Ahavas Sholom – an Historic Landmark and Sacred Space

Newark's Last Remaining Synagogue born of the Great European Migration at the turn of the 20th Century

145 Broadway, Newark, NJ 07104
Phone: 973-485-2609 | Email: cahavassholom@optimum.net

Welcome to Ahavas Sholom – an Historic Landmark and Sacred Space

 

 

Congregation Ahavas Sholom

145 Broadway

Newark, NJ  07104

 

Dear fellow congregants:

Planning for the reopening of Ahavas Sholom has run the gamut of emotions – exciting; fun; exhilarating; frustrating; joyous; and daunting to name a few.

Over the last 5 months we have been preparing to reopen for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

Over the last year and 1/2 we have put a lot of work into our “sacred space” and we were greatly looking forward to sharing it with all of you throughout the holiday season.

Therefore, it is with both sadness and reluctance, that we have decided as a community to pivot back to “Virtual” only services for the High Holidays and for the time being.

Among all of our considerations, the health and safety of our fellow congregants and community, has driven our decisions on reopening, and remains our top priority.  Since the start of the pandemic, we have paid close attention “to the science” as our guide to how to proceed.

When we began to plan in April for our reopening, it seemed for the first 
time that we would be safe to convene “live” once again.  And of course, we were greatly looking forward to being with you all.

As we sent out our yearly letter earlier this month, the Delta variant began to pick up speed.  Thus, due to the intensifying impact of the spread of this Covid 19 variant, and its proclivity for spreading, we have had to revisit our recent decision to open the Synagogue to our full Congregation for the upcoming High Holidays.  And, reluctantly, we have decided to hold services remotely once again, as a safety measure for all who would otherwise be in attendance.

If you are not on our email list, and would like to receive the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur Zoom links, please call Jeff Haveson at (973) 207-3095.

As I said, when we first closed in March 2020, we can’t wait until the time is right for us to be with one another and share our majestic setting together. For now, stay well and we hope to see you virtually throughout the holidays!

Click here for the Rosh Hashanah Schedule 2021.

Click here for the Yom Kippur Schedule 2021.

The ROSH HASHANAH SCHEDULE 2021 and the YOM KIPPUR SCHEDULE 2021 will give you the appropriate dates and times for High Holiday services, and will provide you with a guide to services, with the correct page numbers in the Machzor Lev Shalem. 

Contributions to the Synagogue can be made by check or online thru Paypal at http://ahavassholom.org/home/membership.  

Please visit our website at www.ahavassholom.org for more information about synagogue activities.

I will be available to hand out Machzors on Thursday, September 2nd, from 12 noon to 3pm at Ahavas Sholom, for those who would like to pick one up, or you can call me at (201) 988-3799 to arrange another day and time.

For those who would like access to a digital copy of the Machzor that you can read on your computer, tablet, or smart phone, please let us know.  Ahavas Sholom will make arrangements to have it available and will forward a link at the appropriate time.  Please RSVP as soon as possible, as we need to know the exact number of digital machzor licenses to purchase.

For those who have pre-registered please confirm that you are, in fact, in receipt of this notice, so no one comes to the synagogue unnecessarily. 

We deeply appreciate everyone’s understanding and continued support as we continue to “navigate these uncharted waters.”  Obviously, we look forward to convening with all of you “live” when the time is right!!

Until then, L’Shana Tova – a HEALTHY and JOYOUS New Year to You and Yours, 

Eric and the Board of Trustees

 

Mission Statement

As the oldest continuously operating synagogue in the City of Newark, Congregation Ahavas Sholom is an Egalitarian Conservative Synagogue with a traditional service that welcomes all Jews, fulfills their spiritual needs, provides educational and cultural experiences.

The synagogue’s mission states that Ahavas Sholom is passionately committed to the pursuit of Tikun Olam (repair of the world) and Tzedakah (social justice). Ahavas Sholom recognizes as part of Tikun Olam that it has an obligation to the environment, physical space and activities of the community. We therefore consider support for the conservation of open space, the creation of both passive and active recreation in Newark and among communities within its metropolitan area to be part of our mission.

