JESSICA SMITH The new garden in front of the Jewish Congregation of Concordia contains many types of biblical plants, including burning bush, barberry red, rose of Sharon, yucca and others. MONROE – New Jersey now has its own Biblical garden, and it can be found at the entrance to the Jewish Congregation of Concordia, Perrineville Road.
Congregants Gladys and Charles Weiss conceived of and donated the garden, which will be dedicated in a Sept. 30 ceremony at 1 p.m. in the presence of the congregation and dignitaries including Mayor Richard Pucci, state Assemblywoman Linda Greenstein and other officials. Gov. Jon Corzine has been invited.
Congregation Cantor Eli Perlman will bless the garden, President Evelyn Goldstein will welcome the guests, and some of the dignitaries will make brief addresses.
Located in front of the synagogue, the garden is designed to provide an island of beauty for contemplation, relaxation and enjoyment, according to a press release from the congregation.
The garden contains many varieties of biblical plants, which will be identified on maps and plaques. A few examples are burning bush, barberry red, rose of Sharon, yucca, day lilies, aspirea, bridal wreath and pink hosta.
The Weisses, longtime active members of the congregation, designed the garden out of a deep love of aesthetics and desire for spiritual uplift, according to the congregation. The couple wanted an aesthetic and spiritual experience to greet people as they approach the synagogue to pray or engage in communal activity. They were dissatisfied with the ordinary landscaping provided by the shopping center at the approaches to the synagogue.
“It is a far cry from the beauty and caring congregation that thrives internally,” Charles Weiss said. “If one is fortunate to be present during our Sabbath service, led by our esteemed Cantor Eli Perlman, followed by our unusual solicitous and social Kiddush meal, they would have a better understanding of our desire to enhance the entrance with this representative feature of a biblical garden. The former landscaping seemed to lack the characteristics and warmth one has upon entering our sanctuary.”
Implementing the ideas of creating a biblical garden was a huge task. First, Charles Weiss had to obtain the permission of Richard Anderson, of Concordia Shopping Center management, who agreed and extended his full cooperation. Cantor Perlman supplied books to help identify biblical plants. Landscaping firm Brickman Group, under the leadership of project director Edward Wisniewski, identified the appropriate plants, designed the architecture of the garden and prepared the soil for planting.
Soil samples were brought to Rutgers School of Agriculture to determine which species would thrive in the local environment and to consult about the most appropriate plants. Brickman then installed the garden.
The garden is now completed, and the synagogue hopes it will inspire congregants and provide a link to the land, time and words of the Bible.
The dedication ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. at the congregation, located at the junction of Perrineville and Prospect Plains roads, near the Rite-Aid drugstore.