Religions & Spirituality

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ — Singing Jewish hymns is part of his very being, but Cantor Matt Axelrod of Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains had never done it in a TV miniseries before.

Axelrod lent his talents and authenticity to the successful HBO production of The Plot Against America, which is based on the best-selling novel by Philip Roth. It presents an alternate ...

“People have been really positive. I feel Westfield famous,” the bride said.

WESTFIELD, NJ — With the hopes of giving friends and family something to focus on other than the coronavirus pandemic, Westfield residents Michelle Tugentman and Dan Salerno married in the Maplewood home of Tugentman’s parents on Saturday. 

Guests watched via the ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Houses of worship from across the town will join together in prayer during a virtual service intended to sooth emotions during the COVID-19 crisis.

Community members are invited to the prayer service to be held on the online platform Zoom at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Participants are being asked to register in advance. Click here to register.

“Our hope is that ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Father Michael Saporito of will be stepping down from his role as Pastor of St. Helen’s Church of Westfield as he moves on to serve as a Regional Bishop for the Archdiocese of Newark, which encompasses Bergen, Hudson, Essex and Union counties.

Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark announced the new appointment last month. The Bishop-Elect will have ...

WESTFIELD, NJ – It wasn’t quite how he’d planned it.

On Saturday, with his synagogue closed due to the coronavirus, COVID-19 pandemic, Ethan Selvers streamed his bar mitzvah to about 80 families live from his house in Westfield. It was the first time Temple Emanu-El ever held virtual bar mitzvah.

“We were aware that Ethan’s bar mitzvah could have been impacted ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — A commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. held Monday served as a call to action supporting racial justice.

Escorted by police, about 65 people marched through the downtown singing “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me ’Round” prior to the 33rd annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Interfaith Commemoration Service, which over 200 people ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. an Interfaith Commemorative Service will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 20, at the Presbyterian Church of Westfield, 140 Mountain Ave., following a March from the Dr. King Monument at the South Avenue circle, organizers said.

People planning to march should arrive at the monument at 12:15 p.m., the announcement said.

WESTFIELD, NJ — Firefighter Tom Bottini had an unusual, albeit important, assignment.

Perched atop a fire ladder truck that might typically position a hose above a burning building, the firefighter instead delivered chocolate coins — known as Hanukkah gelt — to some 200 people gathered for a menorah lighting at the Westfield Train Station Sunday night, the first night of the ...

WESTFIELD, NJ — Decorated saris, twinkling lights and the sounds of upbeat Indian songs marked the occasion the first-ever Westfield Community Diwali party held earlier this month. More than 300 Westfield residents gathered at the JCC in Scotch Plains, bringing various cultures, ethnicities and families together to celebrate the Festival of Lights.

Guests initiated the celebrations ...