by Lori Silberman Brauner
NJJN Staff

June 23, 2009

By a vast majority, members of two Monmouth County Conservative congregations have voted to merge “into one.”

Temple Beth Torah in Ocean and Temple Beth El in Oakhurst polled their congregants June 7 at both synagogues. The results, tabulated by the Monmouth County Clerk’s office, approved the move, by 82 percent at Beth Torah and 71 percent at Beth El, according to outgoing Beth Torah president Michael Friedman of Howell.

The official merger is scheduled to take place next summer.

“Now we’re moving forward to put ourselves together into one,” said Beth El president Maddy Cohen of Wayside. “It’s going to be day by day, step by step.”

The approved merger comes at a time when Conservative and Reform synagogue consolidations have become more common. In Monmouth County, Temple Beth El merged in 2002 with Temple B’nai Sholom of Long Branch, and in 2008 Conservative Congregation Ahavat Achim/Jewish Community Center of Howell and Congregation Ahavat Shalom of Lakewood became Congregation Ahavat Olam, located in Howell.

Several attempts had been made in the last three decades — both before and after the 2002 merger — to bring the two congregations together, Cohen said, adding that the “right people” are now in place to make that happen. “The stars and the moon and everything were in alignment,” she said.

“Conservative Judaism as a whole is shrinking and losing members to the Reform and Modern Orthodox” movements, Cohen said. “When you see no growth, you have to do something about it.”

It was “illogical,” Cohen said, for the two synagogues “not to be together.”

“This will most certainly strengthen all of our efforts in terms of fund-raising and social action,” she said.

While the steering committee and various subcommittees and focus groups continue to meet through the summer, one of the next steps will be for congregants to cast another ballot, via postcard, for four proposed names of the new synagogue. The four under consideration are Congregation Bet Chaverim (House of Friends), Congregation Shirat Hayam (Song of the Sea), Hatikva, and Beit Emet (House of Truth), Cohen said.

Beth Torah’s membership is about 390 family units, Friedman said; Beth El’s is closer to 300, with about 50 associate members, Cohen said.

Once the town approves proposed architectural designs, plans call for a renovation and expansion at Beth Torah beginning next summer. While renovations take place, the Beth El site will house the merged congregation, said Friedman, who is continuing to serve as chair of the unification steering committee.

Smooth and congenial

The synagogues have already begun planning joint events through their sisterhoods and men’s clubs, such as a golf outing in October, Friedman said. A joint calendar is also in the works, Cohen said, that will include the name of the new synagogue and serve as a fund-raiser. Beth Torah’s Hazak group for ages 55-plus will also be incorporated into the unified shul.

This September the two religious schools will also merge into one at Beth Torah’s site, a logical step, said Cohen, since Beth Torah had 100 students and Beth El only had 27.

As the contracts of the rabbis of both synagogues, Michael Goldstein of Beth Torah and Gordon Yaffe at Beth El, expire on July 31, 2010, a search committee will be formed this summer to begin the process of selecting the religious leader of the unified congregation. Friedman said that the two rabbis, along with other candidates, may apply for the position; the search process is being carried out in accordance with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism guidelines.

Cantor Bruce Siegel of Beth Torah has a contract that expires July 31, 2012; Cantor Marcia Lane’s contract with Beth El ends next summer. Each contract will be honored by the unified congregation. The committee also anticipates that Pam Cardullo, executive director of Beth Torah, will remain as executive director of the new congregation.

As for ritual objects from both temples, Friedman said that “nothing of any ritual or emotional significance will be lost,” such as Beth El’s stained glass windows.

After the vote took place, a pre-arranged “meet and greet” celebration with champagne and refreshments took place at Beth El. The unification agreement was signed that night.

Friedman said the leaders of the two synagogues are working hard to make the transition as smooth and as congenial as possible. “There’s a lot of hard work to be done.”

Cohen agreed. “We want to get rid of the ‘them or us’ thing as soon as possible,” she said.

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