NJ Center Doubled Membership

By PAMELA SROKA-HOLZMANN, mycentraljersey.com

HILLSBOROUGH — About six years ago, congregants of the Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County had a vision to grow, find additional space to worship and develop programs that would bring their faith full circle.

Membership at the township-based center, led by Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky, has more than doubled since its 2002 inception, growing to about 300 members. To meet the growth, the congregation last year relocated from a 5,000-square-foot office in a building on Amwell Road to a 9,000-square-foot building occupied by Amboy Bank on New Amwell Road.

Dozens of programs were begun, including “Mommy and Me” classes for mothers and babies; a “Teen Scene” program; a women’s group for adult females; Shabbat dinners for families; and Torah studies for everyone; as well as holiday services and other celebrations.

In order to allow everyone to participate, the congregation does not charge a synagogue membership fee, assess a building fund commitment or sell what is known as “high holiday” seats. Instead, the congregation survives and thrives on the basis of free-will giving, Krinsky said.

One of the congregation’s major fundraising events — a gala celebration — is planned this month at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Somerset section of Franklin. Krinsky said if the goal of raising a $300,000 is reached, it would allow for the same programs to continue and the addition of even more.

“We’re encouraging people to do the best they can (in donating), but we know some people are hurting in this economy, and we understand that,” Krinsky said.

“The funds directly make a difference in enhancing and maintaining these programs and will lead to the growth to having more programs.”

The third annual gala, set for 6 p.m. May 12 with a reception followed by dinner, will celebrate those who have helped the institution since 2002. The gala is expected to draw at least 100 people.

“Whether it’s educating children, visiting the sick and elderly, counseling the troubled or enlightening the disillusioned, Chabad’s work touches hundreds of lives on a daily basis,” Krinsky said.

Honorees at the gala will include Assemblyman Upendra J. Chivukula, D-Somerset and Middlesex; David Gross, chief executive officer of the Regency Jewish Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Somerset; and Carl and Mindy Offit, the couple named Hebrew School Parents of the Year.

A video also will feature future programs, Krinsky said.