Hamodia Features NJ Shluchim

By Devorah Klein – Hamodia

Only a half-hour’s drive from Lakewood and the thriving community that is centered around Bais Medrash Govoha, Monmouth County’s Jewish life is a far cry from Lakewood’s vibrancy. While the area is home to tens of thousands of Jews, the number of shomrei Shabbos families has historically been low. However, a number of devoted individuals and institutions are determined to change that. In this article, we explore some of the institutions in the townships of Manalapan and Marlboro that are making a big difference in the landscape of Monmouth County, New Jersey.

Chabad of West Monmouth County
Since its inception in 1986 by Rabbi Boruch and Rebbetzin Tova Chazanow, who were sent by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, zt”l, Chabad of West Monmouth County has dedicated itself to reaching out to Jewish men, women and children from all points of the Jewish spectrum in a welcoming and nonjudgmental atmosphere.

In addition to the Chabad Center in Manalapan Township, Chabad has established four additional centers: Chabad of Freehold, under the directorship of Rabbi Avraham and Mrs. Zisi Bernstein; Chabad of Toms River, under the directorship of Rabbi Moishe and Mrs. Chani Gurary; Chabad of Morganville, under the direction of Rabbi Levi and Mrs. Chanale Wolosow; and Chabad at Brookdale College and the surrounding communities, under the direction of Rabbi Shmaya and Mrs. Rochi Galperin.

Chabad has also established Yeshivas Beis Menachem, a semichah-learning chaburah under the direction of the Rosh Yeshivah Rabbi Levi Yitzchok Schapiro. Bachurim joining the yeshivah learn with community members and teenagers every evening, giving the community the ruach of Torah.

Chabad of West Monmouth County has many programs that cover the gamut of Torah, avodah and gemilus chassadim. These programs include several area shuls; the Benjamin Rosenberg Center for Jewish Studies, an exciting adult education experience; and women’s programming and youth activities. Chabad’s Annual Jewish Women’s Symposium attracts about 300 women to a day of inspiration highlighting the unique qualities and zechus of the akeres habayis in every Jewish home.

Hebrew school programs located in Manalapan, Freehold and Holmdel cater to 120 children, and Gan Israel Day Camp services approximately 300 children each summer.

The Friendship Circle is a unique organization (established in 2001) with a refreshing approach to helping specialneeds children and their families. The Friendship Circle provides innovative programming and creative activities designed to foster a relationship between community teenagers and special-needs children by drawing on the love, boundless energy and dynamism of the teenage population.

Other community chessed initiatives include a Bikur Cholim program in which dynamic volunteers make weekly Erev Shabbos visits to CentraState Hospital in Freehold, bringing patients caring friendship and flowers for Shabbos; Senior Services, in which Chabad Rabbis and volunteers visit area nursing homes every Yom Tov, with innovative programs to bring the residents a true Yom Tov spirit; and “Smiling On Seniors” (SOS), a unique program run by Chabad Rebbetzins and community volunteers that regularly brings together lonely seniors for a stimulating afternoon of Jewish experience.