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Congregation Beth Shalom of Red Bank celebrated Hanukkah with a latke eating contest Dec. 25.

The event also featured a dreidel spinning contest, a communal candle lighting, food, prizes, and singing.

Rabbi Yerachmiel Shapiro said although the shul has been in existence since 1957 he is the first full-time rabbi there in 30 years.

"I held the event to try to inspire the Hanukkah experience for the people of Red bank," he said. "The idea was to create town happiness."

Shapiro said Hanukkah is about children, being young, embracing life, lighting candles, and simply having fun.

"Hanukkah is a holiday where we can all release our inner child and just let it be," he said.

Shapiro said Beth Shalom is home to anyone who walks into the doors of the temple.

"No matter who you are or where you're from, you're family," he said.

The latke eating contest consisted of one table of adults and one of kids. The contest was not timed, but the children had to eat six latkes and the adults 12.

The winners of the children's contest were sisters 11-year-old Tori and 8-year-old Reese of Lincroft.

Lisa Sarullo, the girls' mother, said she was very proud her daughters won.

"They won, she loves to eat," Sarullo said. "It's one of her favorite foods and she's very competitive."

Sarullo said her family joined the temple this year.

"We like it; we like the rabbi, and Tori is studying for her bat mitzvah," she said.

As for the adult latke eating contest, Joel Podelsky of Lawrence Harbor dominated everyone as he ate all 12 latkes in one minute.

"I felt good about it," he said. "I heard about this and I wanted to see if I could do it. I am still hungry."

Marvin Goldin of Ocean Township, who has been a member for 20 years, said he was there to support the synagogue and the rabbi.

Goldin said Shapiro is young, enthusiastic, and is helping the synagogue grow.

"The synagogue is modern Orthodox that under his leadership has become vibrant and a very fun place to be," Goldin said.

Sara Breslow of Eatontown, who is one of the founding members of the temple, said Shapiro is a wonderful person.

"It's nice to have a Jewish presence, since this is the only shul in Red bank," she said.

Shapiro, who is originally from Chicago, attended rabbinical school at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah in New York City and graduated in June. He said after he graduated he applied to temples throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania because his wife Helene was attending dental school at UMDNJ in Somerdale, and he wanted to be close to home.

"One of my friends brought me a clipping from a newspaper about a small temple on the Jersey shore looking for a rabbi," he said, of finding Beth Shalom.

He then applied there, interviewed, and competed with five other rabbis until he was awarded the job in July, he said.

"They not only chose me, but chose my vision," he said. "A modern and open orthodoxy that's inclusive to all people."

He said Red Bank is a unique town and he's glad he is the rabbi there.

"It's definitely the coolest place that I've lived," Shapiro said.

The members of the shul really appreciate him and are happy he is in their lives, he said.

"Everyone needs a personal rabbi," Shapiro said.

Shapiro is 27 years old and he and his wife have a 3-month-old daughter named Lila.