Congressman Honored at Dinner on the Golf Course

About 100 guests gathered recently to celebrate Chabad of Gloucester County’s amazing work and its recent purchase of 9.5 acres of land in the heart of Mullica Hill, NJ. The land will be used to build a new Jewish Center to accommodate the growing needs of the Jewish community in Gloucester County.

While the Jewish community of Gloucester County has always been small and spread throughout the county, in recent years the growth has been more visible and intensified due in large part to Chabad’s innovative and successful programming. Founded in 2007 by Rabbi Avi & Mina Richler, Chabad of Gloucester County has initiated programs and outreach focused on promoting Jewish pride and facilitating Jewish education in a fun and friendly way.

Over the past seven plus years Chabad has brought together many Jewish families who were previously unaffiliated, and has created a warm, friendly, and vibrant community.  In 2013 Chabad of Gloucester County opened a fulltime center at Rowan University to service the needs of the Jewish Students at Rowan University, and brought a couple, Rabbi Hersh and Fraidy Loschak on board to focus fully on Chabad of Rowan.

Chabad’s annual event is a way to celebrate the wonderful achievements of the organization and to recognize the many people who put time and energy into growing the community.

This year’s honorees included the “Man of the Year” award presented to Congressman Donald Norcross of the 1^st Congressional District of NJ, and personal friend of Rabbi Avi Richler, Executive Director of Chabad of Gloucester County.  “Congressman Norcross has been a staunch supporter of the Jewish community as well as the State of Israel”, said Rabbi Richler who traveled to Israel last year with the Congressman, “and it was for his unwavering friendship to Israel that we felt it worthy of him receiving this award” said Richler.

In his remarks, Congressman Norcross touted his strong support of the Jewish State warning against a bad deal with Iran that would put Israel and the rest of the world in danger. “The Jewish community here in NJ will always find my door open to express any concern on this and other important issues and Rabbi Richler knows I will answer his call any time of day or night”.

Also honored at the event were Dr. Richard and Gail Saferstien who were given the annual “Chessed Award” and Mr. Steve Roth who was recognized for his tireless efforts as the “Volunteer of the Year”

Dr. Saferstein, who is dedicating the Saferstein Memorial Sanctuary, said that what drew him to Chabad was the culture of making everyone feel comfortable and welcome no matter what their background or level of observance. “I have met many rabbis in my life but never dared to address any of them by their first name until I met Avi” remarked Dr. Saferstien in his address, continuing that “Rabbi Avi and Mina have created with Chabad of Gloucester County an umbrella under which all Jews can seek shelter.”

Remarking on what the evening represents, Steve Roth looked around and slowly said “Our work has really just begun, so long as there is one more Jew in Gloucester County who is not yet connected or who feels alone we as a community cannot rest. We must continue to get the word out that there is a home for every Jew in Gloucester County, and this is the true vision of Rabbi Avi and Mina.”