Board members of Beis Knesses Shaarei Tefilah a 110 year old Shomer Shabbos Shul in Perth Amboy are hoping to sell the Historic Shul to an Indian-based Cult, and Lakewood Askonim have moved into full gear to try and prevent the sale, TLS has learned. Board member Hershel Chomsky, a resident of Perth Amboy for a quarter of a century whose father once served as a Rav there, finds himself battling the four other members of the shul board who wish to sell this hallmark of Jewish area presence which serves as a testament to the rich history of the Jewish community in the area.
At one time, the community flourished tremendously, with the Shul claiming close to 1,000 members, Chomsky says.
Chomsky says he would like to see the Shul occupied by a yeshiva that wishes to relocate from not too far away, and has been exploring every option available to stop his fellow board members from going ahead with the sale to the cult.
Chomsky claims that the bylaws indicate this is an Orthodox Jewish institution and that decisions made on how to direct the Shul would follow Jewish tradition. Chomsky also notes that one of the presidium members is the real estate agent conducting the sale presenting a conflict of interests.
Plans to sell off the internal contents of the Shul a short while after Succos, are underway.
This disastrous situation says Chomsky, is a result of the declining Orthodox population in the area, an area that is easily a perfect location for frum couples to obtain affordable housing and rebuild a flourishing frum community.
Whereas in some instances, establishing the infrastructure needed to support a full fledged Orthodox community presents the challenge of communicating the unique needs of the Orthodox public to many local agencies and governmental bodies, Perth Amboy Mayor Wilda Diaz supports the Jewish community in the area wholeheartedly and the peaceful co-existence of all backgrounds and faiths, Askonim say. Diaz and other politicians, Chomsky says, welcome the idea of having a Yeshiva move in and have been more supportive than some members of the Shul.
Lakewood Askonim have received a written letter from a Bais Din stating that it would be a Mitzvah to go to court over this matter, if this is the only way to save the Shul. TLS/Lakewood Shopper.
i think someone should try and get in contact with the rosh yeshiva from roosevelt, i believe they are looking for a new campus.
how can a shul sell to a cult? this a great mitzvah! thank you askonim whoever you are! and a specail thank you goes to Perth Amboy Mayor Diaz for always being there for the jewish community! oh and r hershel chomsky keep the faith we gonna win this one and you will have a minyan there seven days a week, your father will be proud!
why are they selling the shul?
Were can I send a donation to this wonderfull cause?
Rosevelt yeshiva is the one that is interested in coming to that shul.R heshel Chomsky is really trying vey hard to bring them to perth amboy.
I wish the best of luck to all the Askanim involved in this huge mitzva
My greatgrandfather was the Rav of this shul almost 100 hundred years ago .
I would really like to help out . Please call if there is anything i can do.
732-(moderated)
nobodys being bias or discriminated are they..?
Thank you askonim. Please keep up the great work!!!
What makes the group buying it a cult? That sounds a little one sided.
To truthmatters:
whatever gave you that idea..
This shul was the original host of Rabbi Uren Reich’s yeshiva that used to be called “Yeshiva Gedolah of Perth Amboy”.
Rabbi Chomsky Sr. and his son used to join the yeshiva for Shachris every morning. Very pleasant sincere people.
sharei tefila hosted the yeshiva of perth amboy for the first period of the yeshivas existence.In addition the shul has a mikvah that was utilized by many on erev rosh hashana and erev yom kippur.Reb hershel,keep up the good fight and lets not turn a wonderful historic shul into a base for avoda zarah
Keep up the good fight r helshel. What happened to alan I forgot his last names organazation to keep jews in the town?
what is a base for avoda zarah…..!!!!
The word cult is offensive.
on what street is this shul located in perth amboy? Good luck.
who says it is a cult?
Anon- its more offensive to sell a Shul then to call a off brand religon that has all the signs of a cult -a cult
Which askanim are involved?I happen to know one of the other board members.
keep up the good fight. Mayor Diaz will be very supportive for our community. What street is the shul on ?
Is leo gursky on the board still?
Chazak ve ametz!!
I was born in Perth Amboy and receive periodic updates from an organization which keeps an eye on the cemeteries in the area. Recently this group sent me a notice about an impending sale of “religious articles and memorabilia” from the shul. No mention at all was made of the intended purchasers of the building itself. As someone who is not a regular reader of the scoop, I’m glad to have checked in today…Will try to be in touch with some of these people in case they have any influence. Thanks for keeping us informed.
Interesting to know what other options they might have since the neighborhood doesn’t have a large Jewish presence at all now.
People have donated over the years to keep this shul going, people have donated sifrei torah now all of the sudden because 4 people voted to sell it all and transfer profits to some other organization evryones money and livelihood and years of sweat can just go down the drain like this I think this calls for a major lawsuit against the members that want to sell and review by attorney general and if they don’t want the headache of keeping it a shul maybe they should find religous people who don’t think this is a headache! Many people are willing to assist but these board members want to “once and for all close this shul down and get over with it” sorry don’t think that’s what jews all about
The “other option” would be to rent it to a Yeshiva.
Calling a different faith a Cult?
Imagine what would be said if the Methodists wanted to move in.
Located at 15 Market St. Perth Amboy, NJ 08861.
Do a birds eye view in Bing Maps and you can see the building
Its not a matter of a diffrent faith. Its a matter of the prospective buyer being a cult. Period
i believ alan goldmith saw his dream come to fruition with his jrf organization.hes doing great stuff!and what a kiddush hashem when i ask my workers who reside in perth amboy where they go for free medical treatment and they mention the jewish renaissance foundation!
nebech for all you people who quote politicaly correct slogans in the place of Halacha
“off brand religion” wow thats offesive ,would those who are orthodox be offended if they were called a cult ~ I think we know the answer to that
how do you know it`s a cult?
What makes a cult? People with views different than yours? People who pray and worship differently than you? Its foolish to label something a “cult” just because you don’t understand it. Would you be offended if someone called Judaism or Christianity a cult just because they didn’t believe and understand it? There would be an outcry of people crying anti-semitism and bigotism. Have respect for other peoples views and opinions instead of branding them a cult out of ignorant fear.
why didn’t you print my comment? whom are you afraid of mr. censor?