Bais Medrash of Bergenfield (BMOB) will witness festive celebrations this Shabbat, Aug. 11-12. Newly housed in their state-of-the-art building at 385 South Prospect Ave., the congregation is eagerly looking forward to welcoming its new morah d’asrah, Rabbi Zev Goldberg, and rebbetzin Dr. Michal Goldberg and their children.
After a year-long search by the rabbinic search committee, advised by current president Daniel Barzideh and former president Jonathan Price, Rabbi Goldberg was enthusiastically chosen from over 20 highly qualified candidates. In addition to the formal “proba” as well as extensive interviews, congregants found Rabbi Goldberg to be the topmost candidate given his erudition as a talmid chacham and his “warmth and personability,” which were the key qualifications they were seeking. Rabbi Goldberg comes to this new position after serving for nine successful years at the Young Israel of Fort Lee, where congregants wished him and the family bracha v’hatzlacha in their new position.
Commenting on the welcoming of Rabbi Goldberg into the BMOB family, Barzideh shared, “Rabbi Goldberg’s infectious warmth and energy are the very qualities that were important to our congregation during our rabbinic search process. Alongside his wife Dr. Michal Goldberg, we eagerly anticipate their arrival and look forward to the many contributions they will bring to our wonderful and thriving community.”
Rabbi Goldberg is a musmach of the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Talmudic Seminary (RIETS) of Yeshiva University and the immediate past president of the Rabbinical Council of Bergen County (RCBC). He serves as an officer for the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) and as a dayan on the RCBC’s beit din for conversion. Additionally, Rabbi Goldberg teaches at Stern College and Naaleh High School for Girls, and is the director of the Zwas Professional Development Program and Stone Internship Program at RIETS.
Rabbi Goldberg shared, “It is a tremendous privilege to begin serving as the rabbi of BMOB. I am grateful to Rabbi Stavsky and Rabbi Turk for their outstanding rabbinic leadership that has directly contributed to the tremendous growth of the shul. Additionally, Michal and I have been overwhelmed by the membership’s warmth and gracious welcome. With Hashem’s help, the BMOB community will continue to flourish into a kehila that is known for its warmth, coupled with its commitment to Torah, tefillah and Chesed.”
This week’s welcome Shabbat is packed with exciting activities for the entire family. On Friday night, a ruach minyan will be held at 7 p.m. On Shabbat morning, a chabura will be led by Rabbi Goldberg following the Hashkama minyan. A shul-wide drasha will be presented by Rabbi Goldberg following davening at approximately 10:45 a.m., which will be followed by a gala kiddush for the entire shul. A family seudah shlishit will be held in the social hall for all to attend at 5:45 p.m. At 7:55 p.m., Rabbi Goldberg will deliver a shiur. Maariv will follow.
After the Yomim Tovim, Rabbi Goldberg and the community are organizing a series of small melave malka gatherings so the Goldbergs can spend time meeting with the members in smaller settings. The year ahead will also offer an impressive array of scholar-in-residence programs as an additional means to inspire the community.
BMOB is a Modern Orthodox shul in Bergenfield, New Jersey. Founded in 2003, the congregation now serves over 200 full member families and 70 affiliate families. Over the past five years, the membership has doubled in size. The congregation was headed by the rabbinic leadership of Rabbi Moshe Stavsky from 2010-2022, when he made aliyah with his family. Rabbi Neal Turk capably led BMOB during its transition year. Since its founding, the congregation has spearheaded several grassroots learning initiatives including a chabura delivered by members following the Shabbat Hashkama minyan, a dvar Torah delivered by members of the Nusach Sefard minyan and a Thursday night mishmar program. On Shabbat, the shul hosts four minyanim and an inclusive youth program.
Pearl Markovitz is senior staff writer at The Jewish Link.
