JFK Airport synagogue chapel is dedicated to the Poplacks

Rabbi Alvin and Rosalind Poplack, who died within 66 days of each other 10 years ago, were remembered by their children and memorialized by having the chapel of the International Synagogue at John F. Kennedy International Airport dedicated to them at the synagogue’s annual Hanukkah celebration on Dec. 2, the fifth day of the Jewish holiday this year.

The Poplacks’ adult children, Dr. Shana Poplack, who lives in Ottawa, Ontario, Ariel Poplack, of Plantation, Fla., and Miriam Steinberg, of Woodmere, contacted the International Synagogue, which is on the fourth floor of JFK’S Terminal 4, hoping to do something special in their parents’ memory.

Rabbi Poplack spearheaded the Jewish chapel’s reconstruction in the 1980s, and served as its chaplain from 1986 to 2002. “It was a labor of love for him,” his daughter Shana said.

JFK is the only airport in the world with four different chapels, including the International Synagogue. The others are Protestant, Catholic and nondenominational.

Because Alvin and Rosalind were so involved with the synagogue, a memorial seemed to be the proper way to honor their memory, Steinberg said.

The siblings contacted Rabbi Ari Korenblit, who currently leads the International Synagogue, to see if there was an opportunity to become involved. “He actually suggested that we name the chapel — it never really had a name other than International Synagogue — for my parents, in memory of my parents,” Steinberg said.

“There are many sanctuaries — many synagogues that are named after individuals,” said Korenblit, “and [Alvin], after all, served there as the rabbi, and I thought it would be a perfect tribute to him.”

When Alvin started as chaplain of the International Synagogue, he was thrilled, Steinberg recalled — another reason why the dedication was so appropriate.

“When we were kids, my father always loved the airport,” she said. “He always loved watching the planes. He would say, ‘All right, everybody, let’s go take a ride to the airport!’ We would stand there and watch the planes take off, and this was like big entertainment for him. He loved it.”

Opening the Hanukkah celebration — which included latkes, donuts, giftbox and airline ticket raffles and a menorah lighting — Shana and Ariel Poplack (via Zoom); Steinberg; the Rev. James Devine, a former Catholic chaplain and a friend of Alvin’s; and Rosalind’s cousin Rabbi J.J. Schacter spoke before the dedication plaque was unveiled.

Galina Makaveyev, the cantor of Temple Israel of Lawrence, sang alongside the choirs from Magen David Yeshiva, in Brooklyn, and the Schechter School of Long Island, in Williston Park.

Korenblit expressed his appreciation for Alvin, saying, “He played a huge role in establishing this.” Korenblit added that the dedication ceremony was a nice additional touch for the annual party. “It’s a perfect tribute,” he said, “because the word Hanukkah also means dedication.”