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About Us

East Brunswick Jewish Center is a Conservative Jewish Synagogue located in the center of East Brunswick.  Here are some of the things most people want to know about us:

  • Incorporated in 1959, we have a large presence, housing multiple sanctuaries, a ballroom, a gym, classrooms and outdoor recreational space.
  • With close to 400 families, we are large enough to offer many benefits and small enough to work with you individually.
  • Many find inspiration in Jewish prayer, thought and practice led by Rabbi Pivo and Cantor Brandspiegel.
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    • We offer both egalitarian and traditional services weekly and for the High Holidays.  For in-person service times and Zoom links CLICK HERE
    • We have daily minyanim, both morning and evening CLICK HERE for more info.
  • We are INCLUSIVE.  We welcome all Jewish families.
  • We offer engaging activities and programs for all ages, backgrounds and levels of observance from the PreSchool (Center for Early Learning), Religious School, to Adult Education and our award winning USY and other youth groups.
  • Our reasonable membership dues allow these things to happen. We offer special rates for those with young children. We will never turn anyone away for financial reasons. CLICK HERE for membership information.
  • We have a very active Sisterhood and numerous Men's Club events. 
  • We offer inspirational adult education classes, fun programming, and great social events! We love to have fun! Our social events span from Designer Bag Bingo to Mah Jong Tournaments to Dualing Pianos, Sports Teams to formal Gala events!
  • HAZAK - We have a very active 55+ community with monthly events and programs. 
  • We are a family, sharing times of joy and supporting each other in times of need.
  • We strongly support our local community, the State of Israel and the world through our Social Action initiatives.  We raise funds and donate to local organizations.  We run Israel-focused programs and honor Israeli soldiers.
  • Our Youth Programs (USY, Kadima and Chaverim) focus on social actions and Tikkun Olam.
  • We have partnered with synagogues around the country to offer interesting and unique virtual programs which appeal to a cross section of the community.  We host joint events such as our area-renowned Purim Activities as well as the "Day of Jewish Learning".
  • We welcome you to join us as we journey together in support of this community, Israel and the world.

A BRIEF HISTORY

How We Began

1957

East Brunswick was once a tranquil and rural town. Can you imagine that Clusters of homes were interspersed with groves of trees, apple orchards and potato farms? Shopping centers did not exist and Route 18 served the town as the two-lane road. When Route 18 was only a two lane highway, shopping centers did not exist and you could buy your food and drink (including those with alcohol) and your hunting licenses and supplies at the Foodtown on Milltown Road and Ryders Lane, where the Walgreens now stands.  It was in 1957 when Dorie Mandel and Bea Hess were faced with a dilemma. They desperately needed more players! Dorie and Bea did become successful in enticing a group of players and soon this group took up other social activities. Shortly after, someone voiced concern that there was need for a local Jewish group.

Mel and Bea Rosenhack held a meeting in their home for the purpose of determining whether there actually was a need to form such a group. Bea expected twenty guests. She was, “Dumbfounded and flat-footed” when instead, forty people appeared! It was then decided that there was definitely a need for a Jewish organization. The group planned to convene next at AmVet’s Hall in East Brunswick. And thus, the seeds were sown for the or­ganization that would even­tually evolve into the East Brunswick Jewish Center.

Murray Rosenthal insisted that he was asked to chair that first meeting because “I was older than most of the young residents, had a deep bass voice and had spoken up a few times at Lawrence Brook Village Association meetings.” We believe it was because he had the wisdom and tact necessary to lead an infant group.

The name first adopted for our organization was the East Brunswick Community Group. We were somewhat in doubt about where we were headed. The enthusiasm generated at the AmVet’s Hall was sufficient fuel to stoke all those present through an exciting and growing experience. However, by early 1959, links to synagogues in Highland Park, the hiring of a temporary Rabbi, the formation of a constitution and regular meetings in the Grange Hall, lead to the first Bar Mitzvah with our first Torah on January 27, 1962, only five years after that first coffee klatch in the Rosenhack home.  (By the way, the Grange Hall stood next to the firehouse on Dunhams Corner Road near Ryders Lane.  It became Playhouse 22 which has since moved south on Cranbury Road to a beautiful new facility.)

Our first rented facility, which was to serve us until we moved into our own home, was the Township Grange Hall (previously the YMCA) on Dunhams Corner Road.

Since that time many things have taken place. We purchased a five-acre plot of land at 511 Ryders Lane, our current home. After multiple expansions, we have grown into a facility that can house up to twelve hundred individuals for the High Holy Day services and several hundred children in various levels of Hebrew school classes. Our gym is rented to many local basketball and soccer teams and we continue to be a center for Jewish Life in East Brunswick.

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784