The “Discover East Brunswick” campaign of the Young Israel of East Brunswick aims to introduce young frum families to a community with a warm heart and a wealth of resources.

The campaign is excited to invite families exploring new communities to their prospective families’ shabbaton at YIEB, March 8-9. The shabbaton will include Friday night Shabbat dinner in private homes, a Shabbat day lunch in a communal setting in shul and activities throughout the day for children. Motzei Shabbat will feature a comedy night with NYC comics, with humor appropriate for frum audiences. On Sunday morning, visitors will have the opportunity to meet with local real estate agents and to visit properties if they’d like.

One of the centerpieces of the Discover East Brunswick campaign is a package of financial incentives for new members, including:

• Tuition scholarships at community yeshivas:
• Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy/Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School: $2,500 per child (maximum two children for five years).
• Netivot: $2,500 scholarship per child (infant-eighth grade).
• RPRY: $2,500 per child (maximum two children for five years). These scholarships will be matched by YIEB, with a $2,500/year/child tuition supplement for five years—maximum two children or $25,000 over five years total for the family.

• YIEB will offer 50% off membership for the first four years, with year five offering free membership (a $4,800 value).
• Two free High Holy Day seats in year one and 50% off guest seats in years two-five (a $150 value).
• A $500 one-time credit towards a social hall rental (a $500 value).
• Two free tickets to attend the shul dinner (a $500 value).

Free sisterhood membership and free participation in their shalach manot distribution for the first year (a $200 value).

The Prospective Families’ Shabbaton is the latest installment in the Discover East Brunswick multifaceted campaign. The campaign committee held a virtual Q&A in November, for prospective new members to meet established community members. The committee organized a dinner at the Humble Toast restaurant in Teaneck in January, where Rabbi Hess and YIEB families met with several families considering East Brunswick.

In early February, Discover East Brunswick held a Saturday night event featuring Jason Greenblatt, special adviser to President Donald Trump on Middle East diplomacy; Tal Heinrich, spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to U.S. media; and Daniel Sharabi and Neria Sharabi, two brothers who saved dozens of lives and fought back against Hamas at the Nova Music Festival on October 7. The event attracted attendees from many different areas and filled the main sanctuary.

Other initiatives under development include a vibrant Discover East Brunswick presence at the Orthodox Union’s Community Fair on Sunday, March 3 and a family fun day at a local day camp, including a concluding barbecue.

Jeff Perlman, a member of the Discover East Brunswick campaign committee, told The Jewish Link that one of the most compelling facets of the East Brunswick community is the ready availability of affordable housing. Average home prices range anywhere from $600,000 to $700,000, and attractive apartments and townhouses are also available.

Rabbi Yehoshua Hess highlighted some of the many strengths of YIEB. “What stands out to me the most about the YIEB community is their genuine ahavas chesed. No matter the scope of need, this community will make it happen and then find ways to go above and beyond what was asked. We really take pride in that. Also, the shul’s dedication to Talmud Torah is deep, offering multiple shiurim every day that are high level and diverse.

“The town itself is stunning and affordable,” Rabbi Hess added. “Most Jewish communities in New Jersey are limited to lot sizes that are 5,000 square feet. In East Brunswick, most lot sizes are double and the real estate market is more reasonable than many other markets in New Jersey’s frum community.”

One of the young family members at YIEB who serves on the Discover East Brunswick committee is Malka Gross. She and her husband, Yossi, moved to East Brunswick from Crown Heights in May 2021. Yossi works in sales and Malka is a stay-at-home mom, caring for their four sons (all under the age of 11). They chose to settle in East Brunswick because they wanted “to be in the suburbs, with better schools, and a quieter life than living in the city.” They also hoped to be able to buy an affordable house, with a big yard. “We got everything on our list by moving to East Brunswick.”

Malka Gross shared: “When we moved here, we didn’t know anyone. We found that everyone in the shul was very welcoming. It’s a nice community feeling, and very diverse. A guest told us that this community ‘feels like a Hallmark movie.’ We can definitely see that.”

To learn more about the many possibilities in East Brunswick, see the ‘Discover East Brunswick’ website at https://discovereastbrunswick.com/

To register for the prospective families’ Shabbaton at YIEB, March 8th-9th, send an email to: [email protected]

Harry Glazer is the Middlesex County Editor of The Jewish Link. He can be reached at [email protected]. He is convinced that one of the only people who reads this byline to the very end is Albert Mitzner. So, hi Albert!