Parsippany—On a wooded street in a quiet, residential neighborhood stands Congregation Shaya Ahavat Torah. From the outside, the shul and its grounds are similar to many of the houses on the block—lush and green and somewhat rustic. The inside of the building is a modern, comfortable space for people to gather, study, pray and, of course, eat.
“We finally have a food warmer so we can have hot kiddushes,” said Naomi Rotter, synagogue president. “We had about 30 guests this past shabbos and they loved our kiddush.”
The shul just celebrated its 40th anniversary with a beautiful, well-attended gala, so it is obviously not new to the Parsippany community. However, it has only been at this current location since 1997, and the edifice and shul family have been warmly welcomed by the neighborhood. In fact, when a small fire broke out in the basement two years ago, it was the synagogue’s next-door neighbor who was instrumental in preventing it from spreading.
While some communities have zoning issues regarding their houses of worship, “it’s never been an issue,” commented Rabbi Shalom Lubin, spiritual leader of Shaya Ahavat Torah. “We have good neighbors, and we are good neighbors to them.”
Rabbi Lubin has been the shul’s rabbi since the fall of 2002 and, in his words, “I’m the longest-standing rabbi in Parsippany.”
Lubin has helped the shul develop strong relations with the township and its leaders. The members are community oriented, visiting Jewish residents in local nursing homes and low-income housing complexes regularly. There is an annual menorah lighting, which is attended by shul members, Jewish township residents and township leaders, and always followed by a reception in the township council chambers.
“It’s wonderful how the town includes us and welcomes us so warmly,” he said. “We are lucky to have such a supportive community.”
The shul has a small membership that is diverse in almost every way. “We are what Orthodox communities used to be. We are the one community shul where everyone is welcome regardless of their personal level of religious observance,” Lubin continued. “We are basically the campus for Jewish life in Parsippany.”
In addition to its religious diversity, the shul family includes founding members, original members, transplants from other communities and new, young families, all of whom connect and bond with one another.
“There is no difference,” said Rotter. “Everyone is part of the same family.”
With shul “members and friends,” as the synagogue family is called, being of a variety of backgrounds, there is something for everyone. “We have Hebrew-only chumashim, Ashkenazic and Sephardic siddurim and everything in between,” commented Lubin. “We want all of our members and guests to feel welcome.”
In addition to its 30 “regular” families, there are many others who attend occasionally, just on holidays, or “whenever they feel like stopping in,” Lubin continued. “There are many non-members who attend and consider themselves associated with our shul. We welcome them as well.”
Additionally, the shul also gets more than its share of visitors, especially during the summer months. “For all the people who vacation in the Catskills,” said Lubin, “many others want to stay in New Jersey.” This part of Parsippany has an eruv, which allows access to the shul for vacationers, businesspeople and others. There are some who enjoy the atmosphere so much that they become repeat visitors, and the “regulars” warmly welcome them each time.
The small size of the shul is perfect for people who might otherwise shy away from participating in davening. “People who would not daven or chant the haftorah in front of 300 people are willing to do it here,” Lubin commented. “Everyone has an important role to play in our shul.”
After the fire, parts of the synagogue building were redone. The next project is finishing the basement, which includes plans for a small social hall.
“Our plans for the future also include building a mikvah. There are now four within about a 10-minute drive, but we are looking to have one in our community. It doesn’t have to be right now, but it’s part of the plan,” Lubin added.
With an eye toward expansion, the shul is also hoping to expand the reach of the eruv. That would open up more opportunities for visitors, as it would include some of the hotels along Route 46, and also include more of the residential community.
As part of this future vision, the shul is now part of the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy’s Bonim program, which offers incentives to new families who move into specific local communities and send their children to the school, located in Livingston.
Lubin believes that Parsippany is ripe for inclusion in this program. “We have many garden apartments which are perfect for young families, and we have residential, single-family areas which allow room for growth,” he said.
Parsippany provides easy access to New York, Teaneck and Monsey, being right off of routes 280, 80 and 287. There is a ShopRite with a kosher butcher and large selection of kosher products. Since it is in Morris County, taxes are much lower than in neighboring Essex County.
“For the right people, young or old, Parsippany is perfect,” Lubin said.
By Jill Kirsch
