Our story

The Edmond J. Safra Synagogue is a warm and vibrant congregation in the heart of Deal, New Jersey. It began in 1983 in a rented house, and has stood at 75 Hathaway Avenue since 1990.

The new synagogue at 75 Hathaway Avenue soon after it opened: the brick front and columned porch, with its name over the doors

Our journey

More photographs
  1. January 1983

    Rabbi Isaac Farhi rents 79 Neptune for six months to start the shul.

  2. 1983

    We were honored with a visit from the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Hacham Ovadia Yosef. Many people from the community came to see the rabbi and the new congregation. Despite opposition from the Borough of Deal, the congregation flourished, with events, classes and services.

    Hacham Ovadia Yosef seated at a table with rabbis and members of the congregation during his visit
  3. June 1983

    We moved to the yellow house on Norwood and Hathaway, 258 Norwood.

    The yellow house at 258 Norwood Avenue, on the corner of Hathaway, the congregation’s home from June 1983
  4. 1984

    The shul held its first Torah dedication, with the Chief Rabbi of the Syrian community, Hacham Jacob Kassin, and the founders, Max Assoulin and David Assoulin.

    The first Torah dedication in 1984: a speaker at the microphone beside Hacham Jacob Kassin and other rabbis under a canopy
  5. July 1985

    The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled in favor of the shul, after the Borough of Deal tried to block its services. Many other shuls, and even churches, have relied on Farhi v. Deal Borough Commissioners for religious practice since.

  6. The years after

    Mr. Joe Cayre joined the shul as chairman. He led the fundraising to build a larger synagogue and serve the growing number of families in our area, and the property next door, 79 Hathaway, was bought for the expansion.

    The early sanctuary in the house: rows of chairs under a chandelier, with framed pictures on the walls
  7. 1990

    Plans were drawn and the present synagogue was built, under the watchful eye of Mr. Maurice Cohen. The new shul opened, and the address became 75 Hathaway.

    The new synagogue in winter: brick walls and the columned porch above a snowy lawn
  8. 2002

    We began plans for our second building, the Jemal Synagogue.

    The Jemal Synagogue beside the Safra Synagogue on Hathaway Avenue: a cream and brick building with a tiled roof, across a wide lawn

Our people

How to reach us

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