A massive tent serving as a beit midrash for tefillot and tischen is not one of the sites one ever expected to witness at the park on the side of the Galloping Hill Road as it passes through the quiet town of Union, New Jersey. Basketball and other recreational activities are the more conventional scenes there. But Shabbat Parshat Toldot was an exception.

That Shabbat was the aufruf of a grandson of the Bobov Rebbe, who established a blossoming community in Union four years ago. The chatan is a son of his son-in-law, Rav Chaim Boruch Halberstam, rav of the community.

The tent was erected once the community heard how many people planned to join them for the simcha, as the shul’s large beit midrash cannot host such a large crowd. The location of the tent was ideal due to its proximity to the beit midrash on New Jersey Avenue, with all the amenities needed over Shabbat.

The community is currently home to more than 70 families, with another 90 having purchased houses and planning to move there in the near future. Besides the main beit midrash with its mikvah, there are also a few smaller shuls, schools for both boys and girls with a few hundred students, and a kollel.

As the short Friday afternoon passed, the streets became flooded with hundreds of guests who had come from various areas of New York and New Jersey.

At 4:40 p.m., the Rebbe entered into the tent and put the chatan’s shtreimel on his head.

Mincha was followed by a melodious Kabbalat Shabbat with the traditional Bobover charm.

After davening, everybody passed by the Rebbe to wish good Shabbos and the tent emptied out as everyone went to eat the seuda at their designated hosts.

As many residents hosted larger groups of guests, it was amazing to see the achdut of the Union residents, with everyone ensuring that their neighbors had enough grape juice, challah and all other Shabbat delicacies before making their way home.

The close teamwork of the kehilla with the local authorities was noticeable with police present throughout Shabbat to ensure the safety of the participants. So was the courtesy and respect the kehilla and local forces displayed to one another.

The cold weather didn’t deter the guests from returning to the tent at 9:30 p.m. to attend the Rebbe’s tish. Upon entering the tent, the Rebbe walked to his place at the head of the table, placed his silver-crowned tallit on his head and led the crowd in zemirot. After the singing he gave lengthy divrei Torah, skillfully explaining why such an emphasis is placed on the Shabbat before a wedding, and how one’s neshama is elevated at marriage.

The Rebbe went on to discuss how every Shabbat has the power to uplift the neshama, and help a person achieve greater heights.

The tisch finished at around 1 a.m. with the lively “tnu shevach v’shira” dance.

From the early hours on Shabbat morning, the only people seen on the quiet Union streets were Bobover Chasidim, young and old, who made their way to the beit midrash and the tent. The special emphasis placed by the Bobover Rebbes and the current Rebbe on learning before davening was evident as the beit midrash was full of people engrossed in learning.

Besides the aufruf of the Rebbe’s grandson, there was also another aufruf—a Bobover family from Borough Park who wanted to celebrate their simcha with the Rebbe.

At around 9 a.m., the Rebbe, chatanim and entourage left the chatan’s house and headed to the tent. The tefillot were led with the traditional Bobover spirit, with much heartful singing to melodies passed down from the tzadikim of previous generations.

Following leining and the two aufrufs, the Rebbe bentsched Rosh Chodesh which was followed by Mussaf, led by the chatan’s paternal grandfather, Rav Benzion Avrohom Halberstam, rav of Kehillas Beis Avrohom in Flatbush.

After making kiddush, the Rebbe discussed the importance and necessity of preparation before performing a mitzvah.

After wishing mazal tov, the crowd dispersed to eat the seudat Shabbat with their hosts and rest a little before Mincha and shalosh seudot, which is considered the highlight of Shabbat in Chasidic circles.

The Rebbe led the shalosh seudot zemirot and again delivered lengthy divrei Torah expounding on the parsha.

As Shabbat drew to a close, new guests from the neighboring Chasidic community in Linden began to pour into the tent. These guests also included local politicians.

One of the attendees—who is not Jewish—was brought to tears at the inspiring sight of such a crowd, which he had never seen before.

“Baruch Hashem, since I was here for the previous simcha, two years ago… things have grown a tremendous amount,” exclaimed the Rebbe.

After Maariv and the Rebbe’s recital of Havdala, the forshpil began. This is a Chasidic tradition that takes place as the Shabbat aufruf ends, accompanied with live music as an introduction to the upcoming wedding.

As the crowds danced with joy, politicians greeted the Rebbe and received his blessings. Among them were Union Senator Joe Cryan and Jerome Petty, former mayor of Union.

All officials conveyed to the Rebbe how impressed they were with the community in general and this Shabbat particularly, expressing their eagerness to help the growing community further with whatever it needs.

This was followed with the Rebbe dancing with the mechutanim and the chatan, and finally, the Union residents departing, passing by the Rebbe to receive his bracha.

The uplifting Shabbat definitely left a lasting impression on all participants.