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United Orthodox Tomchei Tmimim Synagogue, whose services were supported almost entirely by yeshiva students from Brooklyn in recent years, will close its doors in Plainfield following a final Shabbat morning minyan on May 29.

Richard Marks, president of the 138-year-old synagogue, informed friends and fellow congregants in a May 11 letter that Tomchei Tmimim, Plainfield's last remaining shul, will close "due to our economic situation and declining attendance."

Plainfield's demographic changes over the years, including a dramatic increase in Hispanic and black residents, meant that there were "hardly any Jews left" and that the shul had only a handful of members, said Dov Baron, an administrator at Central Yeshiva Tomchei Tmimim in Brooklyn, the Chabad-Lubavitch Hassidic school that sent its students to Plainfield for Shabbat.

The yeshiva has sent students, mostly around 20 years old, to ensure a Shabbat minyan at the shul and study Torah with community members for close to 10 years, Baron said. Since there are still a "a few Jews left" in Plainfield, the yeshiva will still send students to the synagogue site from time to time, "but not on a weekly basis" anymore, he said.

"It's remarkable how they persevered and stayed open, I think that's something they should be proud of," Baron told The Jewish State.

Plainfield's Jewish population began to decline after the Plainfield race riots in July 1967, which represented the second-largest race riots in state history after Newark's the same year. More than 100 people were arrested after riots due to a fight in the city's black district, and John Gleason, a white police officer, was stomped and shot by an angry mob after he shot Bobby Lee Williams, a young black man. Looters raided a nearby munitions factory the same night. After the National Guard was called in, state officials negotiated with rioters, leading to a truce on July 18.

Marks, who declined to be interviewed for this story when reached by The Jewish State, informed congregants in his letter of the shul's final minyans on Shabbat, May 15, Shavuot, May 19 and 20, and this Shabbat, May 29. He thanked the yeshiva for sending its student volunteers as well as community members who made "generous contributions that enabled us to keep our doors open as long as we have" and "enabled us to conduct a minyan every week on Shabbos and on High Holidays."

"We have tried our best, but we are forced by reality to close our doors," Marks wrote.

Marks described that the shul's longevity was a source of emotional hardship, but also a source of pride.

"This was the shul of our parents and grandparents and it is difficult to see their dreams fade into history," he wrote. "However, I am sure that [our parents and grandparents] have had nachas from the great efforts we all have dedicated to keeping out shul open for such a long time, despite the constant struggles we faced."