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History
A group of local families conducting services in their homes, from about 1910 until
the Center was built in 1954, was the beginning of what has become Congregation
Gesher Shalom / The Jewish Community Center of Fort Lee. The Fort Lee Jewish Community
Center was formally incorporated in 1950 with 38 families as Charter Members. Meetings
and religious school classes were conducted in the Masonic Temple. Reverend Robert
Clarke and members of the Church of the Good Shepherd made their parish hall available
for worship and use during the Jewish holidays.
The congregation hired its first spiritual leader, Rabbi Solomon Rothstein, in 1952.
He served over 20 years before relocating his family to California. Rabbi Irving
Spielman became the new spiritual leader at that time, and remains as Rabbi Emeritus.
Our current spiritual leader, Rabbi Kenneth Stern , has been with Congregation Gesher
Shalom since July, 2008.
Our Center
In September of 1954, a modest-sized Center was built
at our current location. Within a few years, the building was too small
for the needs of the congregation.
In 1958, plans were formulated to enlarge the building.
The cornerstone for our current building was dedicated on October
29, 1961. Today, our Center houses
a magnificent sanctuary, a chapel for daily prayer, a library, gymnasium, swimming
pool and health club (no longer), a youth lounge, and computer room.
Today, our growth continues. We are a spiritual,
cultural, social and learning center in the heart of
Fort Lee.
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This Week at CGS
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Meet Rabbi Stern
( video )
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