Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple

Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple, the fourth Jewish congregation founded in New Jersey, was established in New Brunswick on October 11, 1859. The congregation, which was then named Congregation Anshe Emeth, began in a small storefront on Peace Street. In 1897, the congregations's first synagogue was built on Albany Street. In 1930, a beautiful new synag... ogue, designed by local architect Alexander Merchant, was built on Livingston Avenue. By this time, the congregation had been renamed Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple "in honor of the Jewish dead of New Brunswick." The congregation grew steadily through the decades, providing leadership to the local Jewish community and the city of New Brunswick. In the 1970's, at a time when many urban congregations were following the migration of Jewish populations to the suburbs, the members of Anshe Emeth voted to remain in New Brunswick and participate in the city's growth and renaissance. Anshe Emeth, the oldest synagogue in Middlesex County, is also the oldest synagogue in New Jersey to still be located in its city of origin. Currently, Anshe Emeth serves families living throughout the county, as well as surrounding counties in Central NJ, with a great variety of opportunities to celebrate Jewish life, including Sabbath and Holiday worship and activities, a religious school spanning Pre-K through 12th Grade, an extensive offering of adult education programming, and a full-day Early Childhood Education Center. Since 1930, the Temple's building has expanded, as has the programming which is dedicated to improving life in New Brunswick. Over the years, Temple members have rolled bandages during World War II, and had a similar program later for cancer patients needs; established a reading program at the Redshaw School (next door to the Temple); substituted for staff members at the local hospitals on Christmas Day; regularly staffed the kitchens at Elijah's Promise; and with New Brunswick's Interfaith Overflow Men's Shelter, provided a safe place three weeks every winter for homeless ...Read More