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While the demographics of northern Middlesex County evolve, Rabbi Gerald Zelizer continues to oversee the transformation of synagogue life at Congregation Neve Shalom of Metuchen, now for four decades and counting.

Neve Shalom celebrated Zelizer's 40 years as rabbi at its annual dinner May 16, and also honored oral surgeon Dr. Michael Kleiman, a member of the synagogue since the 1980s. A former president of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly, Zelizer, 71, said he planned to retire on several occasions, but each time Neve Shalom asked him to stay.

With the backdrop of the area's declining Jewish population, reflected in Neve Shalom's mergers with Congregation Ohev Shalom of Colonia and Congregation Adath Israel of Woodbridge, "we are holding our own, which in the context of the demographics is wonderful," Zelizer said. Local synagogues aren't growing, he said, but Neve Shalom can take pride in an increasingly active membership, with more than 125 people studying in classes and more congregants taking ownership of services.

"My greatest satisfaction is that I've designed religious services where lay people are encouraged to participate to the max, reading Torah, leading a service, even teaching -- contrasted with myself -- so that I've raised students who are comfortable to do that in the religious services, whereas when I came here it was only the professionals," Zelizer told The Jewish State.

A fourth-generation rabbi born in Columbus, Ohio, Zelizer led Congregation Beth El in Buenos Aires, Argentina, from 1964-66 and Temple Israel in Union from 1966-69 before joining Neve Shalom. In 1980, Zelizer established the Jewish Family Service of Middlesex County, and in 1999 he was appointed to the Coalition of Religious Leaders of New Jersey, which crafts public positions on social issues and meets with New Jersey's governor and U.S. senators on matters of public policy. Zelizer has also served as instructor of homiletics to the senior classes of JTS since 2005.

Zelizer said Neve Shalom's mergers were with "two very different synagogue cultures, what they expected of the rabbis, the nature of their services, so frankly I worked very hard to mesh those two cultures and it has been seamless." Regarding synagogue education, he said "I didn't just want it to be for kids, I wanted it to be for adults, and that has happened, I'm very satisfied."

Comparing Neve Shalom to the Tabernacle, built with the vision of Aaron and Moses, and the First Temple, built by King Solomon, Zelizer told the crowd that much like the builders of those houses of worship could not have completed their tasks without the hard labor put in by Jewish people, he accepts "that this shul has been driven for 40 years by my vision" but emphasized he has "had the critical assistance of lots of laity" and staff.

Rabbi William Lebeau, former dean of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), said Zelizer's rabbinical qualities of being a good listener and communicator, and having an understanding heart, good common sense, reverence for God, and joy for community life, have made him "one of the most respected leaders of the Conservative movement."

Lebeau, who grew up with what he called a secular family in Akron, Ohio, credited Zelizer with convincing him to take Judaism seriously. The pair of friends went on to visit as many synagogues as possible around Ohio with United Synagogue Youth (USY) chapters, Lebeau recalled, and Zelizer went on to become USY's international president. They were also roommates in rabbinical school at JTS.

"We met in our teens; we've been friends ever since," Lebeau said.

Of a different relationship -- Zelizer's with Neve Shalom -- Lebeau joked that "It's beginning to sound as if this is maybe something serious." With unconditional love in times of adversity and joy, "Gerry has taken our burden upon his own shoulders," Lebeau said. Julius Feinson, a past president of Neve Shalom, said that over the 35 years he has known Zelizer, the rabbi has changed Feinson's name so many times that people who have known him for years aren't sure what to call him anymore, but in honor of Zelizer's milestone, he is agreeing to call himself "Jules."

"The rabbi has called me his friend and I've called him my friend," Feinson said.

Jennifer Bullock, chair of the dinner, said that due to Zelizer's grace and care from the pulpit, he has "watched generations of children grow up and go on to become dedicated Jews."

Kleiman, the evening's other honoree, has served as president of the medical and dental staff of JFK Medical Center in Edison and chairman of the center's board of directors, and chairman of the board of directors of Solaris Health System. His son Matthew said that he never felt the effect of his father's long hours as a child because "to us, when it counted he was always there" for Little League, Cub Scouts, and other activities.

"It was not until we were both adults, with our own careers, that we truly grew to understand what a special person he is," Matthew said.

Dr. Richard Bullock listed all of Kleiman's leadership positions, including being the president of his USY chapter, high school class, college fraternity, and various medical centers and associations.

"Maybe you want to be president of Neve Shalom?" Bullock asked Kleiman.

Bullock said Kleiman also exemplifies the concept of tikkun olam in Pirkei Avot, which states that "You are not required to complete the work, yet you are not allowed to desist from it."

"Michael, in every way, you are fulfilling that requirement," Bullock said.

Kleiman said he has been singled out before in synagogue for events such as his bar mitzvah and marriage, but "this is different than anything I've really experienced before."

Zelizer recalled the other times Neve Shalom honored him, at 10 and 25 years into his tenure as rabbi. At 10 years, he said his mother, father, and son Julian were there. At 25 years, his father, father's second wife, son, and daughter-in-law were there. Now, at 40 years, his son, daughter-in-law, and "two exciting grandkids" -- Sophia and Nathan, who came up to make the Hamotzi blessing over challah with Zelizer -- were present.

The rabbi ended his remarks with the Shehecheyanu blessing, which thanks God for new experiences on holidays and special occasions. "Thanks to the Almighty for keeping me in life so I could celebrate with you," Zelizer said.