down the street and have never seen a soul in the building. It’s very unfortunate; many synagogues on Long Island are closing. It would be nice to see this one open again.
It was common knowledge that Rabbi Sol Appleman bought the property, and built the shul with his own money, and ran a successful and profitable Hebrew School and catering hall/catering business for many years from which he made his livelihood. I don’t know what the hava amina is that outsiders can come along and try to take it from the family. Membership has dwindled, so let them sell the bldg and it should be the kid’s yerusha or for them to donate as they see fit.
is this an orthodox shul, or conservative or reform? what alternative synagogues are in the local area?What are the synagogues expenses? How much revenue did it have last year? If the synagogue is operating at a large deficit and membership is small, then there are good reasons to consider closing it. More details are needed to make a reasonable judgement about this situation.
who really owns a shul? Since the property paid no taxes because it is exempt and the rabbi lived on the property without paying taxes, who really owns the shu?l do the congregants who paid dues so it kept running up to now? does the state own it because no taxes were paid? who decides where the sale proceeds are to go? does anyone know the law about this?
Just think about all the Conservative and Reform temples located in great locations throughout Long Island and the Northeast that will soon be closing. I bet there will be many Board of Trustee fights over who should get the money. The tax law states that 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations must distribute their assets upon dissolution to other 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations. As we see here, the Rabbi has a claim on back wages and I am certain other liabilities will be presented for payment. Since this transaction is under media scrutiny it will now have to be transacted correctly.
Are there other synagogues in the area? If so, then closing the synagogue might be the best choice, especially if a large portion of the proceeds of the sale will be gives to shuls or yeshivas that are in need. If there aren’t any other shuls in the area though, then closing it without giving people an alternative might be an issue.
Go Rabbi Appleman! I am behind you one hundred percent. Do not let these imposters under any circumstances upset you. You have been the life of the shul for your entire life and without all of your and your parents hard work there would have never been any shul there in the first place. I cant fathom the fact that these imposters only offered you 300,000 dollars for that beautiful shul. What an INSULT and they should be ashamed of themselves. I am so sorry you have to go through this and deal with this situation when you are no where deserving of it. I just dont get how they can go through life life with out guilt and fear of facing Hakadosh Baruch Hu after 120. I hope they realize they may be able to fool people b’olam hazeh but they can not fool G-d.
I can see the hurt and pain the Rabbi must be feeling. I am horrified that he felt the need to vent on the web to many like myself who do not know all the details involving the shul and the sale. Loshon Hora about another Jew is unacceptable (especially since there is no gain for the other Rabbi). After reading Rabbi Applemans letter filled with hate, and loshon hora I wonder why he wouldn’t agree to Bais Din? I am confused
So the issue is that Chabad offered a small amount and the Korean church offered more money.
How can you sell it to a church!
The other 3 properties can be sold to whomever- it doesn’t look like anyone contests that.
Rabbi Applebaum- you will get your $300,000 in back wages-but the ability to give more proceeds to charity is not a reason to sell to a church!
(Which is also a complicated halachic problem.)
Im flabbergasted!! 300.000 was an “insulting offer”, but its ok to convert a shul into a church and justifying it by saying that the proceeds will go to Tzedaka!!!?!
Its unbelievable how $$ can blind people….
A shul is a mikdash me-at, kedusha eino zaz mimkomo! The mishna says how we shouldnt even cut the overgrown grass in an abandoned shul so that people will be distraught at the churbon and do everything possible to rebuild it!
Maybe one should look at R Wasserman as an example. In LA he built a nice Yeshiva building but than didnt have enough people or talmidim to keep it up, so he gave it over to the chabad yeshiva with the condition that the building will be kept as a yeshiva, and that his father name will stay on it.
Its 30 years now that the succesful and ever expanding Yeshiva Ohr Elchonon Chabad is functioning.
The best way to honor you father, Rabbi Sol , is to have others rebuild the community on the condition that the building stays a shul/school and your fathers name is placed on the building.
Orthodx schules all over New York City ave been sold to churches. There may be halachic issues, but they have built dealt wiht.
A simple little ugly fact.All over the country some Chabad shluchim play dirtygames to advance thier cause. look at the current casein Short Hills NJ. The Chabad Rabbi specificlaly said there are no services in his home to the village adminastrator and that his home is not a schule.And in Jewish newspapers he is advertising minyanim in his home.
The Applemans have a long hinirable history on Long Island.
To see a “Rabbi” write such hatred brings tears to my eyes, if such people call themselves leaders of our generation are we even worthy to exist?
Every story has two sides and the bashing going on here is against Halocha. LH is NEVER allowed and I am appaulded to see the Rabbi having no busha and rattling off like he is.
The fact the Shul is going to be a Church is not a simple matter mitzad Halocha, it seems all they care about is $ which is a shame.
