Chabad Jewish Center of Hillsborough is celebrating four years of service to area residents.
By: Donna Lukiw
In the past four years, Chabad Jewish Center of Hillsborough has established a center and grown into an organization offering religious classes, women’s groups and adult education.
On Dec. 20, Chabad Jewish Center will be celebrating its four years serving area residents, as well as honoring two local leaders for their support for the center Assemblyman Pete Biondi and Somerset Valley Bank President and CEO Paul V. Stahlin.
Mr. Biondi and Mr. Stahlin will be honored at the center’s gala dinner at the Somerset Marriott Hotel in Somerset.
"This is a very important event for the Chabad Jewish Center," Rabbi Shmaya Krinsky said. "Many people are not aware that Chabad is somewhat unique when it comes to funding programs. They don’t charge a synagogue membership fee, assess a building fund commitment or sell High Holiday seats. They survive and thrive on the basis of free-will giving."
Rabbi Krinsky, the center’s spiritual leader, said the center survives solely on individual contributions from families and through this gala he hopes to honor those that have supported the Jewish Center.
"It is indeed a testament to our community that we do all that we do without formal financial income," Rabbi Krinsky said. "The committee decided to orchestrate a Founders’ Dinner as a way of thanking those who have helped this institution over the past four years, and also as a means of raising the needed funds to benefit the religious, educational and social-service programs of Chabad of Southern Somerset County."
Throughout the dinner, there will be a presentation about the center, the lighting of the Hanukkah menorah and awards given to Mr. Biondi and Mr. Stahlin for their contributions to the community.
"Both of them are community leaders," the rabbi said about Mr. Biondi and Mr. Stahlin. "They help out different organizations."
"The Chabad of Southern Somerset County provides valuable teachings and services to our residents," Mr. Biondi said. "I feel very privileged to be one of the honorees at the planned Chabad of Southern Somerset County Inaugural Gala Dinner."
Mr. Biondi is the 16th Legislative district Assemblyman, and a former mayor of Hillsborough. He has served as the Republican Conference Leader since 2006 and was Assistant Republican Leader from 2002-2003.
Mr. Stahlin has also demonstrated strong leadership through active community involvement and serves as immediate past chairman and president of the Montclair State University Foundation’s Board of Trustees and is a member of the Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
In addition, Mr. Stahlin serves on the executive committee on the Board of Somerset County Business Partnership, is a trustee of St. Charles Borromeo Parish and as a member of the National Eagle Scout Association.
Rabbi Krinsky said about 100 tickets have been sold already and all the money raised will go toward the center’s program and organization.
Tickets for the evening are $180 per person. There is also an opportunity to advertise in the dinner program that the Chabad Center will be printing in honor of this occasion.
For more information or to request a formal invitation call 874-0444 or email [email protected].

