RABBI SHMUEL POLIN
In 2025, Rabbi Shmuel Polin was selected for the 2025–2026 cohort of Stephen Wise Free Synagogue’s Amplify Israel Fellowship, which helps emerging Rabbis across the United States develop their voices as congregational leaders and advocates for Israel. The fellowship provided seed funding to launch a speaker series and upgrade the congregation’s streaming service. The 2026–2027 pilot year laid the groundwork for new partnerships.
In 2026–2027, Rabbi Polin worked with the Jewish Federation of the Heart of New Jersey, Jewish National Fund, and neighboring congregations to bring speakers including Alon Ben-Gurion, Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib, and Liz Hirsh Naftali to the community. In the years ahead, his community will build on these relationships to co-host more events and create new opportunities for learning and conversation.
AMPLIFY ISRAEL
GUEST SPEAKERS
LIZ HIRSH NAFTALI
On October 9, 2025, Rabbi Shmuel Polin organized a community-wide memorial service at Congregation Etz Chaim–Monroe Township Jewish Center to remember those killed in the October 7, 2023, attacks. The service was held in partnership with Congregation Beth Ohr and co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation in the Heart of New Jersey.
He was honored to welcome Liz Hirsh Naftali, whose family was forever changed by the attacks. Her relatives, Smadar and Roee Edan, were killed by Hamas terrorists at Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Their three-year-old daughter, Abigail, was in her father’s arms when he was fatally shot. She was taken hostage that day.
In the weeks after the attacks, Naftali became a tireless advocate for Abigail’s release, sharing her story with world leaders and urging them to help bring her home.