A Selfish Mitzvah

In my last posting, Etz Chaim of Teaneck: Modern Day Robin Hoods?, I discussed the way that Etz Chaim misrepresented themselves to the Teaneck Board of Adjustments and the expenses involved with running their Shul/Prayer Group, such as mortgage, utilities and Rabbi Feldman's salary. Their congregation supports the property purchase and den expansion through dues, donations and a building fund. They have taken on a financial burden to be able to have a place to pray and for Rabbi Feldman and his family to live comfortably, to quote Seinfeld, "not that there is anything wrong with that!"

Between fighting the neighbors, avoiding davening at Arzei Darom, filling out paperwork for the Township and spending time in front of the Board of Adjustments, the leadership of Etz Chaim are working hard to make 554 Queen Anne Road a reality. Its natural to want to show pride in your Synagogue, to make sure that a minyan is maintained in your building, your makom Torah and spiritual home!

I navigated to godaven.com on the intertubes to see Etz Chaim's listing. Rabbi Feldman claimed in The Jewish Standard that The rabbi disputed the change-of-use argument saying that of the 168 hours in a week, only five are devoted to religious services at the house, which are held Friday night and Saturday morning and afternoon. “That’s 3 percent of the time,” he said. “It is our understanding, confirmed in two meetings with the township, that [a] prayer group in the house is a permitted residential use. Thus, we do not believe that the use has been changed in any way.”

Where do they daven on Sundays? According to Etz Chaim advertises that Shabbos/Yontuf Davening is at 554 Queen Anne Road (Rabbis residence). Sunday/Secular Holiday Davening is at Care One (544 Teaneck Rd.).

Based on Rabbi Feldman's math, Sunday's services should not take more than 2 hours or another 1% of the week for a total 7 hours of prayer or 4% of the week.

Why don't they daven in Etz Chaim in the building that they own? How did they choose CareOne at Teaneck?

CareOne at Teaneck is a huge chessed opportunity. Since Etz Chaim davens there on Sundays, their Sunday minyan is taken care of, but who prays there on Shabbos?
As with everything involving Etz Chaim of Teaneck there is usually a hidden motive behind their actions. CareOne's Shabbos minyan is made up a lot of original members of the Merkaz/Torat(s) Chesed/Mechitza Minyan. This was the minyan that Rabbi Daniel Feldman officiated at the Teaneck Jewish Center. Rabbi Feldman abandoned them after he led them out of the Teaneck Jewish Center to CareOne and then took the position at Etz Chaim. The Shabbos minyan goers want nothing to do with Etz Chaim of Teaneck or Rabbi Feldman.

So why does Etz Chaim need to pray in CareOne? Maybe they want to be nice to the Feldman family and not wake them up early on a Sunday morning. It is possible they are being considerate to the neighbors. It is possible that they are just doing a mitzvah.

They have not proven to be a trustworthy nor an honorable group based on their dealings with their neighbors, Arzei Darom and the Teaneck Township. Etz Chaim has an expensive new sanctuary to pray in, so why are they praying in CareOne on Sundays and Holidays? What do you think?

Please keep the conversation constructive and civil. Thank you.