229 Mountain Ave
Bound Brook, NJ
732-469-0934
Congregation Knesseth Israel Celebrates 100 Years!
By Marla Lecin
Over the past year, Congregation Knesseth Israel in Bound Brook has been celebrating their 100th Anniversary. Events kicked off in June of 2022 with a carnival held on the front lawn. Current and past members of the synagogue enjoyed a day in the sun with a BBQ and other refreshments, games, a DJ, and live music provided by CKI’s Cantor Roffman. In February, congregants, friends, former members, and Hebrew school alumni took part in a reunion Shabbat morning service and socialized afterward at a Kiddush luncheon. The final anniversary celebration was an elegant evening Gala in June of 2023, with music and dancing, hors d’oeuvres, and a dessert buffet. The synagogue’s past was on display with photographs, a slideshow, and historic items. These three events were facilitated by a grant received from the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties.
Bound Brook has one of the oldest known Jewish communities in New Jersey, and in the past many of the town’s residents, shopkeepers, and professionals were members of the congregation. Currently, members of CKI live in Bound Brook and many other towns in the surrounding area. The congregation’s origins go back to the 1920s when it was established as “The Jacob H. Schiff Congregation.” By 1923, members of the Women’s Social Circle had raised money for a down payment toward the purchase of an existing house and property at 229 Mountain Avenue. In 1953, the congregation adopted two new names: the “Bound Brook Jewish Center” and “Knesseth Israel,” and in 1954 construction of a new building on the property began. In the early 1980s, the building was expanded to include a chapel, new offices for the Rabbi and temple administrator, a youth lounge, and additional restrooms.
The congregation was Orthodox from the 1920s until the 1960s when it joined the Conservative movement. Currently, CKI is not officially affiliated with any of the movements, and its members come from a variety of Jewish traditions and backgrounds. CKI is an egalitarian congregation that welcomes all who are part of a Jewish family, including interfaith families. The members of the congregation, led by Rabbi Stephen Wylen and Cantor Eddie Roffman, fondly call CKI their “Mighty, Little Synagogue,” and gather regularly for Shabbat worship, Jewish Holiday celebrations, educational programs, dinners, and social events.
Guests are always very welcome to attend services and events. Shabbat services are held Fridays at 8:00 pm throughout the year. Saturday morning services followed by lunch and Torah study with Rabbi Wylen are usually scheduled once a month. Monthly continuing education programs include book discussions and classes on a wide range of cultural and historical Jewish topics. The full calendar of services and events can be found online at www.ckibbnj.org, along with more information about the synagogue.
CKI takes pride in the wide range of services provided to the membership while keeping dues among the lowest in the area. They believe that temple membership should be within everyone’s reach, and there are special introductory dues rates for new members, as well as reduced dues for seniors and for young adults up to age 30.CKI is located at 229 Mountain Avenue in Bound Brook. Please email info@ckibbnj.org or call 732-469-0934 for more information about the synagogue’s events, services, or membership details. Marla Lecin serves as the Publicity Chairperson for CKI.