TEANECK, N.J. — Congregation Beth Aaron formally welcomed Rabbi Etan Schnall as its new rabbi this past Shabbos, bringing together members for a celebration of Torah, unity and the beginning of a new chapter for the Teaneck kehillah.

The Shabbos Hachtara, held Aug. 8, featured a special kiddush following davening in the Main Shul, sponsored by the membership of Beth Aaron. Congregants gathered together to officially welcome Rabbi Schnall, his wife, Dr. Rebecca, and their family to the community.

Rabbi Schnall also delivered a shiur between Mincha and Maariv titled “The First Shiur Every Rabbi Must Give.”

The celebration marked the formal beginning of Rabbi Schnall’s tenure following the 24-year leadership of Rabbi Larry Rothwachs, who recently relocated to Israel with his wife, Chaviva.

In a message to the congregation earlier in the week, Schnall expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to join Beth Aaron and paid tribute to the legacy of his predecessor.

“It is with profound gratitude to Hashem and great excitement that I write to you today as we embark together on the next stage in the history of Beth Aaron,” Schnall wrote.

He described the Rothwachs legacy as one that “will endure and continue to inspire all of us,” adding that the couple would remain role models and exemplars for the community as Beth Aaron looks toward the future.

Schnall also expressed appreciation for the warm welcome he and Rebecca received from the congregation, including calls, messages, invitations and offers of assistance.

“We are thrilled to make our family part of your family,” he wrote.

The Hachtara gave Beth Aaron members an opportunity to celebrate the transition together, with the special kiddush serving as a moment of community-wide unity as the congregation welcomed its new rabbi.

Schnall is also expanding his Torah offerings for the community. He plans to periodically share recordings of shiurim given at Beth Aaron through WhatsApp, including brief Parsha thoughts, D'var Halacha and other Torah classes. His existing shiurim are also available through YUTorah.

Additional programming began this week, with Schnall scheduled to give a Halacha shiur after Mincha/Maariv on Monday, Aug. 10, titled “Bank Interest on Two-Day Yom Tov.”

The Shabbos Hachtara offered a fitting start to the next chapter, bringing the kehillah together to welcome Rabbi Schnall and his family with Torah, warmth and a strong sense of community.