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Putting Springfield, New Jersey, on the Map: Ben Hoffer

JL;DR SUMMARY Ben Hoffer and Rabbi Chaim Marcus have been instrumental in revitalizing the Jewish community of Springfield, New Jersey, transforming it from an aging congregation into a bustling community with vibrant youth activities and an increasing number of families moving in. A way out west there was a fella, fella I want to tell you about, fella by the name of Jeff Lebowski. At least, that was the handle his lovin' parents gave him, but he never had much use for it himself. This Lebowski, he called himself the Dude. Now, Dude, that's a name no one would self-apply where I come from. But then, there was a lot about the Dude that didn't make a whole lot of sense to me. And a lot about where he lived, likewise. But then again, maybe that's why I found the place s'durned innarestin'.

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Tags

Jewish CommunityJewish FederationOrthodox UnionCommunity BuildingSpringfieldYouth ActivitiesBen HofferRabbi Chaim MarcusCongregation Israel

Places mentioned

Springfield, New Jersey, United States
"Ben and Daniella Hoffer are pillars of the Springfield, New Jersey, community."
Bayonne, New Jersey, United States
"Hoffers parents, David and Emmy, ah, left Bayonne for Springfield in the 1980s when Ben was eight."
Teaneck, New Jersey, United States
"He married Daniella, and even as a young couple living in Teaneck, the two were enthusiastic ambassadors for Springfield."
Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States
"A new mikveh opened in 2007, and schools are just fifteen minutes away in nearby Elizabeth and Livingston."
Livingston, New Jersey, United States
"A new mikveh opened in 2007, and schools are just fifteen minutes away in nearby Elizabeth and Livingston."
New York City, New York, United States
"Located so close to New York City, Springfieldknown for its warmth and friendlinessis often referred to as an out-of-town community thirty-five minutes from Manhattan."
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Retrieved 2025-09-16 05:31:06 UTC
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