Community Corner

Construction Begins on New Scotch Plains Temple

Temple Sholom broke ground at its future location in Scotch Plains on Sunday.

Marking the next stage in a decade-long search for a new home, Fanwood’s Temple Sholom broke ground at its future location in Scotch Plains on Sunday, nearly 100 years after the congregation’s 22 founders first held Shabbat services in Plainfield.

Rabbi Joel Abraham and Cantor Darcie Sharlein led a dedication prayer before they and others dug in with steel shovels at 1925 Lake Avenue, a wooded five-acre plot purchased in 2007. 

“Just as the time our ancestors spent in the wilderness made them appreciate the Promised Land all the more, so do we at Temple Sholom rejoice as the end of our journey is in sight,” said Abraham, who has been the Reform congregation’s rabbi since 1999. “We look forward to celebrating in our new home with all those who have helped us in our journey and all our new neighbors and friends. We have taken as our guide the words of Exodus (25:8), 'Build for Me a holy place, and I will dwell among them.’”

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The congregation’s new home, an 8,900-square-foot building designed by Brawer & Hauptman of Philadelphia, will take full advantage of its new setting with windows large and small, allowing congregants to take in the surrounding woods and a stream nearby as they pray.

“Green” and energy-efficient features, such as a solar-ready roof and electrical system for panels to be installed and Scotch Plains’ first low-runoff permeable paved parking lot, will decrease both the site’s carbon footprint and its utility bills. Inside, a number of movable partitions will grant the building maximum flexibility, allowing spaces to be easily rearranged for worship, celebrations, religious school, meetings and more.

Find out what's happening in Scotch Plains-Fanwoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“This is a very exciting time for our congregation,” said Temple President Sandra Nussenfeld. “Countless people have worked so hard over the past 10 years to bring us to this day.”

Temple Sholom has held religious services at the Fanwood Presbyterian Church since 2003 and religious school at Union Catholic High School since 2002, but its search for a new home started even earlier, when the congregation was located in Plainfield.

There, in May 2001, faced with declining membership and an aging building, members first asked the question, “What does it take to be a thriving congregation?” This led to a study of whether to stay in place, merge with another temple or relocate altogether. In the end, the congregation voted overwhelmingly to move.

In the summer of 2003, Temple Sholom sold its building and migrated to the Fanwood Presbyterian Church — not only a gracious decision by the Fanwood church, but also, coincidentally, a late favor returned, as one of the founding families of Temple Sholom had donated the land for the church building.

“We have been blessed with truly gracious hosts at the Fanwood Presbyterian Church and Union Catholic High School,” Nussenfeld said. “Our congregation shared many wonderful years and memories together in the rooms within the church and the school which we turned into our social, educational and worship space.” 

Today, Temple Sholom is seeking to complete its “Bonim,” or building, campaign to raise $2 million toward construction. Children who grew up in the congregation, current and former members and even their friends and relatives have all dug deep into their pockets to make the congregation’s dream a reality. To date, it has collected nearly $1.4 million, and the fundraising efforts continue to push forward. Construction is slated to begin this week and last seven to eight months.

“We were lucky to find two places to allow us to move into the area while we figured out our next steps,” said Past President and Bonim Campaign Chairwoman Susan Sedwin. “Little did we know that we would begin our capital campaign just as the United States fell into a deep recession. While it has taken us much longer than ever imagined, we are now taking the final step and beginning the construction of our new home.  Our officers, our building, capital campaign and finance committees and congregants too numerous to mention have worked long and diligently to allow us to get to this amazing point in time. With our award-winning religious school, our warm and welcoming community and our social-action work, Temple Sholom will thrive and prosper in our new home.”

Nussenfeld was similarly excited for the temple’s future.

“We look forward to continued strength and growth as we begin our next 100 years as a congregation dedicated to each other and the Jewish community at large as we build our new home,” she said. “We look forward to opening our doors next year to celebrate the New Year in our new home.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here