Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on May 24, 2017

Jessica Trufant The Patriot Ledger @JTrufant_Ledger

In what he called a very Jewish way of telling a story, Rabbi David Grossman began with his congregations bad news leaky roofs, traffic on Route 28 in Randolph and the tough decision to downsize and sell Temple Beth Ams longtime home.

That was the bad news, he said. But here we are now. The good news is here. Its ahead of us. Weve come out on the other side of turmoil and we are here. We are with friends and family.

Members of Temple Beth Am gathered at the synagogue one last time on Sunday to remove the scrolls of the Torah from their place in the Holy Ark, load them onto a trolley and escort them 5 miles to their new home at Temple Beth Abraham in Canton.

Members then paraded the hand-written scrolls to their new spot in Temple Beth Abraham, and the two congregations joined to celebrate the occasion.

Randolphs first synagogue, Temple Beth Am began in a converted ranch house on Liberty Street in 1955 as Jews moved out of their old neighborhoods in Dorchester and Mattapan for the suburbs. The congregation moved to the North Main Street location in 1961 and the building was expanded in 1969.

Howard Finer, 49, said his parents moved to Randolph in 1968 and joined Temple Beth Am, where he went to nursery school, participated in and later advised youth groups and celebrated countless holidays and family milestones.

I get a sense of awe in the sanctuary at Temple Beth Am that doesnt happen everywhere for me, Finer, of Stoughton, said while standing outside his new place of worship at Temple Beth Abraham. It had to happen, but its extremely bittersweet.

The congregation sold the building and its 4 acres of land to the New Jerusalem Evangelical Church of Boston for $3.25 million earlier this year. The decision to sell was made because the property is too large for the current size of the congregation, about 200 families.

Finer said the presence of Jewish families in a town that once hosted three synagogues has dwindled, and many of those who arrived in Randolph from Boston have since moved to other communities.

The combined congregations of Temple Beth Abraham, led by Rabbi Navah Levine, and Temple Beth Am, led by Rabbi Grossman, will share the Canton building, which is on Washington Street. The two congregations share similar goals, traditions and outlooks, and are discussing a merger moving forward.

While Temple Beth Ams congregation is aging, Finer said the members are extremely active. He said he hopes that activism will spread to the younger families who belong to Temple Beth Abraham.

There are more young families here, and its not just about the current members. Were doing what is best for the new generation, he said.

One of those young members is Rachel Lit, who is a third-generation member of Temple Beth Am. She said her great-uncle, Joseph Lit, was a founder of the temple, and her mother served as president.

Its an emotional day. Its the place I grew up, Lit, 20, said. Its been hard, but were looking forward.

Although she attends college in another state, Lit said the younger members are dedicated to trying to keep the youth group United Synagogue Youth going. Lit said she hopes it can attract new members from the Canton congregation.

Its further away, but we will make it work out, she said.

Jessica Trufant is at jtrufant@ledger.com.

The rest is here:

Randolph synagogue marks new beginning in Canton - Wicked Local Randolph

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