Congregation Etz Ahaim Sephardic

{{short description|Sephardic Orthodox synagogue in Highland Park, New Jersey}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Congregation Etz Ahaim Sephardic | native_name = {{langx|he|קהילת קודש עץ החיים}} | native_name_lang = | image = Congregation Etz Ahaim Sephardic.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = Congregation Etz Ahaim Sephardic | map_type = USA New Jersey New Brunswick | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location near [[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]] | coordinates = {{coord|40|29|58|N|74|25|45|W|type:landmark_region:US-NJ|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation = [[Orthodox Judaism]] | rite = [[Sephardic law and customs#Liturgy|Sephardi]] | location = 230 Denison Street, [[Highland Park, New Jersey|Highland Park]], [[New Jersey]] | municipality = | state = | country = United States | organisational_status = | status = [[Synagogue]] | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = | ownership = | governing_body = | administration = [[American Sephardi Federation]] | leadership = [[Rabbi]] Eliyahu Tal | patron = | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | architecture = | architect = | architecture_type = Synagogue | architecture_style = [[Mid-century modern]] | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = Harry A. Naar | general_contractor = | established = 1921 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = May 15, 1960 | year_completed = 1962 | specifications = no | construction_cost = | date_demolished =  | facade_direction = Northwest | capacity = | length = | width = | interior_area = | height_max = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = Brick, wood | elevation_m =  | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | footnotes = | website = {{URL|https://www.etzahaim.org}} }}

'''Congregation Etz Ahaim Sephardic''' ({{langx|he|קהילת קודש עץ החיים||The Tree of Life}}) is a [[Sephardic Jews|Sephardic]] [[Orthodox Judaism|Orthodox]] [[synagogue]] located on Denison Street in [[Highland Park, New Jersey|Highland Park]], [[New Jersey]], in the United States. The congregation is a member of the [[American Sephardi Federation]],<ref>{{cite web |title=Sephardic Congregations in the United States of America |url=https://americansephardifederation.com/syn_us.html |website=American Sephardi Federation |publisher= |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America (''La Ermandad Sefaradi'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Sephardic Congregation Etz Ahaim |url=https://www.sephardicbrotherhood.com/sephardicetzahaim |website=The Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood of America |publisher= |date=2023 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> and the Raritan Valley Orthodox Jewish Community Organization (ROCNJ).<ref>{{cite web |title=Shuls |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=131&v=XU0-Jk5arMM |website=youtube.com |publisher=The Raritan Valley Orthodox Jewish Community Association |language=en |format=video |date=July 6, 2021 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> It is the only Sephardic congregation in Highland Park/[[Edison, New Jersey|Edison]] area.<ref>{{cite news |last=Glazer |first=Harry |title=Highland Park's Rav Eliyahu Tal Publishes Sefer, Gets Congrats From Mayor |url=https://jewishlink.news/highland-park-s-rav-eliyahu-tal-publishes-sefer-gets-congrats-from-mayor/ |work=Jewish Link |date=May 24, 2023 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

The congregation consists of approximately 125 families.<ref>{{cite news |last=Abraham |first=Joann |title=A Shul for You |url=https://www.jlifenj.com/a-shul-for-you-2/ |work=Jlife Heart of New Jersey |date=February 1, 2023 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Its members and supporters have roots in Israel, Spain, [[Greece]], [[Turkey]], [[Syria]], Europe, North Africa, [[Iran|Persia]], [[Iraq]] and the United States. Prayers are offered in [[Hebrew]], English and [[Judaeo-Spanish|Ladino]]. It is the oldest Sephardic Jewish congregation in [[New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Goldstein |first=Charles "Shai" |title='Why is this dinner different from all other dinners?' |url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/2014/04/11/why-is-this-dinner-different-from-all-other-dinners/7610815/ |work=MyCentralJersey.com |date=April 11, 2014 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

