Chabad has new home in Hillsborough
Jason Cohen
Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky and his wife Miriam unveiled the brand new home for the Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County Sept. 14.
Rabbi Moshe Herson, director of the Lubavitch of New Jersey Regional headquarters, and the Dean of the Rabbinical College of America in
Dr. Melissa Selke, a resident of Hillsborough and member of the Chabad, said she was honored and privileged to be part of such a wonderful day.
"I have been a member of the Chabad for the past five years and it has brought tears to my eyes," Selke said.
She said the Chabad accepted her family for who they were, even though she and her husband worked on Saturdays and weren't Orthodox.
"They make it fun to be Jewish," Selke said. "We choose to spend the holidays with Chabad even though my family only lives 45 minutes away."
Rabbi Krinsky said six years ago he founded the Chabad Jewish Center of Southern Somerset County at
"My wife and I realized we needed a larger location, so over the summer we began looking for a place," Krinsky said. "We heard that the Amboy bank which was not too far from our old building, shared half of its building with a church and the church had recently left, so there was a spot available."
Krinsky said since the church had previously rented out part of the bank, zoning wasn't an issue.
The rabbi and his wife then spoke with representatives from Amboy Bank about renting out the space and an agreement was made to allow them to rent.
Krinsky said the main goal of the Chabad is to cater to the community.
"We have a teen program so young adults can stay active after their bar or bat mitzvah, and four years ago three moms asked my wife to teach Hebrew school so she started," he said.
Since the Chabad started six years ago, the temple has blossomed, he said.
"I believe something bright makes us smile, and here at the Chabad we are trying to bring light to Jewish people," the rabbi said.
Krinsky said at the Chabad they believe if you are a Jew, then you are Jew, regardless of level of observance.
"My wife and I answer everyone's questions and allow people to feel accepted at the Chabad," he said.
"The Rebbe taught us never to be satisfied, because there is never an end, just another beginning," Krinsky added.
His wife, Miriam, said it was a terrific day, there was a great turn out, and everyone had a wonderful time.
"We wanted people to walk into the shul and immediately see the bright colorful paintings called Hassidic pop art, and more importantly, we wanted people to feel welcome," Miriam said.
She said they wanted the shul to look alive and modern.
"We love being here, we love the community and we are excited and enthusiastic about being Jewish -- it's contagious," she said.
"We present what Chabad stands for; we meet every Jew, treat every Jew with respect, and never judge anyone," she added.
Miriam said she and her husband try their best to live by the Rebbe's teachings.
"Just as the Rebbe taught we are never done, the sky is the limit," she said.
Miriam said it's the little things that make them smile.
"People have said they were turned off at previous temples because of their Hebrew schools and when they arrived at our temple they said they loved the Hebrew school," she said.
Miriam said that at the Chabad they try to touch every person and make them feel welcome and at home.
"We want the kids to feel they can come and talk to us, allow them to feel like we are family, and most importantly let them feel comfortable with me and my husband," Miriam said.
One person that the Hebrew school has truly affected was Connor Bagley, Miriam said.
"Since he started at the Chabad, and after his bar mitzvah, Connor thinks it's the coolest thing to be Jewish," she said.
James and Janet Bagley and their family joined the Chabad five years ago. They said they joined because they felt a higher level of acceptance at the Chabad. Although James is not Jewish, they still felt accepted and were welcomed with open arms by the rabbi and his wife at the Chabad.
They quit their previous temple because the temple said if their son didn't attend a certain amount of Hebrew school classes they would kick him out of the temple. It was simply too strong and demanded too much, the Bagleys said.
"As soon as Connor, our son, met Shmaya and Miriam he loved it and wanted to come back," they said. "The first day he went to Hebrew school he wore a hat, and the rabbi had no problem with it, allowing Connor to feel such joy and acceptance."
Connor became a bar mitzvah in June and on his own he has decided to return to the Hebrew school for the teen program.
"We aren't forcing Connor to go back to Hebrew school," Janet said. "The teachers made him feel comfortable, always made things relative, fun, and were very contemporary."
Janet said there is a significant difference here at the Chabad compared to the way she grew up with at her temple.
"Primarily Shmaya and Miriam are the engine that turns it, and with their warmth and compassion they make us feel very welcome as a family," Janet said.
Dan Shanok, vice president of the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and
"This is my shul, I have been going here regularly for five to six years, and more importantly Shmaya is a really good guy," Shanok said.
Shanok said that for a long time going to temple wasn't a part of his life, but that changed greatly when he met Rabbi Krinsky.
"If you are ever interested in taking a dip in the spiritual waters, then this is the place to do it, because Chabad is a very nice community filled with nice people," Shanok said. "Also, if you ever need anyone to hug, Shmaya is your guy."
Another family that has fallen in love with the Chabad, Shmaya, and Miriam is the Grazer family of Hillsborough. Philip and Dana Grazer, their 9-year-old son, and their 12-year-old daughter have been members since January.
"We had been to many temples prior to joining the Chabad, but the first day we arrived there, our kids loved the rabbi, his wife, and teachers," Philip Grazer said.
He said the difference between the Hebrew school there and at their old temple was they don't just teach you a lesson, but there is passion in it because they live what they are teaching. Also, the teachers have a direct involvement with the kids, he said.
"Before we joined Chabad we were afraid our son, Grant, wasn't getting a bar mitzvah because we couldn't get him to go to Hebrew school," Grazer said.
Grazer said he wasn't religious growing up, didn't go to temple, but now goes every Saturday.
"We found that the rabbi and his wife are very accepting, but more importantly they took a direct involvement with my family, provided guidance, and changed our lives for the better," he said.
Grazer said they joined the Chabad for their kids.
"The previous Chabad building was a very shoddy old place and the landlord didn't keep it clean, but the new place is great; it's like night and day," Grazer said.
Jerry Naroden, a resident of Hillsborough and a Chabad member for five years, said the Chabad has a very good school, teaches each kid to his own level, and meets each child's individual need.
"We are one of the families that come every Saturday," Naroden said.
To register for the Hebrew school, call the office and ask to speak to Miriam at (908) 874-0444.