What Park East Synagogue does

Park East Synagogue is a 136-year-old modern Orthodox Jewish congregation headquartered at 163 East 67th Street on Manhattan's Upper East Side, founded in 1890 as Congregation Zichron Ephraim. The organization operates as a private nonprofit religious institution and delivers a comprehensive suite of religious, educational, and community services: twice-daily worship services, weekly Shabbat and holiday observances, a cantorial arts program led by Chief Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, and a multi-generational programming stack spanning Toby's Children's Services, Junior Congregation, the Park East Youth Group, NextGen Minyan for young professionals, and adult education classes. Educational operations include the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School (K-8), the Leon and Gina Fromer Youth Enrichment Center (Hebrew School), the Sunday Shkola Russian-heritage program, and summer programs for ages 14 months through 5 years. Senior Rabbi Arthur Schneier has led the congregation since 1962.

The business model is a hybrid nonprofit structure with six revenue streams: recurring membership dues ($1,500-$3,500 per family), educational tuition (day school, Hebrew school, summer programs, Sunday Shkola), donations across multiple designated funds (General Support, Israel Emergency Fund, Kol Nidre Appeal, scholarship funds), event venue rentals across at least eight distinct spaces with member and non-member pricing, annual fundraising events including the Dinner Dance with sponsorship tiers up to $100,000, and event admissions for lectures and film screenings. Distribution is primarily in-person at the historic landmark building, supplemented by Zoom-based virtual programming and YouTube-hosted recorded content. Catering operations are restricted to OU-certified kosher caterers subject to a non-negotiable $3,500 kitchen use fee. No proprietary technology platform underpins operations; the only registered intellectual property is a 1998 children's prayer book by longtime administrator Toby Einsidler.

The congregation serves Jewish families and individuals across the Upper East Side and broader Manhattan Jewish community, with a particular emphasis on cradle-to-grave lifecycle engagement. Governance is provided by a Board of Trustees led by President Les Lieberman (Wharton graduate, 40+ years banking experience) and Treasurer Eric Mendel, with day-to-day operations managed by Controller Simcha Shapiro, Principal Debbie Rochlin, and Director of Student Activities Donny Wechsler. The institution positions itself as both a religious community and a civic-engagement actor, evidenced by its co-naming of East 67th Street as Yad Vashem Way in January 2025 in partnership with the NYC Council, Yad Vashem, and Israeli diplomatic representatives.

Name

Park East Synagogue

Legal name

Park East Synagogue

Website

https://parkeastsynagogue.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1890

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Park East Synagogue is a 136-year-old modern Orthodox congregation on Manhattan's Upper East Side offering daily worship, K-8 day school, Hebrew school, adult education, youth programs, and event venue rentals to Jewish families and individuals in New York City.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregational Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311), Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Religious services
• Jewish education
• Hebrew school
• Event venue rental
• Worship programming

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees from congregation members providing access to services, High Holy Day seating, and educational discounts.
2. Event Venue Rentals: Rental fees for various event spaces including ballrooms, sanctuary, lecture hall, gymnasium, outdoor tent, and roof garden. Fees vary by space, with member and non-member rates.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Donations to various funds including General Support, Israel Emergency Fund, Kol Nidre Appeal, Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day Scholarship Fund, and numerous other designated funds.
4. Educational Tuition: Tuition for Day School, Summer Program, Hebrew School (Youth Enrichment Center), and Sunday Shkola programs.
5. Annual Dinner Dance and Events: Revenue from annual dinner dance journal ads, table sponsorships, and event tickets ranging from $180 to $100,000.
6. Event Admissions: Ticket sales for lectures, film screenings, and educational programs such as Shiur on the Barbie (Member $25, Non-member $35).

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Park East Synagogue is a historic modern Orthodox Jewish congregation on Manhattan's Upper East Side that provides daily, Shabbat, and holiday worship services, lifecycle event officiation, and a comprehensive set of children's and adult Jewish education programs (Day School, Hebrew School, Sunday Shkola, Summer Programs). The congregation also rents its ballrooms, sanctuary, lecture hall, gymnasium, gallery, and roof garden for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, concerts, and community events, and raises funds through tiered memberships, donations, and an annual dinner-dance.

