B'nai Abraham - A Reconstructionist Congregation


Who We Are	Temple B’nai Abraham is a small but diverse Jewish community located in historic Bordentown, New Jersey. Our community is both progressive and traditional, enjoying a rich Jewish heritage and history. We are a Reconstructionist congregation and are open and welcoming to all who join.
History	Records of the Jewish community in Bordentown date back beyond the 1830’s, when local Jews played an important part in the town’s history. Moses Wolf, a Jewish tailor and clothing store owner, was elected mayor in 1874 and served through 1877. As the Jewish Community grew and became more active, a group of energetic residents formed the “Bordentown Hebrew Association” in 1917. Their stated intent was “to hold and maintain services for the worship of God and the promotion of good fellowship according to the tenets of the Hebrew faith…” It also gave its corporation the power to build a synagogue and Hebrew school. In July of 1918, the Bordentown Hebrew Association purchased our temple – the double house at 58-60 Crosswicks Street. By that same fall, the residence was converted to a Shul, and High Holy Day services were conducted there for the first time. In December, 1918, the “Bordentown Hebrew Women’s Association” was formed to serve as an auxiliary to the men’s group. A Hebrew scholar from Jerusalem was hired in 1921 to serve as resident spiritual leader and Hebrew teacher. Today, the tradition continues at this same location with our temple serving as synagogue, sanctuary, community center, Hebrew school, and in some cases, the Rabbi’s residence.
Mission Statement	Temple B’nai Abraham is a Reconstructionist congregation dedicated to creating a caring and inclusive community, and to enhancing Jewish life through learning and communal activities. We view education for ourselves and our children as fundamental to Jewish life. We do this in order to enhance our own lives as contemporary Jews and to perpetuate our bond and our children’s bond to our heritage. In order to reach our goals, we recognize the need to explore and experience community from various approaches. We believe that the focused evolution of our Jewish community may occur in a beneficial manner if we endeavor to continue to provide a variety of social, religious, experiential, and educational services for our members. In doing so, we hope to develop connections to other Jewish people and Jewish communities. We strive to preserve and develop Jewish traditions by merging past and present in a spirit of democracy, participation, egalitarianism, and creative thought within a Reconstructionist framework. We endeavor to provide excellence in Jewish education. In doing, so we hope to pass on our values and traditions to future generations of Jews. It is our desire to provide a viable center of living Judaism where people can find meaning in worship. In this way we create, grow and protect connections to God, Judaism, and community.
Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein	Alex Lazarus-Klein has been with Temple B'nai Abraham since 2003. He is currently in a chaplaincy training program at Albert Einstein Medical Center in North Philadelphia. Raised in Philadelphia, Alex is a product of the Solomon Schecter Day School and Akiba Hebrew Academy in Merion, PA. For undergraduate studies he attended the Joint Program between the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received a Bachelors in Jewish History and later a Masters in Jewish Education, and Columbia University, where he received a Bachelors in Writing and Literature. After college he taught Jewish studies and Hebrew for several years in Orlando at the Hebrew Day School of Central Florida. He is currently working on publishing a collection of his poetry.

Religious Services	At Temple B’nai Abraham, you will find engaging and exciting prayer services, full of warmth and music. Friday evening services are conducted in our sanctuary most weeks at 7:30 pm. A Saturday morning service and “Oneg” lunch is held once each month. In addition to the regularly scheduled Shabbat services, special holiday services are always offered. Both men and women participate fully in all religious services, and our inclusive interfaith policy invites the participation of non-Jews. As we are an open and democratic community, discussions and questions regarding the services and sermon are invited and encouraged.
