Beth Judah Temple: A Jersey jewel

By Ethel G. Hofman

(JNS) — It was 2018 at the Jersey shore, and Ruth Edelman was adamant: “If I’m going stay here, I need a Jewish community.”

Recently retired, she and her husband, Morey, had decided to live full-time at their summer home in Avalon, N.J. Beth Judah Temple in nearby Wildwood had just begun summer services. Only a 20-minute drive away, they drove to check it out.

It didn’t take long. They liked the synagogue and the services, conducted by Canadian Rabbi Ron Isaacs. Equally important, they liked the vibe and soon became involved. Eight years later, Morey is now president of the...