Home

Though he chose a different career path, Rabbi Joshua Hess was set on the path toward becoming a pulpit rabbi while growing up around his father's devotion to the Jewish community.

"My father is not a rabbi, but has always been very involved in the Jewish community," Hess told The Jewish State, referring to his father's earlier role as president of the Orthodox Union on the West Coast. "My father and mother instilled in me the importance of being active in the Jewish community."

On the first Shabbat of the month, Hess joined Congregation Anshe Chesed, an Orthodox synagogue in Linden, as its new rabbi.

Hess, who grew up in Los Angeles, studied for two years at Yeshivas Ohr Yerushalayim in Israel and then attended Yeshiva University for one year before transferring to Ner Israel Rabbinical College in Baltimore. He spent five years at Ner Israel, from which he obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees in talmudic law and his rabbinical ordination in 2006.

During his time in Baltimore, Hess met his wife, Naava. In 2002, the couple married and currently has four children, two boys and two girls ranging in ages from 6 to 1, respectively: Dani, Akiva, Esti, and Dalia. Naava, a professional educator, will teach religious studies at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston.

After receiving his ordination, Hess's family moved to Denver, where he served as rabbi of the DAT Minyan, the synagogue associated with the Denver Academy of Torah, a modern Orthodox day school. While in Colorado, he also studied toward a master's in pastoral counseling from the Iliff School of Theology.

In addition to his parents, Hess cited his wife's grandfather, Rabbi Dr. Stanley Wagner, as one of his chief influences. Wagner, who for many years was the rabbi at The Beth HaMedrosh HaGadol-Beth Joseph Congregation in Denver, is currently the rabbi emeritus there.

"He has been a very big influence in my life even to this day," Hess said of Wagner.

Hess first became interested in the position at Anshe Chesed after seeing it on a job openings listing from the Rabbinic Council of America (RCA), a rabbinical organization affiliated with the Orthodox Union.

"Any shul you are interested in, [the RCA] will send them your resume and advocate for you on your behalf," Hess explained. "I was very intrigued with Anshe Chesed because of the recent growth of the community -- more and more young couples are moving in."

He said he was also drawn to the synagogue by the "rich tradition of special rabbis who have been in the community."

Hess described the hiring process as "unusually quick." The entire process from the first interview lasted a total of two months, Hess said.

"When offered, we were very humbled and honored," Hess said, explaining that over the shul's 95-year-old existence it "has been privileged to have very influential and beloved rabbis."

One of these aforementioned rabbis was the late Rabbi Stephen Dworkin, former executive director of the RCA, whom Hess described as "beloved by all."

According to Hess, the near-century-old congregation's membership has dwindled in recent years as the children of members have moved out of the community.

"There was a time that there was a serious fear that the shul might have to close its doors," he said.

Hess explained how several years ago, many of the older members of the congregation, some of whose parents had helped found the shul nearly 100 years ago, realized that they couldn't allow Anshe Chesed to disappear.

"Members have been actively finding ways to bring people to it, to ensure that the community continues to thrive," Hess said.

Recently, 18 young couples have moved to the community. Hess hopes that the arrival of these young families will help the community to grow. Yet, while the congregation used to attract up to 700 people during the High Holidays, only a quarter of that number now attend.

Linden is the ideal place for young Jewish couples to come and raise their families, Hess said, citing its proximity to New York City, the turnpike, and the parkway; its affordability; and the fact that the synagogue also houses the Zichron Leyma Yeshiva in its building, in which 60 young men come to study post-high school.

"We have a lot going for us and we're hoping to grow the community," Hess said.