About Us

The Oldest Operating Synagogue in Newark, New Jersey

145 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104

About Us

August 14, 2007 / 30 Av 5767

Dear Members and Friends:

This has been a year of celebration and examination of the past—of our Congregation and of Newark—even as we committed ourselves to work for the future.

Almost 200 people gathered for our Centennial Rededication Celebration on November 12. The assembled included congregants, families of former congregants, neighboring clergy and members of Christian and Moslem congregations, academicians, and Jewish communal and governmental leaders. Senator Frank Lautenberg delivered the keynote, and Mayor Cory Booker spoke of Maimonides’ regard for multi-culturalism. Edna Wechsler, daughter of founders Ada and Leopold Jacobson, and Larry Strulowitz, son of longtime president Jack Strulowitz, gave personal accounts, as choirs from Conservative congregations in Hoboken and Teaneck and from the Newark charter school, Robert Treat Academy, sang musical interludes. Rabbi Simon Rosenbach noted that this Synagogue “exists not merely to service Jews who are looking for a place to worship; it is working hard to be part of the revitalization of Newark.” The ceremony culminated with the unveiling of the renovated circular stained glass window which faces Broadway, the last feature of our completed exterior rehabilitation project. The Star-Ledger and New Jersey Jewish News featured front-page articles on the event.

The Centennial anniversary was the cornerstone of the year, but there were many other significant activities: this summer the upstairs balcony was renovated into a lovely gallery that can be used as an exhibition area or performance space, thanks to the craftsmanly work of congregants Alan Gundy and Ruben Davila. The Jewish library of the late Nathanial and Sophie Roth, parents of congregant Vivian Lubin, has found a permanent home in stately bookcases that are part of the new Study Center in the social hall, which has already been used for weekly Hebrew classes led by Vice President Hooshmand Delshad and Administrator Clara Macedo The Congregation, represented by a Building Committee of congregants knowledgeable in construction and led by Philip Drill, commissioned architect David Abramson to draft a master plan for the refurbishment of the Synagogue’s interior. On May 20, the Jewish Museum of New Jersey, in collaboration with other organizations and under the leadership of congregant and Rutgers Professor Max Herman, produced the panel discussion, “Civil Rights and Civil Unrest: Jews and Blacks in Conversation.” The program looked back at the Newark riots and featured former Mayor Kenneth Gibson, Rutgers Professors Clement Price and Junius Williams, and Professor William Helmreich of City College, among other notables.

The Congregation’s mission of tikkun olam advanced: for the past two years you have read about our commitment to build a playground for the Newton Street School, a pre-K-8 school near UMDNJ that is Newark’s second-oldest school building and has only two basketball hoops for its students. This is a project spearheaded by President Eric Freedman and joined in by the Community Relations Committee of UJC of Metrowest. Two years ago Eric secured a $100,000 matching grant from the State Green Acres Fund toward the $200,000 project. Last year’s letter reported $10,000 from the Independence Community Fund. There is now $31,000 more, from the Andy Capon Foundation ($10,000), the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation ($10,000), Seton Hall University ($5,000) and a pledge from the Newark Teachers Union ($5,000) (the latter two organizations having partnered to improve this school.) Besides money, the project has required legal and diplomatic negotiations which have been completed; we are almost to the point of seeking contractors’ bids. The teachers, parents, and students of the School eagerly anticipate the transformed playground.

The Congregation was in the forefront as Vice President Len Sanders donated two Newark building plots to Habitat for Humanity. Newark Deputy Mayor Imam W. Deen Shareef pledged that his congregants will swing hammers with us and with Christian congregations as we build a house with and for a needy Newark family. We’re also at the center of the Boy Scouts’ effort to rebuild scouting in Newark: the Scouts have teamed up with the Appalachian Mountain Club to rekindle troops in Newark and provide them with hiking and overnight camping opportunities that have been lost to generations of Newark boys. The monthly meeting of the district leaders, including ministers whose churches are starting troops, will take place over breakfasts in our social hall.

There is news of congregants both happy and sad. Longtime Gabbai Sol Attinson, whose health was critical at last year’s writing, has spent the year in Daughters of Israel and last week moved out to join his great niece living independently in New York. Ciel Arons, despite several health crises, remains dedicated to the Shul and prepares original salads for every kiddish. As she dices at a card table in the kitchen, she is now joined by Susan Zwirn, Jeff Haveson, Isabella Dias and Dubbie Shenker. Edna Wechsler suffered a recent stroke, but it didn’t harm her feistiness, and we look forward to her return to shul after recovery. Last June we celebrated the bar mitzvah of Kevin Wilson. The Community Foundation of New Jersey named President Eric Freedman as a recipient of the Jefferson Award, a national effort to recognize “unsung heroes,” ordinary individuals who have performed extraordinary deeds without recognition, in large part for his work with our Congregation.

Clara Macedo, our Secretary/Administrator, has transformed our administration. Clara, who emigrated from Brazil and teaches English as a second language, has not only taken on administrative tasks, which she tends to each day, but she taught herself Web design and single-handedly built and maintains our Web site at ahavassholom.org. Each Thursday, Clara prepares and sends a weekly e-newsletter, with a d’var torah by Rabbi Rosenbach and news of upcoming events—make sure you give us your e-mail address if you don’t already receive the newsletter.

Rabbi Rosenbach and Cantor David Greenbaum will again lead High Holiday services, which begin with Selihot on Saturday, September 8, at 9:00 p.m. Even if you attend another synagogue, consider joining us for one or more of the services. This year we’ll offer a special Erev Rosh Hashanah congregational dinner. Services on Wednesday, September 12 will begin at 6:30 p.m., and dinner will follow. For those interested, please sign up ($18 per person) on the enclosed form and contact Jeff Haveson, Outreach Chair, at 973.481-5689. Please bring canned goods to the shul during the holidays for our annual food drive. Perhaps you’ll want to read and join the Ahavas Sholom Book Club discussion of The Covenant, by Naomi Ragen, on September 9, at 11:00, over brunch, or tour the Lower East Side on October 14, at 1:00, starting at Katz’s Deli. If so, contact Jeff. After the High Holidays, on Saturday, October 6, a President’s kiddish will honor the generous gift by Tammie and Harvey Applebaum of 145 plots at Clifton’s King Solomon Cemetery. (Please call Eric Freedman if you are interested in a plot). On November 14, at 7:15 p.m., we’ll have our annual business meeting at the Synagogue.

Whether or not you can attend the High Holiday services, please consider joining Ahavas Sholom. Dues are $175 for a family and $125 for an individual, with an additional recommended building maintenance fund contribution of $100. This congregation depends upon the support of the individual members of the larger Jewish community. We appreciate every gift. If you can afford as much as $750, we will inscribe your name on the plaque in the sanctuary. Please use the enclosed form to make your contribution.

L'Shanah Tovah,

Robert S. Steinbaum

Vice President

145 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104 (973) 485 - 2609 Fax: (973) 485 - 2609

info@ahavassholom.org