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When searching for a way to ensure a vibrant future for Bayonne's Jewish community, Rabbi Menachem Schtroks didn't just look locally.

Through outreach to Chabad-Lubavitch schools from around the world, Schtroks and his wife Rochel attracted 12 girls from the ages of 18-20 to study at Machon Yehudis, a new post-high school seminary at Congregation Ohav Zedek in Bayonne.

The seminary, which opened last September, celebrated its first graduating class May 24 with a gala dinner at the Bayonne Jewish Community Center. Overseas students came to Machon Yehudis from France, Brazil, England, and Canada, in addition to American students from Chicago and Monsey, N.Y. The faculty was also geographically diverse with teachers from London, Toronto, Kansas City, Brooklyn, and South Africa.

"They are Bayonne's children," Schtroks said of the seminary's students in his opening remarks. "When we ask in Bayonne 'How do we know that Torah will stay here forever?' the answer will be that we have the youth. This is the future of Bayonne."

Each day at Machon Yehudis began with prayer, followed by classes on subjects such as practical Jewish law, Jewish philosophy, parsha, Jewish identity, teacher training, marriage, and motherhood. Students also took extra-curricular courses in computers, culinary arts, aerobics, and hairstyling.

In addition to their studies, the girls initiated many community programs in Bayonne, including a Jewish kids' club, home visits for the sick and the elderly, Rosh Chodesh events for women, Torah study partnerships, and other holiday activities. Appropriately, the commencement dinner took place on Rosh Chodesh of the Jewish month Sivan.

"Today, the students would normally be taking part in a Rosh Chodesh program right here at the JCC, but this Rosh Chodesh we are here to respect the girls for their wonderful work," Schtroks said.

Machon Yehudis was named after Rochel Schtroks' mother, Rebbetzin Yehudis Heller, who passed away when Rochel was 8 years old. Heller ran a seminary for girls in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, and classes at Machon Yehudis are modeled after her teaching methods.

Bayonne residents Larry Gutterman and Joel Shulman were both honored at the dinner for the their contributions to the seminary during its inaugural year. Shulman, who received the Amudei Torah Award, let all of the girls live in his home for the first six weeks of the school year until their dormitory at Ohav Zedek was ready.

"[The girls] were already here from all over the world, and we weren't sending them back," Schtroks said. "The girls literally took over [the Shulman] house. Not only did it not bother the Shulmans, but they did everything they could to make sure the girls were as comfortable as possible."

Shulman instead deferred the credit to his wife, Susan.

"Whatever I need to have done, I tell Sharon, and it gets done," Shulman said.

Bayonne used to support as many as six Orthodox synagogues during its Jewish heyday before a sharp decline, Shulman explained, which is why the community is so receptive to any project like the seminary which brings more Judaism to the city.

Gutterman, who received the Hakaras Hatov Award, also discussed his reaction to how much Bayonne's Jewish community changed over time. Currently the fourth-generation executive director and owner of the Gutterman Bros. funeral firm, Gutterman left Bayonne shortly after his bar mitzvah during the 1970s and returned 10 years ago.

"When I returned to Bayonne, I realized that there was just a little bit left. The Jewish community I grew up with was a shadow of itself," Gutterman said.

Nevertheless, Gutterman maintained the dream of creating a lively Jewish life for Bayonne's future, he said. Gutterman saw that potential when Machon Yehudis was formed, and made immediate contributions ranging from behind-the-scenes planning to securing furniture and physically transporting it to the girls' dormitory.

"When you mention his name, everyone smiles — despite his job," Schtroks said of Gutterman. "He knows that if you want something done you have to do it with your bare hands."

Following the awards, a video presentation reviewed the girls' experiences at Machon Yehudis as well as the Bayonne community's reaction to their work.

"They have brought life to our community," Shulamis Feldman said on the video.

"If it's 15, 30 minutes, or whatever time I have with them, it is well spent," Elanor Perlman added.

The Machon Yehudis graduates felt the same way about their time in Bayonne, inside and outside of the classroom.

"The teachers are very inspiring and very good role models," Sara Kabacznik, who is from Brazil, said.

"I loved getting involved with the community in Bayonne. They are friendly, warm and welcoming, and always there for us," Fraidy Bronstein, of Monsey, said.