After the success of the 2016 Discover West Orange Shabbaton, the community is eager for a repeat performance. The 2017 shabbaton, to be held this year on the Shabbat of March 24-25, is a way for the Jewish community to showcase the warmth and beauty of the township and show potential newcomers what makes West Orange so special.
Andrew Yolin and Michael Diamond, facilitators of the shabbaton, as well as Rabbi Eliezer Zwickler, spiritual leader of Congregation AABJ&D, one of the Orthodox synagogues in West Orange, were overwhelmed by the interest and sheer number of people who attended the program last year.
“People came from so many different places,” said Rabbi Zwickler. “We have gotten 18 new families at our shul as a result, and are expecting more.”
One of the important marketing factors for these shabbatons has been the unity displayed by AABJ&D and Congregation Ohr Torah, another Orthodox shul in town. Zwickler believes that by joining forces, the shuls “send a message of unity” that is attractive to prospective community members.
Rabbi Marc Spivak, spiritual leader of Ohr Torah, agrees. “What I believe is truly special about West Orange is how well the shuls and people from all walks of life get along and are willing to pitch in and help out. It is so nice to see people who might normally daven at AABJ&D walking to us or visa versa,” Spivak said.
That sentiment was echoed by several newcomers, all of whom have moved to the town in the 11 months since last year’s shabbaton.
Nina Taub-Horowitz, who moved to West Orange with her family in the summer of 2016, said, “We were impressed with how both shuls were working together to sell the community.”
Debra Daitchman, who moved to town with her family of four, added, “My husband, Yisroel, and I were very impressed with the shabbaton. We thought our hosts were terrific and felt so welcomed. We are very happy with our choice [to move here]. We are really excited for the upcoming shabbaton as we hope to recruit new families to move to our community.”
Shael Sokolowski moved from Riverdale with his family, and couldn’t be happier. “When we first came to spend a Shabbat here, we were mainly at Ohr Torah, and the people were all so warm and welcoming. We came again and stayed with friends who lived near AABJ&D and immediately met people we identified with. The people were all so relatable, warm and welcoming. It’s just a very genuine place.”
“During the summer, our daughter went to Camp Shemesh [at AABJ&D], and she’s in the threes program at Kushner [Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy, one of the local day schools] this year. My wife and I were very impressed with Kushner and its early childhood program, and we feel good about the school,” he continued.
Debra Hauerstock, who moved with her husband, Robert Ivker, and their two children, concurred. “Once we moved in, neighbors were literally running to introduce themselves. It is just a nice, warm feeling. The synagogue is wonderful. Our daughter went to camp there and is now in preschool there. No one judges you here, and everyone is just so welcoming and warm.”
Rabbi Yosef Sharbat, the rabbi of the Sephardic minyan at AABJ&D, agreed, and noted that it is not only Ashkenazic families who can feel welcome here.
“We have a wonderful, active minyan,” he said. “On a typical Shabbat, we get about 50 men and 25 women, but for a simcha we get many more.”
He continued, “We may not all daven together, but we all come together and are united as a community. This is a wonderful town with an out-of-town feel. You don’t have to compete or keep up with anyone. You can be whoever you want to be.”
“We have a number of families where one spouse is Ashkenazic and one is Sephardic, and they want to hold on to both traditions. We offer that inclusiveness,” he added.
Another factor that many found attractive when considering a move to West Orange was the community’s New Family Incentive Program, which offers newcomers to the community financial advantages that could potentially total over $50,000. There are synagogue discounts and benefits, including membership and preschool, tuition discounts at the local day schools and even membership and camp discounts at the JCC MetroWest, located in West Orange.
“There are unprecedented opportunities for families at Kushner and JEC [another local day school] with their tuition affordability programs. MetroWest has been on the cutting edge of dealing with the tuition crisis,” commented Rabbi Zwickler. “We have two schools here that have come up with a plan.”
Taub-Horowitz reflected on her family’s first experience with the community. “We were attracted to Kushner because of its size, community feel and the fact that the school felt very established and well run. Kushner’s preschool incentives and affordability package were also a nice draw.”
Daitchman added, “The bonim program and the incentives to move here were definitely a factor because yeshiva tuition is a very expensive commitment, so we were pleased to hear about the Jewish day schools’ commitment to making a good education more affordable for families.”
Families looking to live in the New York/New Jersey area are often seeking a community that is within easy commuting or traveling distance from Manhattan, yet offers a “warm, friendly and out-of-town feel,” noted Zwickler. A mere 20 miles from New York City, West Orange definitely fits that bill. For families needing access to Manhattan or elsewhere, the township will reportedly be providing accessible jitney service to and from NJ Transit stations in nearby towns, beginning in August.
Taub-Horowitz and her family were looking for a smaller community than the one in which they had previously been living. “We were especially looking for a community in which the kids went to the same school, so that there would be more of a community feel,” she said. “We were impressed with the materials provided by the shabbaton, highlighting all the community had to offer and helpful advice such as how to get to NYC.”
Daitchman and her family were relocating from outside of the tri-state area. “We wanted to move somewhere that had more of an out-of-town feel, with a community that was very diverse, with people with different backgrounds and stories.”
That was what the Sokolowskis were seeking as well. “We wanted to live in a place that still had resources, but had a smaller, out-of-town community feel,” said Sokolowski. “West Orange is a community on a smaller scale that is less overwhelming and lets you get involved.”
Hauerstock’s family had an additional reason to move to West Orange. “One of our children has special needs and we wanted an inclusion program in a public school system with a good reputation, in addition to a Jewish community that is close to my husband’s work and has a day school for our other child.” West Orange easily met all of their requirements. “Our son is now at the Kelly School [one of the public elementary schools] getting the services he needs.”
Zwickler noted that the size of the community allows opportunities for newcomers to get involved immediately. “In West Orange it is easy to have new families be a part of the community. They can make a difference and establish a role for themselves.”
“Every week someone moves in or checks out the community,” Rabbi Zwickler said. “This is an exciting time in West Orange for the entire community. We continue to have the honor of welcoming new families to our extended family.”
Anyone interested in learning more about West Orange is invited to attend one of the upcoming parlor meetings, which will be held in Forest Hills, New York, on February 26, and in both Riverdale, New York, and Teaneck, New Jersey, on March 5.
For any questions about the parlor meetings or the Discover West Orange Shabbaton, please email [email protected].
For more information about the shabbaton, or to register, visit www.discoverwestorange.com.
By Jill Kirsch
