Neighboring temple completes ‘journey to a new beginning’

The combined choirs of Temple Beth Am and Temple Beth Abraham sing “Light one Candle,” accompanied by Aaron Barcelo. (Michelle Stark photo)

This past Sunday, May 21, marked an emotional and historic milestone for two area Jewish congregations as Temple Beth Abraham in Canton formally welcomed the members of Temple Beth Am in Randolph to its synagogue on Washington Street.

Although not yet a formal merger, the relocation of the Randolph temple was made official around 4 p.m. with a motorcade procession of the congregation’s Torah scrolls to their new home in Canton followed by a joint service and reception at Temple Beth Abraham.

Aptly titled “A Glimpse of Genesis … Journey to a New Beginning,” the service featured Torah talks (D’Var Torah) by both rabbis — Temple Beth Abraham’s Navah Levine and Temple Beth Am’s David Grossman — as well as remarks by various temple leaders and music by the combined temple choirs. Earlier that afternoon, members of Temple Beth Am gathered for one last time in Randolph to bid farewell to the building that publicity director Linda Leland said has been like a “second home” to them for generations, a “sacred space where every imaginable life event — baby namings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, and funerals — has been held.”

“It was a little bittersweet saying goodbye to a temple and a building we’ve been in for [decades],” acknowledged Temple Beth Am President Marc Silver. “It’s hard to leave all of those memories behind, but at the same time we’re excited to move in and start a new chapter in our temple history.”

Silver said the decision to sell their building on North Main Street was a lengthy process, based on careful consideration and many conversations with other temples over the past number of years. With the demographics in Randolph shifting and few young Jewish families moving into town — and membership aging and dwindling accordingly — the temple concluded that it was just not feasible to remain in place.

“Our temple was built to sustain 600 families and we’re now down to around 200 families,” said Silver. “From a financial and logistical standpoint, it didn’t make sense to stay in a building that big.”

After having exploratory talks with Temple Beth Abraham a little over a year ago, the temple leadership determined that there was a quite a bit of synergy between the two congregations and things progressed fairly quickly from there, said Silver.

Already, the two temples have participated in several services together, and it has been an enriching and energizing experience, according to members of both congregations.

“We are both Conservative temples,” explained Rabbi Grossman. “We have similar rituals and values, and we have successfully collaborated already on several services and programs.”

Grossman said the plan over the next year is to assess the feasibility of a full merger with the goal of forming a “new and united entity.”

“Long-term,” he said, “we hope to emerge from this transition stronger, more vibrant, and able to attract more young families who value their Jewish identity.”

Rabbi Levine, for her part, feels that the joining of the two temples and discussion of a possible merger is a “wonderful thing.”

“I think it’s a wonderful move for both communities,” she said. “Both are filled with lively people and have overlapping strengths and different strengths, and together I just have this feeling that beautiful things can happen.”

Levine said she “absolutely” believes that the two temples will be stronger together and described the mood at Temple Beth Abraham as one of positivity and excitement. “What I’ve been hearing over and over again is a sense of optimism,” she said.

At the same time, Rabbi Levine said she recognizes how hard it must be to leave a “cherished home,” and Rabbi Grossman acknowledged that members of his congregation are still grieving this loss yet hopeful for what the future might hold.

Such was the atmosphere at a remembrance service held earlier this month at Temple Beth Am — an event attended by over 200 guests, including present and former clergy and members as well as town dignitaries.

Leland said the service was marked by “loving memories, some sadness at the prospect of leaving the sacred space that has been the congregational home for over 60 years, but also a sense of hope for good things in the future.”

Randolph Council President Ken Clifton read a proclamation at the service naming May 6, 2017 as Temple Beth Am Day, and an assortment of speakers recounted fond memories of the temple and what it has meant to the Randolph community.

The evening service also included a gourmet dinner and an emotional music program presented by Jewish folk singer Sue Horowitz, accompanied by percussionist Mitch Gordon.

“Songs such as ‘Time to Remember’ and ‘Those Were the Days My Friend’ had everyone in tears and laughter,” recalled Leland. “The evening culminated in a group rendition of Havdalah, the service that separates the Sabbath from the rest of the week. All present held a light and each other and sang the prayer that marked the end of time here in Randolph and the beginning of a new journey.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on May 26 2017. Filed under News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.