Edison 'walking synagogue' gets OK to expand on Route 27
EDISON - The township Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved the expansion of an Orthodox Jewish synagogue along Route 27 where most worshipers walk to services.
The application from Congregation Ahavath Yisrael was unanimously approved by the board on Jan. 28.
The synagogue had site plan approval and variances in the general business zone.
In addition to a new lobby and sanctuary, the synagogue will add kitchen space to keep food warm. The synagogue has a refrigerator, but no oven.
The synagogue also sought variances for the lot width where 100 feet is required and 75 feet exists, front yard setback where 30 feet is required and 10 feet exists, side yard setback where 15 feet is required and 5.2 feet exists, and rear yard setback where 25 feet is required and 20.65 feet exists.
Warren Fink, the synagogue's attorney, said the 5,572-square-foot addition is needed because the congregation is growing, with 51 full-time members and 23 associate members.
Fink said Congregation Ahavath Yisrael is a "walking synagogue" and driving is strictly forbidden on the Jewish Sabbath and Jewish holidays, so just about everyone will walk to services.
Rabbi R'Gedaliah Jaffe, who has served as a synagogue's religious leader since 2008, said the synagogue, which as been at Route 27 location since 2006, offers prayer services, classes with about 10 to 15 people and occasionally weeknight social events. The synagogue does not have a school.
He said typically 15 people attend morning, afternoon and evening prayer services.
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Jaffe said most members live within walking distance of the synagogue and those who live a little further will drive before sundown on the Sabbath and park in the synagogue's nine parking spaces. He said there are prayers for about an hour on Friday afternoon and in the morning there are about 40 to 75 people at the main prayer service at 9 a.m.
"Everybody walks, nobody's driving on the Sabbath," the rabbi said. On Saturday nights, after the Sabbath is over, people walk or drive home, he said.
"There are enough parking spots because the people who live close by will walk to the synagogue and the ones who live a little bit further will drive, but there has always been adequate parking," said Jaffe, adding the new plan calls for 11 parking spaces which will be adequate.
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He said the Jewish holidays will follow the exact same model as the Sabbath where it is strictly forbidden to operate a vehicle, so people with either walk or drive to the synagogue before the observances, leave their cars in the parking lot and drive home afterward.
He said Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are large services in which there may some parking on the street.
The project engineer said the driveway for the synagogue is being moved from the intersection of Route 27 and Campbell Avenue to the other end of the parking lot, further down Campbell Avenue. Two handicapped accessible spaces also are proposed.
Email: srussell@gannettnj.com
Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Edison Orthodox Jewish synagogue gets OK to expand on Route 27
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