Congregation Adath Israel (Woodbridge Township, New Jersey)

Congregation Adath Israel is a former Conservative synagogue and religious community in Woodbridge Township, Middlesex County, New Jersey, in the United States, that held services from 1907 to 2006.

In 1939 the first Hebrew School opened, in 1945 the first rabbi, Samuel Newberger, was hired and it joined the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

To keep up with the burgeoning Jewish population after World War II Congregation Adath Israel built a new and larger synagogue in 1949.

[7] Numerous religious and social organizations used the center, including USY, Hadassah, Men's Club, a choral group, Kadima for pre-teens, Jewish War Veterans, bingo, and an acting company, the Adath Israel Players, among many others.

"[8] Besides the synagogue and Hebrew School classes, the building housed a basketball court, multiple kitchens, and a large social hall for festivities.

[11][12] Woodbridge Township remained a less affluent working class enclave;[13] young Jewish families now chose to live in nearby areas of Middlesex County with higher mean incomes, such as Highland Park and South Edison.

‘There was a big upsurge (in the number of members) five or six years ago but now it has leveled off.’ [T]he amount of residential construction in the Woodbridge area made it inevitable that more people will be attending the synagogue.

On May 26, 2006, with no closing ceremony, six Torahs were inspected by Adath Israel's Rabbi Kula, and then driven by car to Neve Shalom; members of the two congregations walked together seven times around the synagogue carrying the torahs to signify the marriage of the shuls;[16] the Neve Shalom rabbi gave a short speech; dinner was served.