They don't keep Shabbos. They don't keep kosher. But the good Jews of Greenpoint Long Island care about Jewish tradition, goddamit, which is why they have, today, announced (in the New York Times!) their renewed commitment to a very old, very venrable Jewish tradition, a tradition that dates to the time of Yerovam ben Nevat.
After 101 years, of being a one-shul town, the kingdom of Greenpoint is splitting in half, and adding a second synagouge.
The back story, and stop me if you've heard this before: Rabbi (above) comes to town, full of new ideas. Board members hate new ideas, though they voted to hire the Rabbi, in the first place. Rabbi criticized. Board criticized. Angry words exchanged. Lawsuits threatened. Board changes locks on the shul doors. Rabbi opens new shul. New York Times writes article. DovBear blogs.
The only unusual thing thing about it? Chabad isn't involved.
