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Reminder Assistant Editor LONGMEADOW Something that is bittersweet brings about pleasure tinged with sadness or pain. The farewell dinner at B'nai Jacob on Sept. 14 was described by many temple members as a bittersweet evening, as the synagogue will be closing its doors after its merger with Temple Beth El in Springfield is complete. Congregation B'nai Jacob, originally known as the Sons of Jacob Association of Springfield, received its charter on June 10, 1891. The congregation purchased various pieces of land in Springfield during its first few decades of existence, looking to expand its size as its number of members grew. At the beginning of the 20th century, the Jewish community was centered in the north end of Springfield, but then started to shift to the Forest Park area and Longmeadow, according to a history of the congregation provided by Howard Smithline. By the 1950s, B'nai Jacob was suffering from declining membership and decided to follow the population and move. Groundbreaking of the Longmeadow location on Eunice Drive, off of Converse Street, took place on April 3, 1960, with the official dedication taking place on June 14, 1963. Declining membership is what has caused the congregation to move again. "The two congregations voted in favor of the merger," Candy Kahan, co-chair of the Tribute Committee, said. "We had smaller congregations and higher expenses. That's the story everywhere, not just in the Jewish community." The decision to merge B'nai Jacob and Temple Beth El, located on Dickinson Street, took the better part of a year, according to Kahan. She is optimistic about the future, however. Kahan said the merger will allow the congregations to have a larger base, providing better programming, particularly for children, and cut costs by using only one building. "We're downsizing in some ways, maximizing in others," she stated. "This allows us to survive," David Porter, a 21-year congregant, said. "We're not just physically close ... I know more people there [at Temple Beth El] than I do here. The merger will keep conservative Judaism in Springfield alive." Rabbi Amy Katz, the newest rabbi at Temple Beth El, said there is something very sad about congregations merging, but that's she glad to see the community being proactive in meeting the changing demographics of the region. "Western Massachusetts has a vibrant community for Jewish life, and I'm glad to be a part of it," Katz noted. Many others shared the opinion that the merging was something bittersweet. "It's sad but it's an opportunity," Rhoda Peskin stated. "I'm going to miss it [here] very, very much," Ida Balit, a 48-year member, said. "But I'm very happy to be with Beth El." Joe Lieberman, who has been a member of B'nai Jacob for 85 years, said every memory he has of the congregation is a good one. "I'm not a stranger to Beth El," Lieberman said, "but my heritage is here. I was born into this synagogue." "It's been a tough year, but remember -- we are celebrating something that's important to each and every one of us," Lynne Goldberg, president of B'nai Jacob, told the congregation. The merger wasn't the only thing being recognized at the farewell dinner, however. Rabbi Marc Rudolf, who became a rabbi during his time at B'nai Jacob, was an honored guest during the evening. He recently took a new position in Naperville, Ill. Affiliated with B'nai Jacob for 11 years, Rudolf served as rabbi there for four years. "This congregation is responsible for my becoming a rabbi," he said. "I was asked to fill in at one point and give spiritual leadership during my time as cantor. Five years of rabbinical school is quite a commitment, and the support of the congregation was important." Rudolf also described the merger as "a bittersweet moment for the congregation." The last service to take place at B'nai Jacob will be a bat mitzvah on Sept. 27. After that, the building will be sold to the Orthodox Alliance, a group made up of three local Orthodox congregations. "Everything has a lifetime," Rudolf told the congregation. "It is our time to end." | ||||||
