The Jewish Heritage Center of Queens and Long Island is a non-profit organization that maintains a network of Adult and Family Education Institutes at several locations throughout the Metropolitan New York area.  We offer a full array of free lectures and classes, hotel retreats, educational and social programs designed for Jews with little or no formal background in Jewish Studies. To date, more than 15,000 local Jewish adults have discovered the relevance and spirituality of their Heritage through the Jewish Heritage Center's dynamic yet comfortable and non-judgmental programs. 

In the summer of 1987, Rabbi Moshe Turk envisioned a plan to reunite Jews with their Heritage.  Driven by a passion to educate his people about their history and purpose, Rabbi Turk began an institute that would transform his vision into reality.  Shortly thereafter, Rabbi Naftali Portnoy assumed the position of Co-Director and with the infusion of their joined talents and strengths the Jewish Heritage Center was born.          

Today, the original dream is a dynamic reality.  The Jewish Heritage Center offers more than 25 classes, in 10 different locations, giving courses to more than four hundred Jewish adults on an ongoing basis.  Its Rabbinic and administrative staff numbers more than 15 talented and dedicated men and women. People come from all over the Metropolitan area, often traveling up to an hour to attend inspiring lectures in basic Judaism.  Thousands of Jews credit the JHC for giving them the guidance to bring Torah Judaism into their lives.  Students of the JHC are bringing strength and leadership to Jewish communities throughout the world. 

The JHC Hebrew School is one of the most exciting divisions of the Jewish Heritage Center.  Meeting the educational and cultural needs of a wide spectrum of Jewish children on Long Island, the JHC Hebrew School has been incredibly successful in a short amount of time.  In addition to our programming for the children, the Hebrew School also offers free simultaneous classes geared to the parents.   

Spiritual hotel retreats are also at the forefront of the Center’s efforts.  The JHC hosts Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Shavuos, retreats at various elegant hotels near the New York area. Each event hosts up to six hundred individuals and couples eager to learn and grow in a relaxed yet inspiring setting. Additionally, throughout the year there are smaller weekend hotel retreats that feature some of the most dynamic Jewish speakers from around the world.  

The Collegiate Division conducts seminars and ongoing activities at different universities throughout the Metropolitan New York area.  Most recently it has focused its attention to St. John’s Law School and Hofstra University.  Twenty-one Jewish student leaders from diverse sectors of Hofstra campus life joined the Center’s Maimonides Jewish Leaders Fellowship, a ten-week intensive Jewish Leadership Seminar.  During the ’06-’07 school year there will be Maimonides Level One and Level Two Seminars at Hofstra and a new Leadership Program opening on the campus of C.W. Post, as well. 

Through programs such as these over fifteen thousand mostly unaffiliated, secular Jews have experienced the beauty and the depth of Jewish life. It is therefore no wonder that the Jewish Heritage Center has attracted national attention as one of the largest and most effective Outreach centers in North America!