BRICK – The township’s only Conservative Jewish synagogue, Temple Beth Or, has a new rabbi and has finally moved into their new smaller facility after selling their former sprawling 4.6-acre complex in March 2021, where they had worshipped since 1978.
The congregation found a new location for a shul, or temple, which is more appropriate for them since there are fewer than 100 members.
Their new home is the former site of the Laurelton Funeral Home on Salmon Street, located next to St. Thomas Lutheran Church. The building, mostly renovated, has been used by the congregants for the past two months to hold their religious services.
The main rooms of the shul – the sanctuary, where services are held, and a large social room and kitchen – are finished, but the remaining rooms, such as the library, are still being renovated.
Another big change comes in the form of Rabbi Chaim Respes, who is the new spiritual leader for the congregation since Rabbi Robert Rubin retired in December, after serving since 2011.
Rabbi Respes graduated from Temple University where he holds degrees in Jewish studies, political science, and criminal justice. He earned his rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical Seminary of America after spending some time studying in Israel after high school.
Rabbi Respes is serving the congregation part-time since his main job is an executive in human resources in the private and public sectors.
“In life, things overlap,” the Rabbi said recently from the social room at the new synagogue.
“Having the empathy from HR (human resources) in regards to what goes on in peoples’ lives, whether it’s positive life status changes, like getting married or having a baby, or sometimes sadly, when someone loses somebody they care about – oftentimes leads into what you think of as a Rabbi or what you have to do as a Rabbi,” he said.
The new Rabbi has no set schedule at Temple Beth Or, but he always leads Friday night services, and Shabbat services (religious services held on the Jewish Sabbath, which begins at sunset on Friday and ends at nightfall on Saturday, and are a central part of Jewish life).
Rabbi Respes also leads Havdalah services, which marks the end of Shabbat on Saturday evenings, and presides over other Jewish holidays and celebrations.
As the father to three boys, ages 14, 12 and 10, Rabbi Respes commutes from his South Jersey home to serve the Brick congregation.
The Rabbi does not drive home on Friday nights, but stays in a local hotel because driving is considered work and is a violation of the Torah’s commandment to rest.
“My grandfather, Rabbi Abel Respes, was one of the few African-American rabbis, not just in the northeast but in the country, who initially started his congregation in Philadelphia and then moved in the late 50s/early 60s to [Mercer County] and was there until he passed,” he said.
“Our family still has a synagogue down in that area, but it’s more of a historical site than a functioning synagogue,” he added.
Asked what he would like to accomplish as the spiritual leader at Temple Beth Or, the Rabbi said he hopes to be able to uphold and continue the traditions of both the Temple Beth Or Rabbis who came before him, and the non-clergy members of the temple.
“Two incredible rabbis whose footsteps I follow in helping this community continue to thrive – whether you are 100 or 60 or 20 – my job is to be here for people in their moments of need – hopefully more in times of happiness than sadness,” he said.
Rabbi Respes said he wants to let people know, “We’re here…you don’t have to go too far away from home to find a nice, conservative shul.”
He said he believes conservative Judaism is to approach Judaic law and Judaic ritual honoring tradition with the understanding that there is flexibility and a need for nuance in life.
“I’m so grateful to [Temple President] Dr. Sharon Monter and Temple Beth Or community for opening their arms to me and my family and for being as welcoming as they have been,” he said.
For more information, visit TempleBethOrBrick.org
