Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex was founded in 1920 as the Jewish League of Caldwell by some 30 families who banded together in recognition of the need for a Jewish spiritual presence in the Caldwells. Among the founders were Harry Goodwin, Joseph Salper, Harry Krill, Jacob Lasser, Isaac Levy, William Stark and Joseph Bloom. Arrangements were made for the children to study in a small insurance office on Bloomfield Avenue where they were taught by a woman named Miss Harris. At the same time, a group of teens seeking the companionship of other Jewish young people joined together to form a social club known as the Amacites.

Through planning and determination these dedicated people secured a loan from a local bank, enabling them to purchase a piece of property on Washburn Place on March 13, 1922, on which they built a one room white stucco building, our first shul. Joseph Bloom served as president from 1923 to 1928. Dues were $6.00 a year. Services were conducted by Joseph Salper and rabbis from Newark were hired for the High Holy Days. Abraham Arbarbanel was principal/teacher for the religious school.

In 1934, Rabbi Goldman was hired and in 1939, his successor, Rabbi Morris R. Werb came to Caldwell with Helen, his bride of one year.

With more Jewish families moving into the area, additional space was soon needed. The children were attending the Consolidated Hebrew School in Bloomfield and transportation was difficult. For special functions and High Holy Day Services, it was necessary to rent the Women’s Club.

A donation of a parcel of land on Academy Road was the impetus for the authorization of an expenditure of $100,000 to be used for the building of a new synagogue. Ground breaking took place on April 8, 1951 and the new building was dedicated on April 20, 1952. However, by July of that year, it was apparent that still more room was needed to accommodate the growing religious school enrollment.

In November, 1955, the house and property adjacent to the synagogue on Academy Road was purchased and converted into a Hebrew School and meeting rooms. To help finance the purchase, the Washburn property was sold. Dedication ceremonies for the new Hebrew School took place on January 30, 1955, and the Sisterhood board approved establishment of the Nursery School in 1957.

Times were changing and as we matured into a more liberal congregation a new constitution was accepted in June, 1960, calling for a change of name to Congregation Agudath Israel of West Essex and granting to women the right to vote and to hold office.

1958 again saw a realization that we were outgrowing our space and when it became available, the opportunity was taken to purchase the corner property on Academy Road and Elizabeth Streets. A detailed census was undertaken in order to project the future needs of the congregation. Following this, a building committee was appointed in 1962 and in 1963 it was decided to bring an expansion project to fruition. Plans were drawn for a new sanctuary, social hall and kitchen to be built on this property and to connect with the existing facility. It was also decided to build a new Hebrew School which would connect all of our facilities with the existing school which would then be converted into offices for the rabbi and principal and additional nursery school classrooms.

Three committees were established: facilities; finance; and building. Their resultant plans were approved by the congregation in 1964 and in 1965 a fundraising campaign to raise $400,000 was undertaken and was subscribed by about 90%. However, mortgage money being difficult to obtain at that time, it was not until January, 1967, that a favorable mortgage was finally secured. Ground breaking ceremonies took place with much fanfare in the spring and on September 15, 1968, dedication of a new sanctuary, reception hall and Hebrew School took place. A Dedication Ball was held on September 21, 1968. Fulfillment of pledges by the membership made it possible to hold a "Mortgage Burning" Ball on October 21, 1978.

In 1979, Rabbi Werb retired after 40 years of dedicated service to our community and Rabbi Alan Silverstein was appointed to succeed him as our spiritual leader. With the appointment of Cantor Joel Caplan shortly after Rabbi Silverstein’s arrival and the subsequent hiring of Susan Werk as Educational Director we continue to enjoy and reap the benefits of having a brilliant and much loved professional staff. Over the years superb professionals have joined our exemplary staff including Executive Director Arthur Cohen, Nursery School Director Judy Tabs, Program Director Randi Brokman, and Elbaum Family Youth Director Gary Berger.

In the eighties we realized again that we were outgrowing our facility. A long range planning committee was appointed which served over several administrations and renovation and expansion plans began in earnest with the formation of the "Renovate in ‘88" campaign and the appointment of implementation and finance committees to oversee, plan and arrange for the renovation and expansion of our facility. As a first step, it was decided to refurbish the Werb Sanctuary. At the same time, unexpectedly, we found that our contiguous roofs needed major repairs and that the adjoining property at 30 Academy Road would became available to us for purchase. Without any delay, the repair of the roofs was undertaken and the decision was made to purchase the property. High Holidays, 1989, saw the beginnings of change with a renovated Sanctuary, affording us optimal lighting, an improved speaker system, a new ceiling and walls. In the spring of 1990 a mortgage was secured and building was begun in earnest for a major renovation and expansion which would include a new Hebrew School wing, expanded offices and meeting rooms, new kitchens, a new chapel, and significantly, a hallway or "spine" which for the first time would allow us open access to each part of the facility. Formal groundbreaking ceremonies took place in the fall. On June 9, 1991, we celebrated with a re-dedication Dinner Dance and formal dedication of the expanded and renovated facility was held on June 16, 1991.

In the year 2000, we celebrated our 80th anniversary. We continue to grow and prosper and, yet again, we have outgrown our physical plant. The L’Chaim Campaign has raised and continues to raise funds for an enlarged sanctuary enabling the congregation to pray together under one roof, on most Shabbatot and holidays. The Nursery School will become a modern new facility and Religious School classrooms will also be improved. A new addition to our facilities will be an Adult Programming wing, which will include a library, beit midrash study center and multi-media equipment. These additions will allow us to fulfill the expansion of our premises for the future in this, the second millenium of the Common Era.

The congregation has truly gone m'chayil l'chayil, from strength to strength.