Brattleboro Reformer Article
Monday, August 21
BRATTLEBORO—For the first time in its 35-year history, the Brattleboro Area Jewish Community has its own space.
The growing congregation moved from the West Village Meeting House,
where it rented space for more than two decades, to a renovated
farmhouse at 151 Greenleaf St.
The 35 children who attend Hebrew school can now decorate
their classroom. The Holy Ark has a permanent place in the meeting
room, and doesn't have to be disassembled and hauled in whenever
services are held. Prayer books line the shelves of a book case.
"This is
the first time we have place to put our prayer books that isn't on a rolling cart," said administrator Faith Schuster.
The BAJC no longer has to contend with scheduling conflicts for events. And members are working on putting up a sign.
The BAJC hopes having its own home will help the Jewish community become more visible.
"There are people in the Brattleboro that don't know there's a Jewish congregation in town," Schuster said.
Despite that, the community is slowly, but steadily growing. In
1940 there were eight Jewish families in town. Today, during high
holiday services, members set up between 225 and 260 chairs, and
there's never an empty seat.
"What's unique about our congregation is its membership is young," Schuster said. "It's not a dying congregation."
Through tag sales, auctions and bake sales, the BAJC raised enough money to buy the old rundown farmhouse in 2002.
In white Tyvek suits and yielding hammers, they did much of the
initial renovating themselves, knocking down walls, pulling out what
was left of the insulation, and preserving what they could, like the
hardwood floors.
"It involved almost every one of our members in one way or
another," said President Paul Berch. "There was a place for almost
everyone to role up their sleeves in some matter, and that creates a
real bond in the community."
Four former bedrooms are now classrooms, the living room is
the sanctuary, the cottage behind the house will be an office and
library, and there is another old barn that the BAJC isn't sure what to do with yet. Because the sanctuary is for small, intimate gatherings, there is talk of turning the spare building into a larger sanctuary.
In the meantime, the BAJC will use West Village Meeting
House for big gatherings.
All Souls Church, which is open to all denominations, has been
supportive, Schuster said, as has St. Michael's Church, where Jewish
services were held for the congregation's first five years.
The new building opened in February with services and
classes, but next Sunday is the official open house, with a dedication
and celebration of the new space, featuring a Klezmer band. The
celebration is open to everyone, including Greenleaf neighbors,
interfaith clergy and visiting rabbis and friends, and will be "light
on the speeches, heavy on the dessert," Schuster said.
There will also be an extended service on Saturday.
|
Bobbe and Jennifer were the heart of the luncheon for our dedication service. What grace!