Product overview

Park East Synagogue is a historic modern Orthodox congregation founded in 1890 on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The organization offers a comprehensive suite of Jewish religious, educational, and community services as an integrated ecosystem of programs. Core worship services include daily morning and evening prayers, Shabbat services, and holiday celebrations led by renowned clergy. Youth and family programming encompasses children's services (Toby's), Junior Congregation, Shabbat Game Room, Youth Group, NextGen minyan, and Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation. Educational offerings include the Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School, Leon & Gina Fromer Youth Enrichment Center (Hebrew School), and Sunday Shkola for Russian Jewish heritage. Adult programming features diverse classes, Film Society, and cantorial arts. The synagogue also operates event venue rentals and membership programs with various tiers. All offerings are interconnected within the congregation's mission of spiritual growth, Jewish education, and community support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Daily and Shabbat Worship Services Daily morning (Shacharit) and evening (Mincha) prayer services Monday-Friday at 7:45 AM and Sunday at 9:00 AM, plus weekly Shabbat services led by Rabbi Arthur Schneier, Rabbi Daniel Friedman, and the cantors, with breakfast or collation following services. Designed for congregation members and Jewish visitors seeking regular Orthodox prayer and spiritual rejuvenation on Manhattan's Upper East Side.
• Holiday Services and Celebrations Seasonal services and celebrations for the full Jewish calendar, including Selichot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shemini Atzeret, Simhat Torah, Hanukkah, Tu B'Shvat, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, Yom HaShoah, and Tisha B'Av. Available to members and ticket-holders, particularly for High Holy Days.
• Toby's Children's Services and Junior Congregation Weekly Shabbat children's programming for newborns through kindergarten (Toby's) and grades 1-6 (Junior Congregation), featuring prayers, songs, Torah portion review, davening leadership, art projects, Parsha reading, trivia games, and kiddush. Toby's is led by Toby Einsidler; Junior Congregation is overseen by Donny Wechsler.
• Rabbi Arthur Schneier Park East Day School Private Jewish day school for children integrating traditional Jewish values with rigorous academics, technology as a learning tool, and exposure to art, music, dance, drama, and athletics. Members of Park East Synagogue receive a $500 tuition reduction for an enrolled student.
• Leon & Gina Fromer Youth Enrichment Center (Hebrew School) After-school Jewish education program including Hebrew language learning, holiday celebrations, Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation, and cultural activities, held Mondays from 4-6 PM. Principal is Rabbi Harold Einsidler; Cantor Laivi Freundlich teaches at the program.
• Sunday Shkola Sunday morning program for Russian-Jewish-heritage children, teaching Russian culture, language, Jewish traditions through art, music, and poetry. Headed by Zhenya Lopatnik (Head of Education, older students); Raisa Sherman leads the early-childhood classroom.
• Park East Summer Programs Summer programming for young children featuring Taste of Shabbat for ages 14-23 months and Early Childhood Summer Program for ages 2-5, with outdoor activities, swimming, crafts, games, and a Oneg Shabbat.
• Adult Education Program Ongoing adult education program covering Talmud study, Parsha, prophets, Jewish thought, and topical lectures, offered in multiple formats including weekday Lunch & Learn and Shabbat classes.
• Park East Film Society Film programming featuring Jewish and Israeli-themed screenings with post-film discussions, including films such as Tuviansky, Partner with the Enemy, Muses of Bashevis Singer, On The Map, Never Alone, Rabin in His Own Words, and SHTTL.
• Cantorial Arts Program Cantorial music program featuring the Park East Synagogue Choir, with Chief Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot and Cantor Benny Rogosnitzky, conducted by Russell Ger, performing across Shabbat and holiday services.
• Event Venue Rental Rental of synagogue event venues for weddings, bar/bat mitzvahs, concerts, lectures, film screenings, and community events. Member and non-member pricing tiers, with required pre-approved OU-certified kosher caterers (Main Event Mauzone, Park East Kosher Butchers, Zami Caterers) and a $3,500 kitchen use fee.
• Membership Program Annual congregation membership providing voting rights, High Holy Days seating, access to services, programming, and discounts on Day School tuition. Offered in Full, Junior (under 35), and Associate/Out of Town tiers.
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation Program End-to-end Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation including Torah reading classes, Devar Torah writing support, and ceremony coordination for families. Pairs with the synagogue's event venue rental for the celebration.
• NextGen Minyan Shabbat minyan and social program designed for young couples and young professionals, meeting weekly at 10 AM with prayer, Torah study, and kiddush.
• Donations and Designated Funds Online donation portal supporting a range of designated funds including general operations, scholarships, Israel emergency relief, Ukraine relief, Kol Nidre Appeal, and other named funds.
• Annual Dinner Dance and Journal Annual fundraising dinner with tiered journal ad sponsorships and individual ticket purchases that fund the congregation's operations and programming.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Yad VashemminorOthers · 31 January 2025East 67th Street was renamed 'Yad Vashem Way' in honor of the World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. Event held in collaboration with Park East Synagogue, attended by Yad Vashem Chairman Dani Dayan and Israeli Consul General Ofir Akunis.
• City of New York / NYC CouncilminorOthers · 31 January 2025Co-naming of East 67th Street as Yad Vashem Way. Event led by Council Member Keith Powers with participation from Congressman Jerry Nadler, Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, and Mayor Eric Adams's office.
• Main Event MauzoneminorOthersPre-approved kosher caterer for events at Park East Synagogue. Must demonstrate OU (Orthodox Union) certification and remit $3,500 kitchen use fee. Contact: Matt Cardoza, 203-942-5772.
• Park East Kosher Butchers, Inc.minorOthersPre-approved kosher caterer for events at Park East Synagogue. Must demonstrate OU certification and remit $3,500 kitchen use fee. Contact: 212-737-9800.
• Zami CaterersminorOthersPre-approved kosher caterer for events at Park East Synagogue. Must demonstrate OU certification and remit $3,500 kitchen use fee. Contact: 718-627-4945.
• Gold Coast Film Festival / Gold Coast Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegina Gil, Executive Director of the Gold Coast Film Festival, served as consultant to help launch the Park East Film Society. Regina Gil is also a Board Trustee of Park East Synagogue.
• American Friends of Magen David Adom (AFMDA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIsrael Emergency Fund recipient. Funds directed to IDF frontlines for emergency medical care.
• Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIsrael Emergency Fund recipient. Funds directed to IDF frontlines for emergency medical care and soldier support.
• Jewish Children's Museum (Crown Heights, Brooklyn)minorOthersEducational partner for Youth Enrichment Center field trips. Children immerse in interactive exhibits about Jewish holidays and Shabbat observance.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/pesynagogue
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCtQ6esvak0wmJx4vja64uAg
• Facebookfacebook.com/parkeastsynagogue
• Instagraminstagram.com/parkeastsynagogue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/park-east-synagogue

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Park East Synagogue