The 92nd Street Y, New York History

For nearly 150 years, The 92nd Street Y, New York has been serving its communities and the larger world by bringing people together and providing exceptional, groundbreaking programs in the performing and visual arts; literature and culture; adult and children’s education; talks on a huge range of topics; health and fitness; and Jewish life.

For highlights of the past, visit our historical timeline.

92nd Street Y Mission Statement

Founded nearly 150 years ago to serve the Jewish people, The 92nd Street Y, New York promotes individual and family development and participation in civic life within the context of Jewish values and American pluralism.

As a nonprofit community and cultural center, The 92nd Street Y, New York seeks to create, provide and disseminate programs of distinction that foster the physical and mental health of human beings throughout their lives, their educational and spiritual growth and their enjoyment.

The 92nd Street Y, New York reaches out beyond its core constituency of American Jews to serve people of diverse racial, religious, ethnic and economic backgrounds, seeking partnerships that leaven our programs and broaden our influence.

Policy Regarding Israel

We reaffirm that, as we curate our programming going forward, we will continue to welcome a broad range of viewpoints to our platform, including welcoming people who are critical of Israel, as long as they have not and do not actively call for the destruction of the State of Israel or question its legitimacy.

Policy Regarding Hate Speech

We reaffirm that, as we curate our programming going forward, we will continue to work to avoid giving platform to hate speech of any kind, including misogyny, transphobia, homophobia, racism, Islamophobia and, of course, antisemitism.