==History== Jewish immigrants from [[History of the Jews in Thessaloniki|Salonika]], Greece,<ref>{{Cite web |title=In search of Greece's once-great Jewish city |url=https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20250404-in-search-of-greeces-once-great-jewish-city |last=Tomky |first=Naomi |website=[[BBC]] |date=April 5, 2025 |access-date=April 6, 2025}}</ref> Turkey and the [[Balkans]] settled in the [[New Brunswick, New Jersey]] area in the early 20th century.<ref name="BassousFarewell">{{cite news |last=Kirschenbaum |first=Sherry S. |title=Congregation Etz Ahaim bids farewell to beloved rabbi |url=https://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/congregation-etz-ahaim-bids-farewell-to-beloved-rabbi/ |website=New Jersey Jewish News |publisher=New Jersey Rockland Jewish Media Group |date=March 2, 2020 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> The congregation was originally organized in September 1916 and incorporated on June 27, 1921. However, the original congregation apparently dissolved. In the late 1920s, the congregation was reorganized into "Congregation Es Ahaim Sepharedith" (The Tree of Life), named after the [[History of the Jews in Thessaloniki#Religious organization|oldest synagogue in Salonica, Greece, Ets ha Chaim]]. The Congregation was re-founded on March 12, 1927, and incorporated on April 3, 1927.<ref name="History">{{cite web |title=The History of Etz Ahaim |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/history/2017/5/11/the-history-of-etz-ahaim |date=May 11, 2017 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> In 1928, when [[Groundbreaking|ground was broken]] for the original synagogue building on July 1,<ref name="EsBueno">{{cite web |title=Come, Es Bueno!: Sephardic Tastes of Congregation Etz Ahaim |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gIwatwAACAAJ |publisher=Morris Press |date=1999 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> it was the only Sephardic synagogue in New Jersey.<ref name="BassousFarewell" /> The synagogue was on Richmond Street,<ref name="EsBueno" /> in the Hiram Market neighborhood of New Brunswick.<ref>{{cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places – Registration Form – Poile Zedek Synagogue |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/0d0c19f6-f34b-41f7-95c9-758e0e0541b2 |accessdate=September 7, 2023 |date=September 19, 1995 |website=National Park Service. Section 8, pp. 1–2}}</ref> The name of the congregation was later officially changed to Congregation Etz Ahaim.<ref name="History" /> The congregation moved to its current location in Highland Park<ref>{{cite web |title=Check out Raritan Valley, NJ Orthodox Jewish Communities of East Brunswick, Edison & Highland Park |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl5cFGqdKIY |website=youtube.com |publisher=The Raritan Valley Orthodox Jewish Community Association |language=en |format=video |date=July 6, 2021 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> in 1962.<ref name="HistoryNJSephardim">{{cite web |title=The History of Sephardim in New Jersey |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/history/2017/5/11/the-history-of-sephardim-in-new-jersey |date=May 11, 2017 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

The current synagogue was built in 1962, mainly of brick. The building is beautified with [[Jewish culture#Visual arts|Jewish]] motifs, such as the [[Tree of Life]] carved into the wooden front door, two metal seven-branched [[Temple menorah|menorahs]] on the front wall of the main [[sanctuary]] and the [[Torah Ark]] היכל with wooden doors carved with a Tree of Life. [[Tiffany glass|Tiffany-style]] [[stained glass]] windows in the dome above the main sanctuary bathe the space in rich, radiant colors. The windows form two themes: [[Jewish Holidays]] and [[Twelve Tribes of Israel|The Tribes of Israel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Our Stain Glass Windows |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/stainglass |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> It seats 88 in the men's section, and 60 in the women's section, with a wooden [[mechitza]] topped with glass. On [[High Holy Days]], the seating is expanded to accommodate 240 people.

