When Torah Link, an Orthodox organization from Lakewood, was unable to close the deal to purchase Congregation Beth Tikvah, a long-time Conservative synagogue established in New Milford in 1955, a Korean church put a bid on the property.

If the deal goes through, the congregation will merge with the Paramus Jewish Center on Forest and Midland Avenues in Paramus. All told, that means 145 members will be joining the congregation there.

Gerber, president of the congregation, told Jewish Link of Bergen County, “Nothing is final yet, we are still our own community until the ink dries on the paperwork.” Gerber, 81, a Korean War veteran is also commander of the Jewish Veterans Post 498 New Milford/Teaneck, and is a Holocaust survivor from Berlin, Germany. He said that the Jewish War Veterans’ Memorial, a small granite monument on River Road near the synagogue, will be moved to Borough Hall, further south on River. The mayor, Ann Subrizi, would like to have it installed by Memorial Day, he said.

Beth Tikvah, located on River Road one block south of New Milford High School, once housed the nascent Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey, when Yeshiva of Hudson County, one of the oldest day schools in America, moved to Bergen County from Union City more than 30 years ago. The shul most recently hosted a yeshiva high school called Yeshivas Ohr Yosef which recently closed its doors.

Gerber said they hope to vacate the building by May 31. All proceeds from the sale will be turned over to the Jewish Center if the deal goes through and the congregations merge.

By Jeanette Friedman