Edison congregation welcomes Rabbi Jaffe

By Jason Cohen

Congregation Ahavas Yisrael of Edison began a new year with their new rabbi, Gedaliah Jaffe, on the first night of Rosh Hashanah, Sept. 29.

Jaffe said the board was looking for a new rabbi, and three weeks ago they contacted him.

"It came as a surprise," Jaffe told The Jewish State. "I talked it over with my wife, and accepted."

Edison resident Ira Gottfried, the vice president of membership of the congregation, said it was unfortunate that things didn't work with their previous rabbi, Rabbi Eliyahu Wolf, but Jaffe has been with the shul since the beginning and was a great candidate for the position.

"The board sat down after Rabbi Wolf left, and just about everyone felt Jaffe was the choice," Gottfried said.

Gottfried said Jaffe has been here for three to four years, has taught classes in the shul, and overall has showed a good example in the community.

"I've known him for years," Gottfried said. "He's a gift, he's a good speaker, he is approachable, and welcome in the community."

Edison resident Avi Berger, the president of Ahavas Yisrael said the previous rabbi was part time and after he left the shul at the end of the summer, the board looked internally within the neighborhood for a new rabbi and chose Jaffe.

"He lived in Edison for six years, people in the past have turned to him, and it made sense," Berger said. "He is energetic, committed to the shul and the community, learned and personable."

Berger said Jaffe showed the members of Ahavas Yisrael what Rosh Hashanah is truly about.

"He is very warm and modest and he is someone that is doing his job not because he wants to be in charge, but because he wants to make a difference," Berger said.

Jaffe, who has been very involved in Ahavas Yisrael since its inception four years ago, said he and his family are very excited about his opportunity to be a rabbi at Ahavas Yisrael. Furthermore, he said there is a wonderful group of people at the shul.

Jaffe received his rabbinical ordination at Yeshiva University, in N.Y. He taught Judaic studies at the Hillel Yeshiva in Deal for eight years and this year he began teaching Judaic studies at the Frisch School in Paramus.

"So far, I am enjoying teaching at Frisch and I have a lot of students," he said.  

He said he already knows many of his congregants because he has been a member since the shul started.

"I plan to have a daily maariv minyan, a weekly parsha class, a Talmud class on Shabbos afternoons, a halacha class on Sunday mornings, and a monthly class for women," Jaffe said. 

Though Jaffe lives in Edison, his spirituality was shaped on the west coast.

"I grew up in southern California, where I used to pray with Chabad, which is where my love for Hassidic philosophy started," he said. "I am inspired by their self sacrifice." 

Jaffe said he wants to give back to ahm Yisrael.

"On Rosh Hashanah you receive a clean slate and it is a good time to start new for the year," he said.

Jaffe, a musician, said music can elevate a person spiritually.

"I have a strong musical background and I believe music brings Jews closer to God," Jaffe said. "I played the acoustic and electric guitars since my bar mitzvah. I also play the piano."

Jaffe said he has a music room at home and plans to play music from his Sukkah throughout the upcoming holiday.

"It's a big responsibility being a rabbi," he said. "God loves Jews and wants to help them out anyway he can."

The shul is right near the Edison train station, and attracts many people that have jobs in Manhattan to come to shul, he said.

Jaffe added that the decision to take the job was made easier by the Ahavas Yisrael community.

"The congregants are really sincere about wanting to be Jews -- that was a major factor in accepting the position," he said.

The rabbi resides in Edison with his wife and four children.