New rabbi, new future for E.B. Jewish Center

California rabbi succeeds leader who served 28 years

BY JESSICA SMITH Staff Writer

Rabbi Aaron Benson Rabbi Aaron Benson EAST BRUNSWICK — There is a new rabbi in town.

The East Brunswick Jewish Center (EBJC) spent a recent weekend welcoming Rabbi Aaron Benson, a Los Angeles transplant.

“Part of what guided me … was finding a place where the culture of the synagogue tends to be a match,” Benson said. “I think for me, what attracted me to the pulpit here, is that while the synagogue has had some ups and downs, it still has a robust congregation.”

Benson pointed to the fact that over the past couple of years, an increasing number of lay leaders have become involved in the workings of the Ryders Lane synagogue, helping it to grow and thrive. He said he is looking forward to bringing what he can to the congregation by figuring out how it can become a greater source of spiritual meaning and fulfillment to the local Jewish community, as well as finding ways to enhance the congregation’s good citizenship toward the community as a whole.

“Those are some of the questions I want to address during my first year here,” Benson said.

Additional goals Benson expressed include three areas he would like to tackle. He said one important priority is to revitalize and strengthen programs offered by the synagogue to high school-age youths. Another objective is to expand educational opportunities for adults in the congregation, he said.

“[I want to] encourage awareness that, within Judaism, studying and learning is also a spiritual practice,” Benson said.

In synthesizing with the synagogue, Benson also said it will be critical to determine the core values of the center, and how to best express them in practice.

Rabbi Chaim Rogoff stepped down from the pulpit after 28 years at EBJC, and the synagogue set about conducting a search for his replacement. While the search went on, Rabbi Mitchell Romirowsky served as interim rabbi. The Conservative Judaism denomination offers a clearinghouse list on which available rabbis can apply to open positions, and those searching for a rabbi can find them.

Once those at EBJC interviewed Benson via telephone, they arranged for him to visit. Along with his wife, Isabel, and 9 ½- month-old son, Montgomery, Benson came to meet with the synagogue’s leadership and congregants in early August.

“Not only does the synagogue get to know the rabbi during that time, but the rabbi also gets to know the synagogue,” Benson said.

It was not just EBJC that provided a pull to the area for the Bensons. Isabel grew up in Westchester County, New York, and her family still resides there. In addition, East Brunswick reminded Benson of the place where he grew up near Chicago.

“We also thought that East Brunswick seems like a nice place to raise a family,” Benson said.

During his own formative years, Benson’s strong relationship with God and love for Jewish tradition were fostered by his extensive participation in the workings of the synagogue to which he belonged, he said.

“Where I grew up in Aurora, Ill., it was a relatively small Jewish community, so you had to step up yourself if you wanted to make things happen,” Benson said.

As he enjoyed the fulfillment of living a devoted Jewish lifestyle, Benson said he realized that he would like to share that gift with others. He later attended the Ziegler School of Rabbinical Studies at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.

He comes to EBJC from Congregation Beth Meier in Studio City, Calif.

Aside from conducting his spiritual work, Benson enjoys spending time with little Montgomery and the family’s two dogs. When time allows, he also likes playing golf, attending the opera and theater, and going to the movies.

The Bensons were welcomed to EBJC upon arrival Nov. 10, and Benson delivered his first sermon Nov. 15 at Shabbat services. The congregation will formally install Benson on Dec. 19 at the evening Shabbat service. Other local clergy and Jewish lay leaders will be invited to attend, along with a number of local politicians. A celebratory Shabbat dinner will precede the ceremony, which will have a theme of rededication, as is epitomized by Hanukkah, which begins two days after.

“Our congregation welcomes Rabbi Benson and his family to lead our growing community,” said Amy Schonfeld, copresident of EBJC. “We look forward to his spiritual leadership guiding us to our new future.”

Founded in 1957 by a small group of congregants, the EBJC has grown to a membership of 655 families. The synagogue has programs to serve the spiritual, educational and social needs of congregants of all ages. It has an active nursery school; Hebrew school; Bar/Bat Mitzvah program; USY and Kadima youth groups; sisterhood; men’s club; Mitzvah Corps and Senior Adult League. There are ongoing adult education classes, including a Torah study group and Israeli dance troupe. EBJC recently received three awards for excellence in synagogue programming from the New Jersey region of the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism.

For more information, visit www.ebjc.org or call 732-257-7070. They ask that no calls be made on Shabbat or holidays.