Hebrew School	With a student-teacher ratio of less than five to one, Temple B'nai Abraham's Hebrew school is a small, friendly place that specializes in creating a positive Jewish experience for all of our students. Our focus is on teaching Hebrew reading and writing skills, prayers, and Jewish holidays and history. We offer three different levels: beginning Hebrew (for all newcomers to our program), intermediate Hebrew, and Bar and Bat Mitzvah training. For students ranging in age from eight to thirteen, we meet twice a week for two hours at a time - Sunday mornings between 10:30 - 12:30 and Thursday evenings between 4:30-6:30. We also offer Sunday morning classes, between 9:30 and 10:30, for five and six year olds. Parent involvement and participation along with attendance at our once a month Shabbat morning services is strongly encouraged. Enrollment is limited to the children of members.
“Tot Shabbat”	Led by Rabbi Alex, our Tot Shabbat group for children about six years of age and under gathers once a month on Shabbat. They share candle-lighting, blessings over the wine and challah, singing, story-telling, and circle-time, all culminating in a pot-luck dinner. This program is designed to include the younger children of our community, and to provide them with a sense of Jewish identity and heritage early on. Siblings are always welcome!
Adult Education	Temple B'nai Abraham is committed to the traditional Jewish value of lifelong education. We offer adult programs in the Torah, the Bible, and arts, as well as Jewish history, meditation, and culture.
Sisterhood	Our Sisterhood offers ongoing informative and entertaining social programs. It provides a forum for the women of our community to join together in a relaxed, supportive, and informal atmosphere. The Sisterhood is involved in many activities for the temple, such as organizing the Oneg Shabbat program, fundraising, organizing an annual blood drive, assisting families sitting shiva, and providing support for bar/bat mitzvah families. Members are encouraged to join the Sisterhood at an annual cost of $25.00. Sisterhood holds meetings 5 times per year, usually at our shul, and typically on the second Monday of the month. Meeting dates are posted in our newsletter. Founded in 1918 as the Bordentown Hebrew Women's Association, the Sisterhood adopted its present name in 1942 to honor the memory of Mrs. Harry Seidel, a founding member who had given unstintingly of her time and effort to the organization.
Community Affairs	We are involved with furthering the Jewish commitment to the local, national, and international community, focusing on all relevant issues. We support freedom and democracy, as well as human-rights agendas. The community supports a pluralistic Israel, where all parties and citizens have an equal opportunity. Our local Jewish community has been an important part of the rich 300-year history of Bordentown and remains committed to working closely with the community-at-large.
Community Service	Our community engages in a number or community service projects on a regular basis. Some of these we have initiated on our own, and others are cooperative endeavors with other agencies and places of worship in the area. Most of our efforts center on feeding the hungry. In conjunction with the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, the local food pantry and a coordinated interfaith group we participate in on-going efforts to collect, prepare, deliver and serve food in needy communities. We make an effort to involve all members of the congregation in these service projects, from the youngest Hebrew School students to our adult members. Our most successful projects in recent years include: Grocery bags -- This is an interfaith project we participate in with a number of churches in the area serving those living in welfare motels in the area. Once a month, we give 20 bags of assorted non-perishable food items to these transitional residents. Each house of worship provides 20 of one item (peanut butter, cereal, crackers, etc.), which are sorted into bags and delivered. TBA provides the granola bars and our Hebrew School students and teen teachers have helped with making up the bags and delivery. Food Pantry -- We regularly collect and deliver non-perishable items to the local food pantry at St. Mary's Catholic church in Bordentown. One of our members also volunteers there regularly. Meal delivery -- Another interfaith effort, this time with the Crosswicks Methodist Church, the Unitarian Church, and HomeFront; the church prepares and packages meals once a month for residents of area motels, and TBA members and Hebrew School Students deliver them. Trenton Area Soup Kitchen -- Our students and teens also participate throughout the year in collecting hygiene items, making bag lunches and serving food at TASK. Programs for the elderly -- The Hebrew School students have prepared a number of creative programs for the elderly residents at The Clare Estate in Bordentown. Hanukah songs, Passover prayers, interactive craft projects and hand-made gifts have enlivened the residents¿ holiday season and especially boosted morale for the Jewish residents. FUNDRAISING -- Proceeds from the annual student organized Purim Carnival fund these efforts, along with generous donations from our members.