As the Jewish population of Yonkers began to grow and move out of the center of the city, it became apparent that a new Orthodox synagogue would be needed in Southwest Yonkers.In 1924 a small group of men founded Congregation Sons of Israel as a modern Orthodox synagogue, first in a house on Radford Street, and very soon thereafter built a synagogue at the present address on Elliot Avenue.

Our archives note that the dues were $1.00 per month, payable at congregation meetings which were held once a month. Also, "If a congregation member is ill as to require constant care, he must be watched overnight by two members of the Congregation. This applies only when the member is sick in the limits of the city." There are many pages in our by-laws covering jewish life concerns. A reading of these laws is very interesting.

The Congregation grew over the years, and really expanded to its fullest following WWII when our members of the armed forces returned home, many newly married and others with families. At the same time there was a surge in membership as survivors of the Holocaust settled in Yonkers.

We were a fully functioning Congregation with daily services, a Talmud Torah with overs 200 students, many of whom have gone on to be Rabbis, renowned physicians, outstanding leaders in Jewish organizations througout the country, etc.. We are particularly proud of our Talmud Torah graduate, Richard Joel, who was recently named President of Yeshiva University.

Our Congregation was known for its Shabbatonim, under the direction of the Yolanda Benson Honor Society of Yeshiva University. Hundreds of teenagers from the East Coast, from as far away as Massachusetts and Maryland came to participate. These were our "Golden Years".

Our Congregation's "glory" days will return as Jewish families are finding Yonkers - The City of Gracious Living - a good place to live.