Temple Shaari Emeth

Temple Shaari Emeth
Temple Shaari Emeth
Hebrew: השערים של אמת
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Melinda F. Panken; Rabbi Philip E. Schechter (Emeritus);
Status	Active
Location
Location	400 Craig Road, Manalapan, NJ 07726
Country	United States
	Location in New Jersey
Geographic coordinates	40°17′06″N 74°18′01″W / 40.284905°N 74.300168°W
Architecture
Date established	1966 (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking	1969
Completed	1970
Website
	shaariemeth.org

Temple Shaari Emeth (Hebrew: השערים של אמת, lit. 'Gates of truth') is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 400 Craig Road in Manalapan, New Jersey, in the United States.^[1]

History

Founded in 1966, Temple Shaari Emeth originally had 50 member families, and had its facilities at two Manalapan residences. Irwin Goldenberg was the congregation’s first religious leader. The congregation established a religious school, with 23 students attending the first class which was held on February 18, 1966 at the two Manalapan homes. The U.S. Route 9 corridor in Manalapan was expanding quickly, and many Jewish families from New York City were relocating to the area. By 1967, the members of Temple Shaari Emeth needed more space for the growing congregation. In 1968, Kevork Hovnanian donated 3.5 acres of land on Craig Road in Manalapan. Construction of the new synagogue began in May 1969 and was completed in April 1970. The synagogue underwent a major renovation in 1990.

Religious school

The religious school has 527 students in grades K-10, with another 16 students enrolled in the school's post-confirmation program (grades 11-12).

Clergy

Rabbi Peter Kasdan of Marlboro served as the temple's religious leader from 1969 to 1971. He was succeeded by Rabbi Phillip Schechter of Freehold, who occupied the position for the next 29 years. In 2003, Rabbi Melinda Panken of New York City became the congregation's religious leader.