UJC brochure in PDF format (last updated January, 2004)
In the Fall of 2001, in the Hebrew year 5762, the United Jewish Center celebrated its seventy-fifth anniversary; seventy-five years rich in history.
In the early spring of 1926, a half-dozen men met in Henry Dick's furniture store in downtown Danbury, Connecticut, to seek a solution to a problem. These men decided that a "middle of the road" liberal congregation with a synagogue of its own could best serve the needs of a majority of the local Jewish community.
Little enthusiasm was found among the traditional and reformed congregations. But the determination of this committed group continued and support grew slowly. Even as the numbers increased it was not a large group who were our founders. The roster of charter members shows but 31 names.
With funds in hand, the new congregation began to look for a place to hold services. Good fortune came to their aid. Henry Dick had recently purchased a Homestead at 30 West Street and he made it available to the congregation. Within weeks the members were worshipping under their own roof, and while they were not sumptuous quarters the congregation felt truly fortunate to have their own house of worship.
While there were no provisions for religious or Hebrew schools and only the barest essentials to meet the need for social and meeting rooms, these things were not of great importance in the early life of the congregation. What was important was that The United Jewish Center was launched.
By the summer of 1926 a brick sanctuary was added to the Victorian homestead. Worship services were conducted in this sanctuary for 28 years.
In 1935, upon recommendation from a friend of congregant Donald Joseph, Rabbi Jerome Malino, a new graduate from the Jewish Institute of Religion, assumed rabbinical leadership of our congregation. Under the leadership of Rabbi Malino the congregation flourished both spiritually and culturally.
In 1941 Mr. Dick, President of the UJC, was succeeded by Martin Haspel. During his tenure the congregation consolidated its financial position and surmounted what was then its most pressing monetary hurdle. The mortgage on the synagogue on West Street was paid off and ceremonially burned. Tentative steps were also taken toward the construction of a new synagogue when, and if, it should become practical.
By the late 1940's with the congregation at over 150 families, the need for a new, larger building had finally become acute.
This was the situation facing Leroy Patrowitz in 1947 when he succeeded Mr. Haspel in the presidency after serving eighteen years as the center's secretary. Early in his administration, leaders of the congregation met to plan a course of action and it was decided that a new building could be erected on a newly acquired site on Deer Hill Avenue. It was further decided that the new building could be built without a mortgage.
Many voices were raised to protest that such a feat of finance was impossible. But under Mr. Paltrowitz and the board of trustees the plans went forward. Funds were collected and pledges of funds were subscribed by a determined congregation. On November 16, 1953, ground was broken on Deer Hill Avenue for the new synagogue.
In 1961, the foresight of the dedicated men and women who administered the congregation's affairs resulted in the acquisition of the new United Jewish Center cemetery in Brookfield. This site succeeded the nearly full Miry Brook cemetery, providing space for 10,000 graves on thirty acres of attractive land.
A new wing housing the Dick Chapel was constructed in 1964 funded entirely by voluntary contributions. This wing provided an air-conditioned chapel seating 125 worshippers, three classrooms, the Director of Education's office and the Sisterhood Judaica shop.
In 1975, the United Jewish Center membership voted to affiliate with Union of American Hebrew Congregations. In 1977, Rabbi Robert Levine was retained as Religious School Principal and Assistant Rabbi. Rabbi Levine quickly made an impression in our synagogue family, as a committed, caring and intelligent leader.
In 1981 Rabbi Malino retired after 45 years of active service to the equally active role of Rabbi Emeritus and Rabbi Levine was installed as Rabbi of the United Jewish Center. Just as Rabbi and Rhoda Malino had become so involved in the life of the congregation and the Danbury community at large, Rabbi and Gina Levine also involved themselves in our Jewish Community and our town.
The nineties brought much change to the leadership of the United Jewish Center. Rabbi Levine in his 13th year as Rabbi of our congregation, left to become Rabbi at Rodoph Shalom in New York City. Rabbi Paul Golomb was hired and led our congregation for the next five years. In 1996, Rabbi Bradd Boxman became Rabbi of the United Jewish Center, where he stayed until leaving for Maryland in July, 2003.
In August, 2003, Rabbi Clifford Librach became the United Jewish Center's new Rabbi, joining us from his congregation at Temple Sinai in Sharon, MA.
This bring us to the present day. Today the United Jewish Center is home to about 300 Jewish families. We delight at our accomplishments over the past 7 decades. We have grown from a small group of 31 committed Jews in a homestead on West Street to the prominent Synagogue in the greater Danbury community.
Under the leadership of Rabbi Librach and Cantor Kessler and with the help of our Director of Education Daryl Bain, Education Consultant Ruth Gruber and Office Manager Laura Morris, the United Jewish Center promises to be a vibrant warm and approachable place to practice Judaism for all of us and for the generations to come.