Rabbi Alvin Marcus is celebrating his 50th anniversary with Congregation Ahawas Achim B’nai Jacob & David, 30 years as senior rabbi and 20 years as rabbi emeritus.
In commemoration of this momentous occasion, the shul hosted a kiddush on Shabbat, June 16, and a special dinner reception the next evening, where the community, from near and far, came to celebrate this milestone.
Rabbi Marcus received his semicha from Yeshiva University in 1952. Rabbi Marcus started his rabbinic career as the spiritual leader of Congregation Ahavas Lubavitz in Buffalo, New York, and then at the Jewish Community Center of Paramus.
In 1968, Rabbi and Marilyn Marcus moved to West Orange and have made a tremendous impact on the community.
An important value that Rabbi Marcus helped to instill in the AABJ&D community was a sense of achdut. He is a classic example of “oskim b’tzorchai tzibur be-emunah,” those who, imbued with faith, occupy themselves with the needs of the community.
Because of Rabbi Marcus, the community has an eruv and a mikvah, which are critical infrastructure for a thriving Orthodox Jewish community. During his tenure as senior rabbi he also became an integral part of the Greater Metrowest community by being involved with Daughters of Israel, Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, Federation and many more local and national organizations.
When Rabbi Marcus was honored at the March 30, 2008, shul dinner, a message was written about him, which stays true through today: “A person’s life is a series of journeys. The nation goes on journeys, the individual on his. In Rabbi Marcus’ case, the actions he took to enhance our community not only raised him to a higher level, but helped our community become a Torah-filled, vibrant, growing Jewish community into the 21st century and beyond.”
The shul continues to follow his lead in creating an open and welcoming community.
In honor of Rabbi and Mrs. Marcus, the shul is dedicating 500 megillot books, where the members are sponsoring anywhere from a listing to a full page in their honor.
By Lawrence Rein
