Freehold temple celebrates its place in local history

FREEHOLD — To honor its centennial year, the Freehold Jewish Center, Congregation Agudath Achim, Broad Street, will run a series of events with the goals of celebrating its rich history, as well as opening its doors to the community to reveal the depth and breadth of its congregation, religious observance, family culture, and its gem of a building.

“This congregation is part of Freehold’s local history and our synagogue reflects its rich story. As a congregation, we’ve had a few ups and downs, as we all do in life, but 100 years is worth celebrating, and we hope that with the events and programs we have planned, people will be curious enough to meet our family and tour the building,” said Rabbi Kenneth Greene, who has been the congregation’s rabbi for 13 years.

According to information provided by the synagogue, the earliest Jewish families settled in Freehold in the 1880s, most of them being peddlers, merchants, artisans, farmers or employees of the local shirt factory.

Jewish social and religious activities were minimal until after 1905 when the waves of immigrants from Russia and Poland brought most of the original founders of Freehold’s organized Jewish community.

As soon as the necessary quorum — or “minyan” — for a congregation was reached, a private house was rented at 20 First St., where services were conducted for some time. A desire for a synagogue of their own began to take root in the hearts and minds of these pioneers, and in 1911 they drew up a charter for the formation of an Orthodox synagogue to be known as Congregation Agudath Achim Anshai.

The synagogue’s building on Broad Street is a testament to the congregation’s history, as it has gone through many stages of construction, particularly over the past 60 years. While its unassuming exterior reflects its quiet and observant religious focus, the inside opens up to a profound entryway, a sanctuary and extension flanked in stained glass windows, classrooms and social halls, and a 350-person formal ballroom with kosher catering kitchens.

On Nov. 20, for a fun social night that is open to the community, the synagogue will attempt to transform itself into a Lower East Side, N.Y., movie theater, with a 7 p.m. showing of “Crossing Delancey,” starring Amy Irving and Peter Riegert in one “theater,” and the recent children’s release “How to Train Your Dragon” in another hall for children.

The event will feature traditional Lower East Side cuisine, including hot dogs, pickles and knishes ($10 per family).

For more information about the Freehold Jewish Center or the family movie night, call 732-462-0254, or visit www.freeholdjc.org.