Temple's New Rabbi Knows How to Handle Adversity

When he worked in Colombia during the country's drug wars, Rabbi Alberto Baruch Zeilicovich was accompanied by bodyguards to synagogue every Sabbath and had to bury a 19-year-old boy who was killed in a massacre. He also grew up under the terror of Argentina's military regime.

That's why Zeilicovich—who will be  as the spiritual leader of Fair Lawn's  on Sunday—says he is not an "only in good times rabbi."

"That experience gives you a different perspective about life and what's really important, and at the end of the day, you know it's about relationships, and a congregation is also about relationships," Zeilicovich said in an interview from his office.

The installation ceremony will take place on Zeilicovich's 60th birthday. The rabbi—who moved to Fair Lawn three months ago—studied at the Seminario Rabinico Latinoamericano in Buenos Aires before completing his ordination at the Schechter Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem. Zeilicovich comes to New Jersey from his previous rabbinical post in Fort Worth, Texas, and said that "this ain't Texas here, I'm telling you."

Zeilicovich said his family decided it was "time to try to find a congregation located in an area with more Jewish opportunities." Fair Lawn fits the bill, he said, with its array of kosher bakeries, supermarkets and restaurants, in addition to its proximity to New York City. Since New York is home to the Conservative movement's Jewish Theological Seminary, Zeilicovich said he gets "interaction with colleagues that I didn't have in Fort Worth."

"It's very interesting to live in a place where you have a lot of Jewish life around you," he said.

As Beth Sholom's rabbi, Zeilicovich said his goals include "developing learning and social opportunities and taking the congregation to a higher level of spirituality and Jewish observance." He said his focus will be on adult education programming, reinforcing and updating Beth Sholom's religious school, and reinvigorating the temple's youth program.

The synagogue's membership has mixed demographics—ranging from nursery age children to young couples to elderly congregants—and Zeilicovich said he wants "to cater to all groups" and make sure that "everybody will find a place and opportunities to develop their potential in Temple Beth Sholom, regardless of age."

The community is invited to attend Zeilicovich's installation at 3 p.m. Sunday. The ceremony will be followed by a dessert reception. Reservations are requested; please call the temple office at 201-797-9321 or email install@tbsfl.org. Business attire is suggested. Beth Sholom is located at 40-25 Fair Lawn Ave. (corner of Saddle River Road).