Open Doors and Open Minds on Hance Avenue
Monmouth Reform Temple sits on a quiet, leafy ten-acre tract at 332 Hance Avenue in Tinton Falls, New Jersey, just minutes from Red Bank and the shore. Its members travel from more than thirty towns across central New Jersey to worship, learn, and gather in a building that has been home to a Reform Jewish congregation since the late 1960s. The congregation's motto, painted above its logo, is Open Doors, Open Minds, and the building is intentionally kept scent free so that members and guests with asthma and migraines can take part without worry.
Founded in 1959 by twenty-nine families who wanted a Reform synagogue closer to home, Monmouth Reform Temple has grown to roughly 325 member households. About forty percent of those families are interfaith, and the temple is known for welcoming single parents, single adults, people of color, LGBTQ+ individuals and families, Jews by Choice, those who are differently abled, and anyone who seeks a Jewish community. Members come from towns stretching across Monmouth County and beyond, drawn by a style of worship that places tradition inside a modern context and a calendar that rarely sits still.
A Half-Century on Hance Avenue
The congregation's history begins in the late 1950s, when the nearest Reform synagogue was Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon and a drive to services felt long. Twenty-two families gathered in a Rumson home on March 20, 1959 to form a steering committee. Less than a month later, on April 17, Rabbi Herbert Brichto, dean of what was then the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, led the first service at the Women's Club in Red Bank. By April 30, the new congregation had thirty-two member families and received its charter from the UAHC.
For its first seven years, Monmouth Reform Temple worshipped in the sanctuary and school building of the Presbyterian Church at Shrewsbury. Members transformed the church hall into a synagogue each Friday and restored it afterward, and the arrangement produced a lasting interfaith friendship. By 1964, with membership climbing, the congregation purchased a vacant ten-acre tract on Hance Avenue in what was then New Shrewsbury. Ground was broken on May 29, 1966, the first Shabbat was held that fall in an unfinished, cold classroom, and the completed sanctuary was dedicated in April 1967. Under Rabbi Richard Steinbrink's leadership, membership passed 160 families by the end of the 1960s.
The next era was shaped by Rabbi Sally J. Priesand, ordained in 1972 as America's first female rabbi. She arrived at MRT in 1981 and served for twenty-five years, building a reputation for warmth, inclusion, and a steady stream of life cycle moments for a generation of Monmouth County families. She retired in 2006 as Rabbi Emerita. The congregation celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2009 with a special Shabbat, an oneg, a memory book and time capsule, and the creation of the Rabbi Sally J. Priesand Endowment Fund for the Future. By the time of its sixtieth anniversary in 2019, MRT had become the multi-generational community it is today, guided by what Rabbi Priesand often called growing Jewishly, one mitzvah at a time.
Worship that Puts Tradition in a Modern Key
Every Shabbat is special at Monmouth Reform Temple. Services are led by Rabbi Renee Edelman and Cantor Meara Lebovitz and are described as spiritually uplifting and filled with joyful music. The Friday evening service welcomes the Sabbath with prayers, song, and community. On the first Friday of each month it begins at 6:00 PM; on all other Fridays it begins at 7:00 PM; during the summer months, when many members are at the shore, Friday evenings move to 6:00 PM. Saturday morning services are held at 10:00 AM on holidays and for life cycle events, including Bar and Bat Mitzvah services.
For those who cannot attend in person, most services are livestreamed on the temple's YouTube channel and Facebook page. The only exceptions are the annual summer Beach Shabbat and the occasional Visual Shabbat Experience, both of which are designed to be experienced on site. Services can be watched live, and an archive of past services is linked from the livestream page for those who want to revisit a service or catch up.
The temple's worship is participatory. Music is central to the experience, with congregational singing led by the cantor and a regular rotation of musical settings that range from classical compositions to contemporary arrangements. Members who want to follow along at home or learn the music can browse a deep library of recorded blessings on the temple's site. Cantor Emerita Gabrielle Clissold recorded dozens of prayers, Torah blessings, and holiday blessings by grade level so that families can practice together during the year.
Twice-Weekly Meditation and a Year-Round Holiday Calendar
Alongside traditional Shabbat worship, the temple hosts two ongoing guided meditation sessions that are open to members and non-members alike. Boker Tov meets on Friday mornings at 8:00 AM and begins the day with a short reading, eighteen minutes of silent meditation, a brief discussion, and the recitation of Kaddish. Lilah Tov meets on Monday evenings at 9:00 PM as a way to transition into sleep, pairing a reading, eighteen minutes of meditation, and a quiet portion of the bedtime Shema. Both sessions take place on Zoom, allowing members from across New Jersey to drop in.