==Activities== Daily prayer services are held [[Jewish prayer#Shacharit (morning prayers)|mornings]] and [[Jewish prayer#Ma'ariv/Arvit (evening prayers)|evenings]].<ref name="Welcome">{{cite web |title=Welcome to Congregation Etz Ahaim |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/etzahaim |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> ''[[Minyans]]'' on [[Shabbat]] number 100 people on a weekly basis.<ref name="HiddenGem">{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Sharon Mark |title=Congregation Etz Ahaim: A Hidden Gem in Middlesex County |url=https://jewishlink.news/congregation-etz-ahaim-a-hidden-gem-in-middlesex-county/ |work=Jewish Link |date=March 23, 2017 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> [[Jewish prayer#Prayer on Shabbat|Shabbat ''Shacharit'' services]] are followed by a sit-down ''[[Kiddush#Synagogue kiddush|kiddush]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sponsor a Kiddush |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/kiddush |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

Child care and a children's program are offered on Shabbat and ''[[Jewish holidays|Yom Tov]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Congregation Etz Ahaim — Highland Park NJ |url=https://etzahaim.groups.io/g/main |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Congregation Etz Ahaim organizes community outreach, philosophy classes and adult education.

It also has an active Sisterhood, the Daughters of Etz Ahaim, as old as the congregation itself.<ref name="CongressionalRecord">{{cite web |title=The Congregation Etz Ahaim In Recognition of 75 Years of Service |url=https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2004-11-20/html/CREC-2004-11-20-pt1-PgE2081.htm |date=November 19, 2004 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> The Sisterhood has organized a cookbook,<ref name="EsBueno" /> [[fundraising]] activities for the Congregation, food on ''Yom Tov'', [[Purim]] baskets, and other activities which support and enhance life in the community.

Highland Park has New Jersey's first ''[[eruv]]''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Selinger |first=Janice |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1978/12/17/archives/new-jersey-weekly-highland-park-site-of-states-first-eruv.html |title=Highland Park: Site of State's First Eruv |work=[[New York Times]] |date=December 17, 1978 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Highland Park/New Brunswick Eruv |url=https://hperuv.org/ |date=September 7, 2023 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Congregation Etz Ahaim is located inside the ''eruv''. Highland Park has a ''[[Mikveh|mikvah]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=Park Mikvah |url=https://parkmikvah.org/ |date=2023 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Cemeteries== The Congregation maintains two [[Jewish cemetery|cemeteries]]. One, shared with [[Poile Zedek Synagogue|Congregation Poile Zedek]], is in New Brunswick.<ref>{{cite web |title=Poile Zedek Cemetery |url=http://poilezedek.org/cms/index.php?page=PZ-Cemetery |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> The other, [[Floral Park Cemetery]], is in [[South Brunswick, New Jersey]].

Some members of the congregation are buried at the Sephardic Jewish Brotherhood section at [[Elmwood Cemetery (New Jersey)|Elmwood Cemetery]] in [[North Brunswick, New Jersey]].<ref>{{cite web |title=History and Culture |url=https://www.theelmwoodcemetery.com/ |date=2023 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

===2008 cemetery vandalism=== In January 2008, almost 500 [[Headstone|gravestones]] in the cemetery which Congregation Etz Ahaim shared with Congregation Poile Zedek were damaged in an incident of vandalism.<ref>{{cite news |last=Adarlo |first=Sharon |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/01/the_desecration_of_a_jewish.html |title=Destruction at Jewish cemetery probed as bias incident |work=[[The Star-Ledger]] |date=January 8, 2008 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

== Clergy == Founded at the start of the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]], the congregation was unable to afford a [[rabbi]]. They relied on the uncompensated services of Rabbi Benjamin Naar<ref>{{cite web |title=Tracing the Origins of the Naars of New Jersey: A Personal Odyssey |url=https://www.jewishgen.org/jhscj/genealogy.html |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> of Salonica, and on unordained [[lay leader]]s Eliyahu Nahama and Elie Saporta until 1955. After that, Congregation Etz Ahaim was led by Rabbis Ishmael Cohen, Murray Greenfield, Rafael Wizman,{{citation needed|date=September 2023}} David Glicksman, and Yamin Levy.<ref name="CongressionalRecord" />

