Congregation Beth Mordecai

Wishing you a happy and healthy New Year! Shannah Tovah!

Time is running out! Be sure to RSVP before Monday, September 19!

Rabbi Uri Allen posted some beautiful words (with a few photos) about the Deconsecration Ceremony held on Sunday, March 13. Here are many more photographs from the event, along with a retrospective of the building.

This morning, Congregation Beth Mordecai honored the nearly 100 years of Jewish life and living at 224 High Street in Perth Amboy NJ. It was a sad moment. It was moment full of emotions and history. In the sanctuary we had people who served on boards and committees, had their Bnai Mitzvah in front of this Aron Kodesh, whose parents were married here, learned Hebrew, learned Torah, and expressed love for the Jewish People, humanity and The Source of All Blessing.

As we said goodbye to this sacred space we raised our voices in song and prayer, with gratitude for what came before and with hope for what the future holds. It will be different. No doubt.

But the soul of this community remains and persists.

When I think about the work of being a Rabbi, I never imagined that closing a shul building would be a part of it. But our Tradition provided the wisdom we (I) needed to enter into this transition and to gain strength to move through it - with presence and thoughtfulness. I’m grateful for my partners in this and for the faith they have entrusted in me. I don’t take this lightly.

May we go from strength to strength.
To quote President Bartlett, “What’s next?”

Our synagogues are sacred space. All people around the world deserve to worship in peace and safety. We pray for the safety of the hostages being held at Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. May God bless the first responders with courage and decisiveness to bring about a swift end to the situation.

UPDATE: All hostages have been released and are safe. Praised be the one who frees the captive!

Thank you Congregation Beth Mordecai and Rabbi Ahuva for a wonderful High Holy Day! May it be a sweet and healthy 5782!

Join us to welcome Shabbat tomorrow evening at 6:30pm. Check your email for the Zoom info. Yizkor will be recited for the end of the Passover holiday.

Wishing you and your families a safe, healthy, and joyous holiday! Next year in Jerusalem (or at the very least in Perth Amboy)!

Are you a Purim Jew or a Pesach Jew? Join Rabbi Allen at 12:30PM for a discussion of this question and its implications for the Jewish people.
Email [email protected] for Zoom info.