The Jewish calendar shapes the rest of the year. The High Holy Days are approached as a time both to reflect personally and to recommit to a community of shared values, with the sound of the shofar as a centerpiece. HHD services are free for member families, and non-members can obtain tickets with a minimum donation. The rest of the year moves through Sukkot and Simchat Torah, Tu BiShvat, Purim, Passover, and Shavuot, with programs that combine traditional observance with what the temple calls a modern sensibility.
A Clergy Team Rooted in Reform Judaism
Rabbi Renee Edelman came to MRT after serving congregations throughout New York and New Jersey, including Temple Emanu-El in Westfield, The Community Synagogue in Port Washington, and Temple Sha'arey Shalom in Springfield. She was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1997 and received an honorary doctorate from HUC-JIR in 2022. A graduate of Brandeis University, she is known for helping ancient Jewish texts speak to contemporary life and for cultivating deep relationships with congregants at every stage. She and her husband Shane are the parents of three children.
Cantor Meara Lebovitz joined the temple after serving as Assistant Cantor at Temple Sinai Congregation of Toronto from 2022 to 2026. She is ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion and holds a Master of Sacred Music and a Master of Arts in Jewish Communal Service from Gratz College. Her work is shaped by sacred relationships, meaningful prayer, and compassionate presence. In addition to her congregational role, she has served in Disaster Spiritual Care with the American Red Cross in the United States and Canada, and she brings a lifelong love of Jewish camp from years at URJ Camp Harlam, URJ 6 Points Sports Academy, and URJ Camp George. Originally from Cherry Hill, she is happy to be back in New Jersey and looks forward to building MRT's musical future.
The congregation is also home to two emeriti whose presence is woven into its identity. Rabbi Emerita Sally J. Priesand, America's first ordained female rabbi, continues as a guiding light of the community. Cantor Emerita Gabrielle Clissold served MRT for twenty-five years before stepping into her emeritus role, remembered for building lasting relationships across generations of B'nai Mitzvah families, embracing livestreaming to expand participation, and sustaining temple life through times of change.
Religious School, Bagels and Blocks, and the Path to B'nai Mitzvah
Jewish learning at MRT begins long before Bar or Bat Mitzvah and continues well into high school. The temple's philosophy is straightforward: Jewish education is about building relationships, asking questions, celebrating traditions, and helping every child find a place where they belong. Director of Education Michelle Krain, a retired New Jersey superintendent, leads a program designed to be both serious and joyful, with thoughtful accommodations and modifications so every learner can grow with confidence.
For the youngest families, Bagels and Blocks is a relaxed monthly Sunday morning program for toddlers and preschoolers, beginning at 9:30 AM and running to about 11:00 AM. Each session centers on a Jewish holiday or theme with a short story, singing, simple crafts, games, and sometimes challah baking. There is plenty of free play for little ones while grown-ups enjoy coffee and conversation. It is free, open to the community, and requires no RSVP.
Religious School meets on Sundays from 9:30 AM to noon for grades K through 3, 4 through 6, 7, and 8. Grades 4 through 6 add a Wednesday afternoon session from 4:00 to 6:00 PM. Seventh grade is a milestone year: in addition to weekly meetings with the Cantor to prepare Torah and Haftarah portions, students continue their Jewish learning in religious school. High school students in grades 9 through 12 choose a yearly schedule that fits their calendar, and eighth through twelfth graders gather on Sundays from 9:30 AM to noon for Mitzvah Academy, a discussion-based program that explores what it means to live Jewish values in the modern world through debate, real-world issues, and hands-on social action.
The path to Bar or Bat Mitzvah is treated as a meaningful milestone and a lifelong beginning. Students strengthen Hebrew and prayer skills, explore Jewish values, and work closely with clergy and teachers until they are ready to help lead the congregation from the bimah. The temple's B'nei Mitzvah at MRT page is clear that the experience is about much more than preparing for a single day, and that the milestone opens into continued engagement through teen learning, leadership opportunities, youth groups, and social action. Older teens can serve as Madrichim, teaching assistants in Sunday morning and Wednesday afternoon classes, gaining experience in lesson planning, classroom leadership, and mentoring. Confirmation at the end of high school marks the conclusion of formal learning in the Reform movement, with students leading the service and affirming their commitment to the Jewish people.
Committees, Sisterhood, Men's Club, and the Rhythm of Community
Members who want to dig deeper into temple life can join one of several standing committees. The Adult Education Committee organizes programs on Jewish culture, Israel, Bible study, spirituality and mysticism, the environment, history, and current events, and it meets on the third Thursday of each month at 4:00 PM on Zoom. The Israel Committee, part of MRT since the founding, brings Israel to the community through classes, discussions, photographs, and guest speakers. The Membership Committee, chaired by Margie Wold, focuses on recruitment and on building relationships across every age and stage.
