Or Chadash, a Reform Temple serving Hunterdon, Warren, and Somerset Counties is a vibrant and growing Jewish congregation. Our mission is multi-fold. As a synagogue, we hope to provide a warm and nurturing environment for everyone who walks through our doors. As an educational institution, it is our aim to provide our children with the background necessary to develop a love and enthusiasm for Judaism so that Jewish values might guide and enrich their paths through life.

Our highest goal is that Or Chadash becomes a place of meaningful experiences that are cherished and carried on wherever each and every one of us may go. Spiritual depth, excellent religious school, adult education, compassionate mitzvah and social action committees, an active sisterhood, a full schedule of social events, programs and much more are here.

Or Chadash, the Reform Temple of Hunterdon County, is a growing congregation whose mission is to:

• Integrate traditional values and customs with the needs of contemporary life
• Promote life-long Jewish learning through a vibrant religious education program for our children and inspiring opportunities for adults
• Be an active participant in the ongoing well being of the community
• Be open and inclusive to people of all prior involvement with Judaism
• Provide a caring network to the Jewish community, celebrating each other's joys and being supportive in time of need.

The seeds for forming Or Chadash planted in the summer of 1987. Rabbi Daniel Freelander, Director of the New Jersey-West Hudson Valley Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), thought that with the completion of Route 78, the Jewish population would soon grow in the Hunterdon County area. He telephoned the mayor of Clinton, Bob Nulman, to question whether there were enough Jewish people to organize a Reform congregation.

The first organizational meeting, held at the Clinton Town Hall, included Bob Nulman, Eric Kulp, Salena Kern, Al Berkelhammer, and Glenn Kessler. High Holy Day services, led by a student rabbi, were held at the Clinton Community Center. Arnold Sleutelberg, also a student rabbi, led services periodically throughout that first year while staying with the Breines family. A temporary home was found at the Allerton United Methodist Church. Their pastor, Steve Court, was gracious and welcoming.

The following year, Central Synagogue of New York City supported us by sending gifted clergy to conduct services. Rabbi Michael Farhi was engaged as the Temple's first ordained rabbi for our third season. Rabbi Richard F. Steinbrink then took over leadership. Amy Kessler headed the committee that organized the Religious School. For ten years, the congregation became stronger through the dedicated efforts of a growing number of members. By the time that Rabbi Steinbrink retired, the congregation was flourishing, and the foundation had been established to enable the construction of a synagogue and temple facility.

In the summer of 2000, the temple was completed and Rabbi Eric Siroka joined Or Chadash as full-time Rabbi. Shortly thereafter we were able to celebrate the High Holy Days in our new home for the first time. In the summer of 2006, we welcomed our current Rabbi, Joseph M. Forman. In 2008, we celebrated the 20th year of Or Chadash with a newly renovated building.