Chabad of the Shore celebrates its grand opening in Long Branch

by Jill Huber
NJJN Bureau Chief/Monmouth

Some 150 guests gathered in Long Branch last month to mark the opening of Chabad of the Shore, the latest outreach center affiliated with the Chabad-Lubavitch hasidic movement.

Welcoming supporters to the new center at 620 Ocean Ave. in Long Branch on Aug. 20, director Rabbi Laibel Schapiro said that the facility would foster the unconditional acceptance of every Jew regardless of affiliation and level of observance.

At its new 1,800-square-foot location (the former site opened four years ago several miles away from the main Ocean Avenue thoroughfare), the center will be more accessible to all Jews in Monmouth County and will be a place where all can feel at home, regardless of background, added Schapiro.

“Each of you provides the support and encouragement we need to reach out and bring the joys of Judaism to our brothers and sisters,” he said during the grand opening celebration. “When a member of the Jewish community sees the Chabad, they know they will be welcomed and made to feel at home when they come through the doors.”

Schapiro, and his wife, Chani, who conducts many of the center’s programs, live in Elberon with their two daughters, Chai, three, and Sarah, one. A Brooklyn native, Schapiro was influenced by the teachings of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, the late Lubavitcher rebbe, who encouraged a network of Chabad emissaries to set up outreach centers around the world.

Guided by Schneerson’s belief that the role of Lubavitch is to encourage Jewish observance among the assimilated, centers like Chabad of the Shore tend to attract and welcome Jews who practice different levels of observance. Schapiro said the dictum of “Love thy fellow as thyself” is the defining factor in his outreach work.

“This is what the rebbe taught us, and as a result, we can feel good about being Jewish and proud of our Jewish identity,” he said. “Within Judaism, there is a place for every Jew.”

Chabad of the Shore conducts programs and activities that include adult education classes and lectures on a wide range of subjects, such as Kabala, Hebrew reading, the Talmud, Jewish law, and Jewish history. Some of the education groups meet at the Ocean Avenue center, while others are conducted at the homes of interested members and at the Ruth Hyman Jewish Community Center in Deal.

There are beginner services on Saturdays and holidays for those who are unfamiliar with Jewish communal prayer (there are no membership requirements), monthly women’s study groups that explore contemporary issues, a religious school attended by 30 students, a bar/bat mitzva club that works to increase youngsters’ understanding of this life-cycle event, and a “Hand in Hand” program for families with special-needs children.

According to Schapiro, among the most popular and well-attended programs are hands-on educational workshops, including matza-baking for Passover and an olive oil and candle “factory” for Hanukka.

The center’s shofar “factory,” which is under way, attracts more than 1,000 children from area synagogues and religious schools, said Schapiro.

“This one is really special,” he said. “The children actually craft a shofar, from the cleaning to the polishing, as they learn about its meaning and place in Judaism. And when the shofars are ready for use, you can hear the joyous noise bring the whole experience to life.”

Schapiro said he expects more than 200 attendees at this year’s High Holy Day services, which will be conducted at 656 Ocean Ave. in Long Branch. There are no membership requirements.

“The rebbe taught us that every Jew is loved, wanted, and needed,” he said. “His goal was that every Jew should be hunted with love like they were once hunted down with hate. Our job is to make sure Hitler didn’t succeed — we will never cease to exist. This is the perfect time of year to pass this along to the next generation.”

Information about Chabad of the Shore programs and projects is available from the Chabad office at 732-229-2424 or on its Web site.