Merge ahead, watch for changes

Since its founding in 1947, New Jersey Jewish News has played a powerful unifying role for its community of readers. In 1997, that role, and that community, expanded when NJJN began publishing a second weekly edition for readers affiliated with the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey.

Now, with the merger of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ and the Jewish Federation of Central NJ, NJJN is once again ready to serve the Greater MetroWest community that will emerge.

After the Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ launches on July 1, NJJN will reflect the shape of the newly formed community, beginning with the July 5 issue.

Until now, the Central and MetroWest editions of the NJJN had distinct articles in the State & Local sections, Central’s focusing primarily on Union County, MetroWest’s encompassing Essex and Morris counties and parts of Sussex and northern Union County. Statewide news appeared in both editions.

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Next week, news from both areas will be included in the State & Local section, and in every part of the paper where members of our community are making news. The newspaper will continue to publish our award-winning opinion-writing, world news, and culture reporting. Our website, www.njjewishnews.com, will continue to feature all the communities we serve, including Middlesex and Monmouth counties and the Princeton area.

We think you’ll enjoy getting to know your neighbors. The Central region includes some two dozen synagogues, the JCC of Central New Jersey, and the YM-YWHA of Union County, as well as a network of federation-affiliated social service and educational agencies. The Orthodox schools and synagogues of Elizabeth form an active community in their own right.

The area served by the MetroWest edition of NJJN is much larger. It too includes a network of federation-partnership agencies. Some 70 synagogues are located in the region; JCC MetroWest’s Cooperman JCC in West Orange and the Aidekman campus in Whippany — home to the federation and other agencies, as well as NJJN — are major community hubs.

You’ll also read about exciting partnerships in Israel undertaken by each federation.

NJJN has always prided itself on being a central forum in a state that often lacks one, and in which “home rule” and a patchwork of municipalities can sometimes undermine a sense of common cause. Like the merged federations themselves, we are excited about serving a wider and stronger kehilla. From Clark to Caldwell, Westfield to West Orange, Scotch Plains to Short Hills, we look forward to introducing one community to another, and reinforcing the spirit of unity and cooperation that is at the heart of the merger.