He attended services at the Old-New Synagogue, the oldest surviving Jewish house of worship in Europe.

BBC: Mini guide to Kafka��s Prague

Mr. Merkin is no longer the president of the elite Fifth Avenue Synagogue on New York's Upper East Side.

WSJ: Life After Bernie Madoff's 'Big Lie'

Geller was scheduled to speak on April 13 at the Great Neck Synagogue in Great Neck, New York.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Moral relativism and jihad

Six weeks ago, the Temple Israel Synagogue in Long Beach, New York, was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

WHITEHOUSE: Remarks by the President at a Hanukkah Reception

She returned from her synagogue in the Bronx, New York, one day in 1993 and told him about a congregation member named Howard Jonas.

FORBES: Sound Idea

The 90-year-old menorah used in the ceremony came from the Temple Israel synagogue in Long Beach, New York, which was badly damaged by Hurricane Sandy.

WHITEHOUSE: Hanukkah at the White House: A Menorah that Survived Sandy

And New York Police Department helicopters are expected to fly over the synagogue in honor of Koch.

WSJ: Bill Clinton to speak at Ed Koch's funeral in NYC

The new chief rabbi faces numerous problems, including declining levels of observance and synagogue attendance, and a large proportion of young Jews marrying outside the community, our correspondent says.

BBC: Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis announced as next UK chief rabbi

"On the first night of Shavuot we usually go to synagogue and stay up all night studying Torah, " says Haddad, now a veteran ophthalmologist in New York.

BBC: Farhud memories: Baghdad's 1941 slaughter of the Jews

This beautiful menorah has been generously loaned to us by Congregation Beth Israel in New Orleans. (Applause.) Five years ago, when Hurricane Katrina hit, the synagogue was covered in eight feet of water.

WHITEHOUSE: Hanukkah at the White House