Story by Karen A. Avitabile
A new plaque honoring the late Archbishop Henry J. O’Brien was recently re-installed in the Mandell Jewish Community Center of West Hartford as a tribute to his generosity and commitment to interfaith collaboration and goodwill more than 60 years ago.
In 1960, the Jewish community was in the process of developing what is now known as the Mandell JCC of Greater Hartford and needed more acreage. The group needed several acres of land from the abutting the St. Thomas Seminary of Hartford Inc., of the Archdiocese of Hartford, and approached then-Archbishop O’Brien to purchase the land.
Instead of selling the land to the Jewish community, Archbishop O’Brien offered it as a gift to the Mandell JCC. The transfer of the property occurred on Nov. 15, 1960. Construction of the center was completed in 1961.
After the center was built, a plaque honoring the archbishop was placed inside. The plaque, however, had worn in recent years and a new one was needed.
Bishop Peter A. Rosazza of the Archdiocese of Hartford, who shares a relationship with members of the Mandell JCC, reached out and shared the story of Archbishop O’Brien’s land offering to the center.
Recently, a new plaque was re-installed and is proudly displayed for all to see inside the community gathering space of the Mandell JCC campus, located at 335 Bloomfield Ave., in West Hartford.
The plaque serves as a reminder to passersby of the strong bond of interfaith cooperation and understanding between the Jewish community and Roman Catholics in the greater Hartford area.
During the annual meeting of the Mandell JCC earlier this year, Bishop Rosazza was a guest speaker and expressed his gratitude for the new plaque.
“I am very happy,” Bishop Rosazza says. “I was elated when I was told they were putting up the plaque again. I am certainly very happy the Jewish community has recognized Archbishop O’Brien’s gift again.”
The Mandell JCC, which includes a library, a fitness center, a café, a theater, an art gallery, a fieldhouse, a courtyard and gathering space, is open to the public. An early childhood center is also located on the property.
“We are a full community center with lots of cultural arts,” says Kelly Boscarino, director of marketing for the Mandell JCC.
Bishop Rosazza speaks highly of the Mandell JCC, saying it is a well-run facility. “Their culture is so positive,” he adds.
Archbishop O’Brien was appointed auxiliary bishop of Hartford on March 19, 1940. He was named the ninth bishop of Hartford on April 7, 1945. When the Diocese of Hartford was elevated to an archdiocese on Aug. 6, 1953, Bishop O’Brien was named as its first archbishop, serving until March 19, 1969. A portrait of Archbishop O’Brien hangs in the hallway of bishops and archbishops inside the Pastoral Center.
