Congregation Anshe Chesed in Linden, led by the dynamic couple Rabbi Yossi Katz and Rebbetzin Emma Katz, has raised the visibility of the shul in Union County and beyond through their creative programming and varied efforts to engage young families.
One of their signature programs is the annual Parshas Noach Petting Zoo. This program regularly attracts an enthusiastic crowd. When the program was held this year, on Sunday, November 3, it drew over 300 people.
As Rabbi Katz shared: “The goal of the recent Community Fun Day/Parshas Noach Petting Zoo was to create a lively, fun-filled afternoon for our youth while bringing together families from all corners of our neighborhood. And by all accounts, it was a huge success. It was inspiring to see our teens take charge of the event’s food stand. They quickly got the hang of running the various machines—cotton candy and popcorn—and learned to handle money, distribute tickets, and advertise their wares, making the food station a true highlight of the day.
“I looked around and saw over 300 Jews from all walks of life coming together, and it was truly inspiring. Our neighboring communities of Hillside and Elizabeth joined us, along with Linden’s Anshe Chesed members and our Chassidish brothers and sisters. Jews from the broader MetroWest area were there too, all spending the day together. Anshe Chesed stands on three things: Torah, Tefilah, and Community. When we say ‘community,’ we mean the entire Jewish community. Today, that’s exactly what we accomplished—coming together—achdus.”
Rabbi Katz extended his thanks to Corner Slice, the relatively new kosher pizza store in Linden, which ran a stand that provided delicious pizza and fries. He also offered his appreciation to the shul’s youth coordinator Adina Falk for arranging the entire event.
Harry Glazer is The Middlesex community editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected] and he welcomes reader feedback. When he’s really fortunate, he gets to report on some of the exciting activities of Congregation Anshe Chesed in Linden.
