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The East Brunswick Jewish Center was honored with three Norman Glikin Awards, at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism's biennial convention at B'nai Shalom in West Orange Nov. 16.

The EBJC received awards for ritual and worship; the Shalom Shabbat series, for membership development; the Golden Awards program, for adult education; and for the Haimeshe Cooks series.

The creators and organizers of the Shalom Shabbat and Golden Awards programs are Cathy Mermelstein and co-President Amy Schonfeld. Mermelstein also was the driving force behind the Haimeshe Cooks series.

"The congregation was looking for a way to explore Jewish values and these programs have answered that need," Mermelstein said.

Mermelstein said the Shalom Shabbat Series is a Shabbat where there is a theme that is expanded through d'var Torah, a Kiddush luncheon, and an activity.

She said the first Shalom Shabbat was based on the book the "Spirituality of Welcoming," by Ron Wolfson.

"It was an attempt to make the synagogue more welcoming and spiritual," Mermelstein.

The first Shalom Shabbat took place on Aug. 4, 2007 and since then it has taken place every other month, Mermelstein said.

She said some of the Shabbats were: Tu b'Shevat Shabbat, which was about the dedication of trees; the Freilich Shabbat, the theme of which was the joy of celebrating Shabbat and which featured an a capella group; a Sephardic Shabbat; and an upcoming Hanukkah Shabbat, which is dedicated to children.

"We used that time to teach the congregation on how to integrate the new rabbi," Mermelstein said. "I think the congregation has looked forward to these special programs."

The Haimeshe Cooks series debuted in January, Mermelstein said.

"It is a series of cooking demonstrations," she said, when someone from the congregation who's known as a great cook prepares their signature dish.

"It's a chance for people to get to know each other in the intimate setting of a kitchen," she said.

The cooking series occurs once a month and there is a different type of food cooked each time, she said.

There was also a men-only cooking class on grilling, she said.

"I knew there were a tremendous number of people who were cooks," she said. "People like to get together in the warm environment of a kitchen."

The members of the EBJC have embraced the Haimeshe Cooks series because it allows people to bond and eat all different types if food, she said.

"I think in a large synagogue, it's great to get together in small groups to meet new people and learn about them," Mermelstein said.

The Golden Awards program, which is dedicated to the shul's hardworking volunteers, began the same day as the Shalom Shabbat series, Mermelstein said.

"We thought there were members that made significant contributions to the temple that no one knew about," she said.

Some of the Golden Awards that have been given out are the Rugelach Award, which was dedicate to two women who purchased and set up the Kiddush luncheon on Shabbos for years; the Garden Thumb award for people who did volunteer gardening at the shul; and others.

Mermelstein said the Golden Awards program has been very important to the temple's membership.

"It's a good feeling to be part of our community, where people are appreciated," she said. "It has transformed us into an energized and happening place."

Mermelstein said she wasn't surprised the EBJC won awards, but that they won awards in all three categories that they applied for.

"I think the response from the congregation has been extremely positive and people have really enjoyed the programs," Mermelstein said. "It's all a reflection of an energized community, where new ideas are moving the community forward."

Schonfeld said the Shalom Shabbat series changed Shabbat from an average Shabbat to an uplifting exciting Shabbos.

"It also helped us into a synagogue that has been undergoing a big transition," she said. "It allowed us to address the bigger issues that we face, including how to become a more welcoming community."

The Shalom Shabbat series has improved attendance on Shabbat, she said.

"It's just engaged people more with what's going on in the synagogue," Schonfeld said.

Schonfeld said the Golden Awards program was started so the temple could honor and recognize members who have been working hard for the shul, but haven't received the attention that they deserve.

"We honored the 'mitzvah corps,' who raise funds for Israel by having wine sales, so we gave them the Golden Goblet Award," Schonfeld said. "The recipients really appreciate it [and] the whole congregation feels better about themselves by paying tribute to people who deserve attention. Really the synagogue relies on these unsung heroes to keep us going and to make us better."

Schonfeld said the three programs have increased membership a great deal as well.

"We had lost members, we then hit a plateau, and more recently we've seen in an increase in new members, especially new families, and what's even as exciting is we've seen people who left the synagogue in the last five years come back," Schonfeld said. "When you come to Kiddush now, there's a palpable change in the atmosphere."