Starting in 1991, Rabbi David Bassous was its spiritual leader. Prior to joining Etz Ahaim, Rabbi Bassous was spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Hamidrash in [[Vancouver]], Canada.<ref name="BassousFarewell" /> Born in [[Kolkata|Calcutta]] and of [[History of the Jews in Iraq|Iraqi descent]], Rabbi Bassous studied in London for an engineering degree and in Israel for his religious training.<ref>{{cite news |last=Glazer |first=Harry |title=Etz Ahaim's Rabbi Bassous to Retire; Search Under Way for New Rav |url=https://jewishlink.news/etz-ahaim-s-rabbi-bassous-to-retire-search-under-way-for-new-rav/ |work=Jewish Link |date=July 11, 2019 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> He led Congregation Etz Ahaim for almost 30 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Retirement of Rabbi Bassous |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/news/the-retirement-of-rabbi-bassous |date=May 30, 2019 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Rabbi Bassous retired in 2020 and made ''[[aliyah]]''.<ref name="BassousFarewell" />

The congregation's current spiritual leader is Rabbi Eliyahu Tal ({{langx|he|רב אליהו טל}}). He was born in London and lived most of his life in [[Israel]].<ref>{{cite web |title=About Rabbi Eliyahu Tal |url=https://www.etzahaim.org/rabbi |date= |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Before joining Congregation Etz Ahaim in 2020, he had served since 2017 as the rabbi of the Sephardic Orthodox Congregation Beit Mordechai<ref>{{cite web |title=Welcome to Beit Mordechai |url=https://www.beitmordechai.org/ |date=2021 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref> in [[West Hartford, Connecticut]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Beit Mordechai hires rabbi, dedicates new sefer Torah |url=https://www.jewishledger.com/2018/12/beit-mordechai-hires-rabbi-dedicates-new-sefer-torah/ |website=Southern New England Jewish Ledger |publisher=CT Jewish Ledger |date=December 29, 2018 |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

==See also== {{Portal|New Jersey|Judaism}} * [[List of Orthodox Jewish communities in the United States#Central Jersey|List of Orthodox Jewish communities in the United States]] * [[List of synagogues in the United States#New Jersey|List of synagogues in the United States]] * [[Floral Park Cemetery]] * [[Poile Zedek Synagogue]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://www.etzahaim.org}} * [https://www.youtube.com/@Rav-Eliyahu-Tal/about Videos by Rabbi Eliyahu Tal] * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEHhpkIbRiI/ Song of the Sephardi by David Raphael], 1978 [[Feature film|feature-length]] documentary film about Sephardic and Ladino culture * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgQtE-cXF2E Origins of Sephardic Jewry] by Dr. Henry Abramson, 2017 lecture

{{DEFAULTSORT:Etz Ahaim}} [[Category:Highland Park, New Jersey]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Middlesex County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Religious buildings and structures in Middlesex County, New Jersey]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1916]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1927]] [[Category:Sephardi synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Orthodox synagogues in New Jersey]] [[Category:Synagogue buildings with domes]] [[Category:1962 establishments in New Jersey]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1962]] [[Category:Sephardi Jewish culture in New Jersey]] [[Category:Greek-Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:Mizrahi Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:North African–Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:Syrian-Jewish diaspora in the United States]] [[Category:Portuguese-Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:Spanish-Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:Egyptian-Jewish diaspora in the United States]] [[Category:Syrian-Jewish culture in New York (state)]] [[Category:Iranian-Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:Arab-American culture in New Jersey]] [[Category:Turkish-Jewish culture in the United States]] [[Category:Lebanese-Jewish diaspora in the United States]] [[Category:Algerian-Jewish diaspora]] [[Category:Moroccan-Jewish diaspora]] [[Category:Libyan-Jewish diaspora]] [[Category:Tunisian-Jewish diaspora]] [[Category:Iraqi-Jewish diaspora]] [[Category:Grave desecration]] [[Category:Synagogues in New Jersey]] [[Category:Trees of life]]