A legal and community dispute is unfolding in Brooklyn over the future of the historic Kingsbrook Synagogue in East Flatbush, a nearly century-old house of worship located on the Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center campus. The property is owned by One Brooklyn Health, which has advanced redevelopment plans that include affordable housing construction on the site. Attorneys representing the congregation say recent court proceedings indicate the synagogue building may now be slated for removal as part of the project.

Members of the congregation argue that the structure carries deep historical and cultural significance. Built in the 1920s in response to antisemitism that limited Jewish access to other institutions, the synagogue has served as a symbol of resilience and community continuity for generations. Although regular services were halted during the COVID-19 pandemic, congregants maintain that they were not permitted to resume use of the space afterward, a factor that has intensified concerns about its long-term viability.

Legal counsel for the congregation states that earlier redevelopment discussions included assurances that affordable housing could proceed while preserving the synagogue. According to that account, the current position presented in court is that the existing building is incompatible with the redevelopment plan. The congregation has emphasized that it does not oppose affordable housing but is seeking a design compromise that would allow both the housing project and the preservation of the religious structure.

Rabbi Zalman Goldstein has framed the issue as both a preservation matter and a question of community heritage, noting that the synagogue’s founding was tied to overcoming discrimination and that its potential loss carries symbolic weight. He also highlighted personal and communal aspirations tied to the space, including hopes that future lifecycle events could once again be held within the building.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul previously expressed support for preserving the synagogue while advancing development goals, describing the site as a testament to the strength of the Jewish community and encouraging a solution that allows both projects to move forward. However, congregational representatives say that despite those statements, the building remains at risk and negotiations have not produced a finalized preservation plan.

One Brooklyn Health has declined to comment publicly on the matter, citing active litigation. As the case proceeds, the outcome will likely hinge on property rights, zoning considerations, historical preservation status, and the feasibility of integrating the synagogue into the broader redevelopment design.

The dispute reflects a broader challenge facing urban communities: balancing the urgent demand for affordable housing with the preservation of historic religious and cultural landmarks. Whether a compromise can be reached will determine not only the future of the Kingsbrook Synagogue but also how similar conflicts are addressed in densely developed city environments where land use pressures are intensifying.