On a day with near-perfect weather, a crowd of nearly 300, including Beth Abraham’s rabbinic and lay leadership, members and local dignitaries showed up for an afternoon of fun for the kids, a sumptuous picnic-dinner buffet and a personal address from Congressman Josh Gottheimer.

In front of the construction site where a foundation is already visible, Congressman Gottheimer presented a signed certificate of recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives to shul president Dr. Michael Wiederkehr and the rabbis of Beth Abraham: Rabbi Ya’akov Neuburger; Assistant Rabbi Tanchum Cohen; and Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Weinberg, mashpia. The congressman cited Beth Abraham’s multi-level contributions to strengthening not only the local community, but all of northern New Jersey.

Introductory remarks and expressions of appreciation by Dr. Wiederkehr were followed by each of the rabbis delivering divrei bracha and hakarat hatov. They recognized the extraordinary and tireless efforts of the shul leadership and various committees who are involved with the project, especially Jonathan Landa in his pivotal role in driving and overseeing the building plans. Rabbi Neuburger focused on the numerous roles and functions of the shul for the community, and the abundance of programming for children, women, families and men, as well as the essential spiritual role of the shul for Shabbos, Yom Tov and the spectrum of life-cycle events. Rabbi Cohen referred to Tehillim perek 118, pasuk 24, known for its allusion to the joy of celebrating and serving Hashem “on that day”/“V’Nismacha Voh,” and its multi-layered meanings. Rabbi Wienberger’s remarks were peppered with a little humor, including an apropos quip casting a ripple of laughter through the crowd: that although it is usual for any one of the three rabbis to speak on a given occasion, rarely do we enjoy (the bracha of) all three speaking on the same day!

For the children there was face painting, a bouncy house, photo magnets, a magician and just fun in the park. The dessert line was longer than the buffet line: blue Italian ice, a variety of great cookies, fresh-cut fruit and packaged snacks.

Numerous dedication opportunities are available for donations to the Beth Abraham building fund. To donate and for information, visit the website: http://cbafuture.org/.

The Morris and Kronenberg families along with Congregation Beth Abraham join in inviting the community for the Hachnasat Sefer Torah in loving memory of Donny Morris, z”l. The procession will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday May 22, at the corner of Westminster Avenue and Westminster Gate in Bergenfield and proceed to Beth Abraham.

By Ellie Wolf