Ira Kolmaister
More than 250 people attended the dedication ceremony of Shaare Tefila on Sept. 18, including (from left to right) Francis Berger, long-time Shaare Tefila member; John Branham, project manager for the work site; Robert Hammen, head of Hammen Contracting, the construction firm that built the new house of worship; project architect Don Mahoney, who traveled from his home in Nevada; and Judy Carroll, Shaare Tefila manager for the project, and her husband, Stuart Carroll, who is co-chairing the synagogue's Oct, 23 dinner/dance to continue the synagogue's celebration.
“My parents were there with me to see our building become a reality ... what a perfect dedication ceremony.”
That’s what Wendy Goldberg Abraham, soon to be former Relocation vice president of Shaare Tefila Congregation in Olney, describes in a joyful, extremely moving tone.
She’s grown up as the daughter of Roz and Lee Goldberg, long-time, active members of Shaare Tefila.
It was thought best to sell the Conservative synagogue’s house of worship in eastern Silver Spring in July 2006. Even before that, it was involved in long-term planning for the future. Nonetheless, just as the Jewish people wandered in the desert for 40 years, so has Shaare Tefila’s members done so, to over 70 different sites over the last five years. Their new home was built and at last occupied in mid-August. During those five years, they’ve met at many congregants’ homes in the area, at multiple elementary and secondary schools, the Olney Theatre, a Sandy Spring Bank building, a country club and even a church.
Wendy Abraham continued: “I grew up with Shaare Tefila, in its past Riggs Road and Lockwood Drive locations. Now after seven years of being involved with its planning and implementation to make it happen, each new milestone has been a moving experience for me. Now our ‘imagine’ and our ‘dream’ of having a new spiritual home finally has become our reality. I can truly say that it is a ‘miracle’ that we are finally in our new home.
“The most special, though, was the day I walked in the synagogue for Shaare Tefila’s first Friday night service (on September 2, called the “Dedication Shabbat”) with my parents and my husband. Because so many people (over 200) were there, religious services could not be held in the chapel, but instead in the main sanctuary! Being in the building, many people had tears in their eyes and truly felt that the ‘wandering’ was worth the wait.”
Other Shaare Tefila congregants share the same feelings, and cannot believe what they see, feeling simply exhilarated by the building and in particular, its sanctuary.
A common phrase, over and over, what a long-time member, Steve Franklin, used: “We finally are home.”
Susan Goldsamt, former editor (for 12 years) of the congregation’s newsletter and a member of its adult choir, said, “I’ve now attended the first three Sabbaths of prayer here. I’ve gone from being tearfully happy and almost overwhelmed to feeling at last that we’re finally home. The building’s so much more than we could have expected. It truly represents our Congregation — simple, functional and meaningful.”
Like Wendy Abraham, who considers those congregants who stuck with us while they were wandering “an exceptional group,” Susan Goldsamt also feels a greater cohesion in Shaare Tefila members. It’s what having a common goal, a new synagogue, has achieved.
“We’ve gone from being fellow congregants to being friends with one shared purpose,” she said. “I couldn’t have imagined any better outcome!”
Other Shaare Tefila members are overwhelmed by the freshness and spaciousness of their surroundings, and others by the bonding among those attending services.
On a warm yet practical note, President Bess Teller added, “Finally, we have a home! It’s one where we can have hot coffee! Kiddush ceremonies can be held with wine, not just grape juice. That hasn’t been possible for a while, because we’ve used schools for so long to hold Friday night/Sabbath or major holiday services. We even now have our own kitchen!”
The synagogue’s formal dedication program, this past Sunday afternoon [Sept. 18], truly crystallized these and related feelings. Wendy Abraham called it “a fantastic, meaningful, unbelievable event. ... From the carrying of our 10 Torahs by past congregation presidents under a Chuppah, to the procession into the building, to the dignitaries who attended [including Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, and the program’s keynote speaker, U.S. Sen. Benjamin Cardin, accompanied by his wife Myrna], to the speakers who set a tone for the event, the five visiting cantors and adult/children’s choirs, to the beautiful commemorative program, to the music in the social hall and the communal dancing, it could not have been any better. I know that we have dreamed the dream and imagined, but we are finally ‘home’ and it feels great.”
Patricia Greene, co-chair with Sherry Cohen of the dedication events planning committee, termed it “perfect” and that she, like others, “could not anticipate the incredible excitement from our community.”
Teller was “overcome by happiness throughout the event, and still the tears of joy kept coming.”
The filled room of past, present, long-time members of all ages and generations, and even recently joined ones to the congregation’s religious school were present. Cilla Grosberg, Membership Committee chair, was very proud of “the strength of our community, as all celebrated together, remembering the synagogue’s heritage and its legacies of the future.” She termed it a “once in a lifetime experience.”
To Cantor Wendi Fried, the dedication program ended in a perfect way: with all present singing the “Shehecheyanu” blessing (which thanks God for allowing all present to reach this season), standing and singing its words in unison. For her, it was “an incredible moment that truly consecrated this holy space together. That moment was incredibly spiritual and godly and really touched me.”
Shaare Tefila now looks forward to continuing its identity and traditions as a Conservative Jewish institution where men and women are treated equally, to maintaining its congregation, and even attracting new members (about 17 have joined in the last year).
The congregation will throw open its doors on Sunday, October 16 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) for an open house, inviting the greater Olney/Rockville community to see its religious, educational and preschool facilities, and hold a gala dinner/dance (black tie optional) on October 23.
Shaare Tefila Congregation is located at 16620 Georgia Ave., between Emory Lane and Emory Church Road, on the west side/service road of Georgia Avenue.
Milton Goldsamt is publicity coordinator for Shaare Tefila Congregation.
Tell us about your unique experience. Send it to Judith Hruz, editor of community engagement, at jhruz@gazette.net or call 301-670-2073.
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