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In what promises to be a memorable fall season at Highland Park’s Congregation Etz Ahaim, the only Sephardic synagogue in Middlesex County will celebrate a trio of momentous occasions: a new Torah scroll, a milestone for its rabbi, and the ongoing growth of its popular education programs.

Sept. 9 marks the first session in a free eight-lecture series by Rabbi David Bassous called “The Secrets of Success,” focusing on the psychological, physical, spiritual, and emotional ingredients for leading a successful life. Etz Ahaim welcomes its fifth sefer Torah Sept. 13, and is holding a “Chai Journal Dinner” Nov. 8 in honor of the 18th year at the synagogue for Bassous and his wife, Clara.

Past themes for Etz Ahaim’s seasonal lecture series have included love and marriage, personality and development, spiritual growth, Jewish history, and positive speech. The topics depend “on what’s going on around us,” Bassous said, as a multi-faceted look at success will aim to strengthen one’s belief in God during tough economic times.

“The trouble is, when you think of success today, you think of money,” Bassous said.

“Right now people are losing their jobs; people are worried about success,” he added.

The classes, held each Wednesday at 8 p.m. until Oct. 28, will use the work of the Rambam (Maimonides) as their primary source, Bassous said. Sessions include “The Definition of Success,” “The Pathway to Success,” “Discipline,” “Peace of Mind,” “Happiness,” “How to View Others,” “Manners,” and “Psychology in the Torah.”

Bassous has also taught a women’s Jewish philosophy class for all of his 18 years at Etz Ahaim. This season’s class, which meets Sundays at 10 a.m., will cover Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato’s “Mesilat Yesharim,” Path of The Just. The book outlines practical steps for building spirituality, making it appropriate for a women’s class since women serve as the spiritual cornerstones of Jewish households, Bassous said. The class is text-based but will use an English translation.

Robin Silver has been attending Etz Ahaim’s women’s class ever since moving to Highland Park six years ago. A diverse group of 15-20 women from all parts of the Edison/Highland Park community as well as neighboring towns participate, she said, experiencing personal growth and developing friendships in the process.

“Rabbi Bassous is a superb teacher, and he really dedicates himself to his students,” Silver said. “He teaches Torah and Jewish philosophy in a very thorough way, and he covers both deeply spiritual concepts and practical mussar for daily life in a way I find inspiring and enriching.”

“It’s a great way to start the week,” she added.

Other education programs at Etz Ahaim include laws of Shabbat at 8 p.m. on Sundays, Rambam at 8 p.m. Mondays, and rabbinics with Rabbi Moshe Silver at 8 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The Sunday night class reviews links between the weekly parsha and Halakha made by the Ben Ish Chai, Bassous said.

On Shabbat afternoons at the synagogue, Dr. Richard Shakarchi goes over the parsha for ages 8-13 in an entertaining lecture that can be heard loud and clear no matter where you are in the shul’s building, Bassous said. Rabbi Silver teaches Hilchot Teshuva, laws of repentance, for 12- to 18-year-old boys on Shabbat afternoon, and separate classes are available for 8-13 year olds and 3-7-year-olds Shabbat morning.

The new Torah was a bat mitzvah gift for Gabrielle Morris, granddaughter of synagogue President Ray Morris, from the Jingoli family. Gabrielle decided to donate the Torah to Etz Ahaim, just like Ray’s other granddaughter Samantha did when she received a Torah from the Jingolis for her bat mitzvah two years ago.

At 4 p.m. Sept. 13, Etz Ahaim will finish the letters for the Torah and hold a reception in the shul, with music and dancing. The Torah is brand new and has been written in Israel over the past six months, Morris said. Like most Sephardic Torahs, it will be encased in a silver box.

Etz Ahaim has 175 member families, including 20 who have relocated to Florida and still support the congregation, Morris said.

“It is great for a congregation of our size to have five sefer Torahs,” Morris said. “It’s very rewarding.”

Registration is required for “The Secrets of Success” lecture series. To register, call (732) 247-3839 or email info@etzahaim.org. For Rabbi Bassous’ 18th anniversary dinner, the deadline for taking an ad in the journal is Sept. 22. Send your ad to: Ray Morris, 131 Barnard St, Highland Park, N.J. 08904. Ad blanks can be downloaded at etzahaim.org.