The Religious Education Committee, co-chaired by Lia Hecht and Fay Szakal, supports the religious school and runs programs such as First Friday Family Shabbat and Service Sundays. The Ritual Committee works with the Rabbi and Cantor on matters relating to services, religious events, and spiritual growth. The Social Action Committee, co-chaired by Jay Wiesenfeld and Cheryl Gaudette, anchors the temple's work on tikkun olam, or repairing the world, and welcomes helping hands at any level of participation.
Two long-standing groups round out the social fabric. Sisterhood, led by co-presidents including Nancy Zaslowe, brings together women of all ages, backgrounds, and family structures with a regular schedule of activities that includes a weekly Mahjong game, a monthly book club, Shalach Manot boxes at Purim, the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, social events called Out and About, and lectures on healthy minds and bodies. Sisterhood fundraising supports Confirmation class, gift Kiddish sets for every B'nai Mitzvah, and ongoing building improvements such as a recent kitchen renovation. The Men's Club meets on the second Tuesday of odd months from 7:00 to 8:30 PM and acts as a service arm to the congregation and community.
Tikkun Olam in Monmouth County and Beyond
Social action is built into the temple's identity. The temple partners with organizations throughout Monmouth County on projects that emphasize social justice and shared humanity. Members volunteer, advocate, and contribute to a wide network of named funds that support specific causes.
The Garden of Plenty and the Gan Mazon Fund produce and deliver food year-round to neighbors in need. The Mazon Fund supports the Jewish response to hunger in America and around the world. The Fund for the Homeless supports Interfaith Neighbors, which provides rent subsidies and support services in the community. The Social Action Fund underwrites the temple's broader repair-the-world efforts, while the Fund for the Righteous offers assistance, recognition, and honor to Righteous Gentiles who risked their lives to save Jews during the Holocaust. The Caring Network Fund provides support to temple members during difficult times.
For the youngest learners, the Dr. Shirley Z. Gardy Fund provides financial assistance for children with special education needs and helps all MRT children attend programs that deepen their Jewish identity. The Rivken Summer Camp Endowment subsidizes overnight Reform Jewish summer camp experiences for children whose families need help, in keeping with the temple's connection to the URJ camp system.
Open to Everyone Who Wants to Join
MRT does not set a fixed membership rate, request financial documents, or turn anyone away based on ability to pay. Members are asked to consider what participation in the community means to them and to contribute accordingly, whether through an annual pledge, the tzedakah box, fundraisers, or gifts made in honor of life cycle events. Membership is open to Jews of all backgrounds, to those interested in becoming Judaism, and to non-Jewish partners, and there is a standing welcome for people of every gender or gender identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, and ability.
Prospective members can fill out a membership interest form online or call the main office at (732) 747-9365. The temple's Mission Statement, posted on its Values page, describes a community where creativity and openness to new ideas harmonize with the traditions of Reform Judaism, where members are inspired and inspire each other on a spiritual journey, where communities of enduring relationships are built, and where speaking out and taking action improve the quality of human existence and help heal the world.
Planning a Visit
First-time visitors who want to attend a Shabbat service can arrive at 332 Hance Avenue in Tinton Falls on any Friday evening. Dress tends to be what one might wear to a synagogue service, and the building is kept scent free, so guests are asked to skip perfume, cologne, and heavily fragranced products. Saturday morning services take place at 10:00 AM on holidays and for life cycle events. The twice-weekly meditation sessions, Boker Tov on Friday mornings at 8:00 AM and Lilah Tov on Monday evenings at 9:00 PM, take place on Zoom and are an easy way to get a feel for the congregation before walking through the door.
Families with young children may want to start at Bagels and Blocks on a Sunday morning. Visitors are warmly welcomed at the New Member Shabbat, which is held periodically and offers a chance to meet the clergy and learn more about the community. The temple also runs a religious school with classes on Sundays and Wednesdays for grades K through 12, and a director of education who can answer questions about enrollment.
Donations can be made online through the temple's donation page, which offers options for annual commitments, religious school tuition, B'nai Mitzvah fees, the Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, the Cantor's Fund, the building and operations funds, youth education, adult education, and social action. Giving is also accepted through Venmo at @MonmouthReformTemple and Zelle at zelle@monmouthreformtemple.org. The main office can be reached at (732) 747-9365 or info@monmouthreformtemple.org.