New Chabad Center Ends 12-Year Journey

A jubilant crowd shouted “Mazel tov!” as they gathered under a canopy of tall trees to celebrate the official opening of the Chabad Jewish Center of Northwest Bergen County, NJ.

“For 12 years we met at various locations and are thrilled to finally have a permanent home,” Rabbi Chanoch Kaplan said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sunday, May 6.

The center was established by Kaplan and his wife, Mimi, in 2000 and is the eighth Chabad — an acronym for chochmah, binah, da’at, or “wisdom, understanding, knowledge” — in the county.

Chabad is defined as a philosophy that incorporates the teachings of Kabbalah and applies an intellectual approach and meditations to daily life.

Kaplan says Chabad is an alternative for those in the Jewish community who feel displaced: “We are accepting and non-judgmental. We offer a warm and embracing atmosphere.”

“Chabad provides an additional choice to the Jewish community,” Karl Kaplan of Mahwah said. “Today shows the interest and commitment of people in the community who are willing to contribute money to make this home for worship happen.”

The 3.9-acre Pulis Avenue site is the former home of the Franklin Lakes Reformed Bible Fellowship. Constructed in 1960, the church served the community until it merged with the Preakness Valley United Reformed Church in Wayne in 2003.

“Our membership was shrinking and it made sense for us to join our sister church,” said George Martin, a church elder who attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The building was then rented to the Heritage Reformed Church before being purchased by the Chabad Jewish Center in September.

The Chabad Jewish Center immediately undertook a $500,000 renovation.

“It was amazing how fast we worked together to have everything ready to observe the High Holy Days,” Kaplan said of the project.

Renovations will continue as the center prepares to open the Franklin Lakes Jewish Preschool in the fall.

“We are like a family here and now we have a home,” said Alison Herman of Wyckoff. “The Chabad Center accepts everyone at any level of participation without judgment as they embrace Judaism.”

Albert Huizing, an elder and member of the management committee of the Franklin Lakes Reformed Bible Fellowship, was eager to tour the building and see the improvements.

“For 50 years our church served the community and now that role is being passed on to the Chabad Jewish Center to help the community reflect on their morals,” Huizing said.

The sentiment of preserving the property as a religious space was echoed by Franklin Lakes Mayor Frank Bivona.

“It is a pleasure to see this site remain a house of worship and continue to be a backbone in the community.” he said.

Being a presence in the community is important to Kaplan. The rabbi said he walks 3 miles with his wife and six children from their home in Franklin Lakes to Shabbat services at the center.

“It is important for me to meet my neighbors and my neighbors to get to know me,” he said. “Community is about people knowing people.”

The center will continue to celebrate its new permanent home at a 12th anniversary gala on June 3.