Sylvia Stone, left, and Inga Gross received a Golden Rugelach Award from EBJC for their 25 years of work purchasing and plattering food on Shabbat. They are wearing sunglasses to illustrate the synagogue’s slogan, “Our future’s so bright, we gotta wear shades.”
Photo courtesy East Brunswick Jewish Center
September 9, 2008
The East Brunswick Jewish Center, which only a couple of years ago was losing members and money, has bounced back in the last two years with a growing membership, financial stability, new leadership, and increased programming.
The transformation has seen a spate of physical improvements, a spirit of volunteerism, and incentives that have even drawn members who had left back into the fold.
“It is so much better,” said the Conservative congregation’s copresident Scott Alter. “People are involved, and volunteers have come out of the woodwork. It’s a tremendously good feeling to see all the returning members.”
Jack Levitt, vice president of programming, said the current feeling of enthusiasm is palatable. “People just felt disenfranchised,” he explained. “Now they feel like stockholders once again.”
The synagogue has instituted programs and restructured its dues to welcome new and returning members.
“We did not have a dues structure that attracted new families, but we’ve revised that with a graduated fee structure for newlyweds, young kids, seniors and financial incentives for returning members,” said Alter. “We’re up to 611 families.”
Alter said the financial change has been striking: “Over the last two years, we’ve had a major financial turnaround from a huge deficit to breaking even.”
Will Schaefer, vice president of facilities, said after reworking the insurance policy last year, it was cut in half to $30,000. “I restructured the staffing and we brought down our costs, cutting them basically in half to $100,000,” he said. “We’ve had a swarm of volunteers coming forward this summer and last summer to do our landscaping. They’ve planted trees and flowers, cut bushes. Our landscaping used to cost $10,000-$15,000 a year prior to this. Last year we spent $500.”
New air-conditioning and heating controls proved so effective, bills dropped even in the face of rising utility prices. The synagogue’s office machine contract is up next year; Schaefer said a new one has been priced out that will save another $20,000.
One congregant stepped forward to refurbish the library, which had been decimated in a flood a few years ago, outfitting it with furniture and equipment; another picked up the cost of repainting the building.
Schaefer credited the two previous copresidents, Jack Steinweis and Sol Hecht, with fostering that spirit of camaraderie. “They revived volunteerism by opening up opportunities for everyone to get involved and take ownership, to really cultivate the spirit of philanthropy….”
New members are given a welcoming basket, and a program is being developed to invite each new member for Shabbat dinner at a veteran member’s home, according to Cathy Mermelstein, who has served on several synagogue committees.
There are also a plethora of activities, including an adult theater group, summer day camp for children, youth groups, and adult education programs.
“Our nursery school for the first time in many years has a waiting list,” said Mermelstein. “Our camp had a much greater enrollment than ever before.”
Several programs turned out to be big hits. “Hamishe Cooks, Gracious Homes” has members known for their prowess around the kitchen demonstrate how to cook their signature dish in the home of another member renowned for their beautiful house.
The last program was for men only and featured Jesse Reitman, owner of Lox Stock and Deli, giving grilling tips.
EBJC has also become the only area hook-up for live programming from the 92nd Street Y in Manhattan, which has drawn about 100 people to programs featuring internationally renowned speakers.
‘Our future is much brighter than in the past.’
Also popular are the Shalom Shabbat program welcoming visitors and members and such programs as Sephardic Shabbat, Freilich Shabbat, and Shabbats that feature children’s activities.
“I don’t think there’s been a single person who has walked into our building who hasn’t felt how warm and welcoming it is,” said Mermelstein. “People who haven’t been here in a while are struck by the wonderful spirit in our community now.”
The synagogue began giving out “golden awards” to members who have made special contributions. The first such honor, the Golden Rugelach, was bestowed on Inga Gross and Sylvia Stone, who have purchased and plattered food on Shabbat for 25 years. Others have received Golden Thumb awards for their landscaping work or Golden Mitzva awards for those who organize minyans.
Levitt said the revitalization of programs has extended to the religious school and Hebrew high school, where efforts are being made to revamp the curriculum.
And with a new rabbi, Aaron Benson, coming on board in November (see related story), Levitt said there is a lot truth backing up EBJC’s slogan, “Our future’s so bright, we gotta wear shades.”
“Our future is much brighter than in the past,” he said. “We’ve had some tough times in the past but we’re out of that now.”
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