Ahavas Sholom is characteristic of other religious institutions in Newark. Just as many inner-city churches draw the greater part of their members from outside the city itself, Ahavas Sholom now has relatively few congregants who live in Newark.

American cities are redeveloping in part as their unsurpassed cultural and religious institutions attract suburbanites to meaningful experiences. Ahavas Sholom is holy ground. It inspires those who step through its doors to pray, think, and learn, and to care about each other’s lives and the life of the community.

We Celebrated Eight Adult B’nei Mitzvah

 Bottom Row:  Tim Bezalel Lee of Newark, Rabbi Simon Rosenbach, and Daviyd Hawkins of Newark.  Top Row:  Wanda Rubinstein Gohler of Newark, Flora Sonners of Parsippany, Alla Eicheldinger of Newark, Marianne Moy of Roselle Park, Joan Podnos of West Orange and Linda Bloom of Bloomfield.

On Saturday, March 16, 2019, the Ahavas Sholom community celebrated eight of our members who were called up to the Torah as adult B’nei Mitzvah. 

For many weeks the group studied and prepared for this day, under the leadership of Rabbi Simon Rosenbach.

They are men and women, mostly in their 60’s, from many differet Jewish backgrounds, who have been waiting a lifetime for this opportunity. 

Some were born outside the United States, some were born into another religion, and some were just never given this opportunity as a 12 or 13 year old. 

To read the New Jersey Jewish News article about our eight adult B’nei Mitzvah click here.

If you have any questions please call Jeff at 973-207-3095.

#newark #newarkevents #ahavassholom #Jewsofnewark 

Directions

Congregation Ahavas Sholom meets every Shabbat morning, starting at 9:00 a.m. for services and Kiddush lunch.

On periodic Friday evenings we hold Friday night services followed by a communal Shabbat dinner.

We also come together for Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succot, Shemini Atzeret, Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Tu B’Shvat, Purim, Pesach, Shavuot, and Tisha B’Av.

Please join us for Shabbat or the holidays if you are coming into Newark for business or pleasure.

If you need information on hotels, motels, restaurants, and Jewish life in the greater Newark area call Jeff at 973-207-3095. 

 

 
 

Directions

 

From Downtown Newark

  • Take Broad Street north. Instead of turning left onto Bloomfield Place, continue straight.
  • One block later turn left onto Gouvernor Street, and then right onto Broadway.
  • Drive 1 long block. You’ll see the Synagogue on the right and immediately
  • turn right into the parking lot between the Synagogue and Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church.

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From Essex County

  • Bloomfield Avenue east into Newark.
  • One mile beyond Branch Brook Park, near the bottom of the hill,
  • turn left onto Crittenden Street, marked by a Verizon building on the near left and “Lou Caputo Florist” on the

   far left corner.    

  • Two short blocks on Crittenden. Turn right where Crittenden ends onto Broadway, and
  • immediately •turn left into the parking lot between Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church and the Synagogue.

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From Garden State Parkway or Route 280

  • Garden State Parkway to exit 145 (Route 280 east).
  • Route 280 east to “First Street, Newark” left –hand exit.
  • Left onto First Street—one-half mile to its end at Park Avenue.
  • Right on Park Avenue. Cross Branch Brook Park and continue one-half mile down the hill.
  • Park Avenue. ends at Bloomfield Avenue. Cross Bloomfield Avenue.                            
  • Onto Crittenden Street—two short blocks on Crittenden.
  • Turn right where Crittenden ends onto Broadway, and
  • Immediately turn left into the parking lot (between Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church and the Synagogue).

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From New York City or New Jersey Turnpike

  • George Washington Bridge or Lincoln Tunnel to NJ Turnpike (Route 95).
  • Exit 15W (Route 280). 280 west for three miles.
  • Immediately after the Passaic River drawbridge, take Exit 15A (Route 21 South). Keep straight.
  • DO NOT take left turn for 21 South. Proceed straight to North Broad Street, where take a right
  • Follow North Broad Street. for 1/2 mile and take the left just after Bloomfield Place take
  • Left onto Gouverneur Street. to its end. Right onto Broadway.
  • Drive one long block You’ll see the Synagogue on the right and immediately
  • Turn right into the parking lot between the Synagogue and Clinton Memorial AME Zion Church.

Events Calendar