Every machlokes for the sake of shamayim will last, those not will not. May Hashem bless those who seek good and helping others and not those who seek their own benefit. Hashem is the true judge and will reward the honest party whoever it is.
a fundamental question arises here
is a shul or any other mosad the property of the “board” or the people if the neighborhhod changeswho gets it.
does the “board” have a right to close a shul and then say there is no activity there so we need to sell it. or do they have to give it over to others that live there ifthey want to make a go at it. it is momoin hekdash not a personal fortune that people can sell as they see fit…
why should anyone have to pay for it even one penny …. if people living there want a shul they should get it for free (or at least the right to use and maitain it and then see if they do so for a number of years they should own it) why should chabad or anyone have to pay for a “public” thing they do not need to rent it ….
this is the problem today with “rabbis ” “boards” they think these institutions are their private rtirement account. if the building belongs to a congergation then let the congergation use it. and who decides who is the congergation ?…..
the people that want to use it
that is why when our family wrote a sefer torah in my parents memory we were told by the rabbi that the family should “own” and keep it in a shul for their use. and not “give” it to a shul because then whi knows what might happen with the torahs ..
what happened here with all the torahs ? were they “dontaed” to other shuls for a donation or some money on the side
hahsem yeracheim on us all trying to make money on tehse things thinking that these are personnel property … we need to learn the haluchois of doating to the beis hamikdash. so hashem should bring goel tzedek..
Even if a non-profit organization owns the shul, they would not accept an offer of 300,000 dollars, and Rabbi appleman wants to give the money from the shul to charity. I do not see what the question is here there is no community there that means that there is not a large enough number of people in order to keep the shul a shul that is why he wants to sell it. If Chabad wanted to buy it , like Rabbi Appleman said, he would be fine with it but to offer 300,000 dollars is an insult and I am sure they can come up with ways to raise money to buy the shul. To just take Rabbi Appleman to court instead of finding ways to raise money in order to buy the shul, shows that they do not sincerely care about having the shul, but just want to getr property for (basicully) free.
Just wanted to share a d’var Torah from the Daf Yomi from a few days ago. Shmuel switched the statements of the Tanna Kamma and R’ Meir, and taught the Mishnah as follows: (In the case of a wagon being pulled by 2 animals of different species ie a donkey and an ox) the Sages exempt the one sitting in the wagon (from makos) so you can learn from this that someone riding alone in a wagon – even if there is no leader leading the wagon – the rider does not acquire the wagon. Surely, if there is a leader, the rider cannot acquire the wagon (the leader does). So apparently, according to Shmuel, it is the leader who acquires as opposed to the rider just sitting in the shul. Er, I mean the wagon. Just sayin’
BTW, does it make any sense to anyone out there that 3 or 4 individuals should be allowed to hold a shul ransom thus preventing thousands of Jews from benefiting from the proceeds? We are talking about the greater good for the greater Jewish community. Now take into account that the 3 or 4 individuals are not even members of the shul! It’s chutzpah of the highest order.
I guess the idea is to leave time for all the alternatives to be considered, and not just make a quick decision that might not be the best possible choice. To figure out what is really best for the community, many factors need to be considered, such as those broght up in the past few posts. Perhaps those who are objecting feel that enough research hasn’t been done to decide what is best.
The area around this shul has become increasingly less “frum” over the years. However, there is still a HUGE Jewish population there. This town is the perfect place for kiruv organization to come in and take this over. Whether it is Chabad, or Young Israel, or the OU, it does not matter. There are thousands of Jewish families there that barely know they are Jewish. I could understand if there were no Jews left in Syosset, fine…. but there are thousands!
I understand that Rabbi A wants the money to go to his selected charities, but why not keep the money in the community and let a capable organization work toward bringing people of the community that built the shul back to yiddishkeit??? Is that not just as noble a cause as any other??
To me, a convert, this is such a sad situation. It doesn’t make any sense. First of all so many people hate the Jews why must we fight amongst ourselves. To me Rabbi Appleman is an amazing person who devoted his entire life to trying to reach out to many people from various backgrounds and show them the real meaning about being Jewish. I am one of the people who have benefited first hand his patience, love for Judaism and passion for Torah. I felt badly as I converted towards the end of East Nassau’s active state. I saw the Rabbi attempt to have carnivals for Purim to attract younger children however his attempts or willing to spend his own money few turned out. Partly because I live on the border of Plainview and Syosset and had heard of Rabbi Applemans great reputation and chose him over the 7 other shules. He had such patience and I found I wanted to learn more.
To me it doesn’t make sense. I saw the lack of his congregations motivation, initatian and even lack of finances to maintian the shule. Who do you think kept the lights on? water going? I felt so badly that I didn’t have money to help him. After all he did for me.
I wish Rabbi Appleman get awarded the rights to his “Families” building as it was built by his father and his family ran it. It is not a “typical” shule owned by the “community”!
Rabbi Appleman doesn’t gain anything as he is donating the money to jewish charities which the Lebovitch are blocking so that they can get into a building for nothing! Who is the real sheister?
Also, it was my understanding that Lebovitch come into help a “dying community” however Jericho,Hicksville and Plainview are all well populated and have shules. Maybe Lebovitch should attempt to take over an area that actually needs it!!!!!
