Ahavas Yisael begins new chapter with its first rabbi
Feb. 1, 2008
From the crossways to a crossroads and another new beginning, Ahavas Yisrael has taken a significant step in its establishment as Edison/Highland Park's newest synagogue.
The shul, which has been known for years as the "crossways" minyan, has hired its first spiritual leader, Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf.
"He's got a lot of energy, I think he fits very well with the makeup of this shul in terms of his personality, in terms of his straightforwardness, and just being a genuine individual and, certainly, his scholarship," said AY President Avi Berger about Wolf. "He came across as extremely knowledgeable and genuine."
Wolf, 30, is a native of Queens. He is currently in the kollel at Yeshiva University and teaches halakha at the Marsha Stern Talmudic Academy, Yeshiva University's high school for boys.
Wolf spent a Shabbos with the Raritan Avenue shul as part of the interview process, and was hired shortly thereafter.
"It made a very nice impression on us," Wolf said of the AY community. "We were very impressed by their sincerity and the type of davening in the shul, and the caliber of the people, and the community in general -- the openness and friendliness and warmth of the community."
Wolf still lives in Queens with his wife, Adina, and sons Yisrael, 5; Ephraim, 2; and Aryeh, 1. Wolf spends one Shabbos each month with AY, and runs a popular class after davening every Sunday morning called "Shiur with a shmear" -- bagels, donuts, and coffee with a 45-minute shiur on various topics.
Wolf said that when he finds a full-time job in the area, he and his family plan to move to Edison/Highland Park, at which point he can spend every minyan, Shabbos, and holiday with AY.
Berger said shul officials went through the Yeshiva University Rabbinic Placement Office, and had recently narrowed the search down to Wolf and one other rabbi. The congregation, he said, liked both, but fully supported the decision to hire Wolf.
"The shul was very positive about both candidates," Berger said. "And that was a very good thing, because when we made the choice, people felt that we brought two very good candidates to the shul, and the general feeling was that we got the best of the two really fantastic candidates."
Wolf was immediately impressed by the community as well, he said. He praised the "harmony that exists in the community," and the comfort area residents feel in every shul.
"Everyone gets along, people daven everywhere, and everyone's friendly with each other," Wolf said. "That's the general feeling I got from being in the neighborhood and also the reputation that the neighborhood has."
Wolf is looking forward to the opportunity to help the shul grow in terms of membership, as well as the davening, Torah classes, and chesed programs as AY continues to expand.
"The shul is very well grounded in that, and should build on the strong foundation that they've started with," he said.
Wolf said that one of the things that struck him about AY was the tremendous dedication the shul's members all have to the synagogue.
"The events that go on in the shul are basically all in-house events," Wolf said. "The kiddushim that go on in the shul -- they're run, and they're set up, and cleaned up after by people who are in the shul who are dedicated and committed to this shul. Not all shuls are privileged to have people who are so committed and are so interested in the welfare and the growth of the shul. And it says a lot about their commitment."
Wolf said that congregants come Thursday nights to set up for the Shabbos kiddush and make the cholent, and then return after Shabbos to clean everything up, instead of hiring others to do the work.
"I think it says a lot about the type of people who are involved with this shul, and the type of commitment they have and the type of foundation the shul has," Wolf said. "Which is, I think, a great foundation, and will hopefully lead to a very promising future."
Berger said the hiring is another milestone for the shul, which moved into its building two years ago.
"Having a rabbi gives us more legitimacy, and we just look forward to future growth with Rabbi Wolf," Berger said. "We look forward to growing together with him with new ideas, new programs, and ultimately, probably, a new location at some point, because we are outgrowing where we are now. These are good challenges."