Approximately 500 people from Highland Park, East Brunswick and Edison, came to the Rutgers University Chabad House on the evening of Wednesday, August 23, to hear renowned musical artist Eitan Katz in a free concert sponsored by what was formerly known as The ROC of New Jersey.

The idea of a concert came to Josh Pruzansky, founder, president and CEO of The ROC a few months ago when he and the board of The ROC thought it would be a nice idea to provide the community with some free entertainment. Pruzansky said, “Not everyone in our community has the financial flexibility to go out as a family and enjoy some good Jewish entertainment, so why not give them the opportunity to do so?” The choice of Eitan Katz as a headliner was obvious: “When it comes to music in Elul, Eitan Katz is the King of Elul songs.”

Highland Park’s Sharon Garber came to the concert having heard Katz’s music played in her home by her son who is a “huge fan.” “I’m enjoying the music on behalf of my son who was unable to make it tonight.” As a Douglass College graduate, Jane Kanig of Edison was delighted to attend the concert and see the “new” Chabad House. “A friend told me about this event and asked me to come. I’m always interested in music and this seemed like a great idea.”

Pruzansky welcomed the audience of the first free ROC concert and acknowledged the full house—even during the last week of summer, during which many families take vacations. He continued with the news that The ROC was changing its name to “The New Jersey Chesed and Parnassa Network” (NJCPN) to more “clearly express the mission, objectives and services of the organization.”

The ROC was founded three years ago at the height of the COVID pandemic and has created, developed and implemented many new and needed programs to help people in the community. With the help of approximately 60 volunteers, they have aided 112 people with their job searches, assisted 80 or so people and one school with government issues and helped 200 families obtain Shabbat-compliant water meters. They also helped organize police assistance with four hachnasat sefer Torah Events, helped bury 25 meis mitzvah with a minyan, and many more projects that are too numerous to mention.

Pruzansky welcomed Katz to the stage accompanied by an enthusiastic welcome from the audience. The music continued throughout the evening with several songs that elicited spontaneous dancing and a touching performance when Katz’s father came on stage to perform with the band.

Shlomo and Tziona Viezel of Highland Park were excited to come for the evening’s entertainment. “We are grateful to The ROC for the opportunity to enjoy the music and get the entire community together.”

In an interview after the concert, Pruzansky said there was no inkling of a name change when concert preparations began several months ago. “Our community has grown during the past two decades and there are services that are absolutely necessary today that weren’t needed 20 years ago. We aren’t a small town anymore, and with that growth comes many responsibilities that a community has to its residents. Uniting under the banner of a community organization makes us stronger. That is why this organization was founded and we hope to continue our mission for years to come, under a name that provides more clarity to our purpose.” NJCPN will comprise several divisions that will each have its own goals, but unite with one mission—to provide assistance to community members, synagogues, schools and organizations.

Pruzansky said, “Running The ROC has been a great experience. New ideas sometime encounter some resistance until people realize that it’s a good initiative and wish it had happened years earlier. The ROC name was known throughout the community, but not enough people had any idea of exactly what it was about. The ROC has literally helped put smiles on the faces of so many people in our community. So many people went out of their way to thank us for doing the concert. Every person that obtained a new job with our help is grateful we are around. Each individual who we helped navigate governmental bureaucracy and resolve their issue wonders how they could have done that without The ROC. And it’s all for free. We don’t charge anyone we help.”

Pruzansky noted that there is a need for volunteers in several areas. There is a need for more people to volunteer to be available for burial services for a meis mitzvah. NJCPN is also starting a pro bono list of professionals and service providers that would offer their services for free or at a reduced price for those who can’t afford it, modeled after similar programs in northern New Jersey. They are also open to new ideas that would help make the community the top Jewish community in the area that is affordable, caring and fun to be a part of. For further information, to request assistance or to make a donation, reach out to Josh Pruzansky at [email protected].