Rabbi Appleman doesn’t appear to have any personal gain from selling the shul. Other than back salary awarded to him, over 2 million dollars will be donated to Jewish organizations and charities throughout the NY area. If Labuvitz were to gain control in the hostal takeover, very little money would be put back into the community, but much would go into their deep pockets, which allows them to continue to look for more prey (struggling shules) to take over.
After reading this story in the paper I became intrigued as my grandfather was married in East Nassau Hebrew Congregation. I used to attend on the high holidays however I moved to another state and no longer am able to attend. I researched the alleged alligations towards Rabbi Appleman. It is unbelievable how in todays time anyone can make up anything they want and bring it to court as fact. For example, I recall one of the memebers who is bringing these lies to court, is an intermarried cohen. Now this is an obvious pathetic attempt at simple name calling which we all learned can ruin a reputation. I made a phone call to Rabbi Appleman offering any help as I am a lawyer and would love to set the record straight. Rabbi Appleman is a sincere, kind hearted one of a kind person who devotes his time to teaching others. I can’t say the same for the ones making the accusations.
Perhaps a different beit din could be chosen?
All who read these posts should note that the only person who posts his name here is Rabbi Appleman. The others, for whatever reason will not take responsibilty for their words. As someone who lives in the area, I can uncategorically state that the people trying to block the sale, did not regularly attend (not to mention that they did not provide financially support to East Nassau.)
The congregation was never Chabbad and the people who donated all the money to the shul did not donate it to a Shul that was Chabbad. There is a true theological differences between “Chabbad” , and all prior religious leaders and lay leaders of East Nassau.
The members who did donate to East Nassau, were not donating to Chabbad when they made donations. While the supporters of Chabbad who want this building, object to the influence of Rabbi Appleman, it is no secret that Chabbad Shuls and the corporations they form are wholly controled by the families of those Chabbad Rabbis.
Why do these people not object to the local Chabbad Rabbis who live in mansions paid for by donations? Why should the donations paid to East Nassau, a traditional/modern orthodox shul somehow go to benefit a theologically alien group of Lubavitch Hasidim? This is not to say Chabbad is not a worthy charity, it is simply not the organization that the benefactors of East Nassau donated their money too!
There has not been a large enough congregation nor donations to support East Nassau and pay their Rabbi for over 20 years. But for the largess of the Appleman family and Rabbi Appleman working for no or little pay the shul would have closed long ago. Many other local shuls have closed, and their building sold including the Hicksville Jewish Center, The Israel Community Center in Levittown, Bethpage Jewish Center and the Farmindale Jewish Center. There is nothing nefarious about those shuls or this shul, closing. It is simply a refection of changing demographics!
Forcing a charity to spend money on litigation instead of having the remaining money go to benefit similar theologically oriented organizations, is despicable. It is this travesty that the Attorney General should be looking into.
It is interesting to note that this same “newpaper” ran an article about East Nassau and the law suit brought against Rabbi Appleman about 2 years ago. Why didn’t this news rag, report it when the cases brought by the same rabbleroisers, was dismissed by the court for being without merit?
This paper is not interested in trueth but only in smearing the name of a torah scholar!
I believe you misrepresent what the court said. The court said: “First, same are of no probative value because they were made on the grounds of the affirmants’ religious beliefs and were not notarized as required by CPLR2309.” Not having the petition to the court notarized of the congregants who held a meeting on January 29, 2007 was what the “tecnnicality” was meant. But if you parse words…
It is also glaringly apparent that you are an enabler of Rabbi Appleman, have no sense of common Jewish community spirit and have even less trouble seeing ENHC become a MISSIONARY CHURCH! It seems we Jews don’t need our enemies to work against us we have more than enough of our own willing do that.
I am a former student of Rabbi Sol Appleman. I was Bar Mitzvahed by him in 1984. When my grandfather died in 1982, Rabbi Sol and is father Rabbi Morris hung a plaque in his memory in the temple. When my other Grandfather died in 1991, Rabbi Sol and his father both came to my house to sit Shiva. I visited camp Tagola on numerous occasions and witnessed how they worked with the children so as to have them enjoy there summer. I worked there during summers with the caterers during high school. I can say firsthand, that as a new father, the stories i recall of the Old Testament and whatever knowledge of Jewish Traditions and Holidays that i have and will share with my daughter, were taught to me by Rabbi Sol Appleman.
He has always been a true and caring Rabbi with the best interests of the Jewish people at heart. His family not only built East Nassau but worked there,cultivated its growth, attended to its needs, built its reputation and I am proud to have learned and been Bar Mitzvahed there. When my parents first moved to Syosset they had a choice between numerous Synogogues and chose ENHC due in large part to the trust and faith they had in the Appleman family, Sol included.
I am not religious, rarely attend Shul (except most high Holy Days) and certainly dont consider myself an observant Jew. However, i am proud to be a Jew and remember my younger years with good memories of how the Appleman Family treated all of us.
I cannot speak to the goings on with this recent sale or non sale. what i can speak to is the character of Rabbi Sol Appleman. He is a good and caring man who has always demonstrated that he has the best interests of ENHC and the Jewish people at heart. Those who castigate him, insult him or insinuate that his objectives here are not with good intentions should be ashamed of themselves……