Life in a Pre-Fab Synagogue Mirroring Suburban Jewry Jewish history will be made again this Rosh Hashanah when the congregants of the Golf Manor Synagogue in suburban Cincinnati assemble for High Holy Day services. The Golf Manor Synagogue is the first prefabricated synagogue in Jew- ish history. with 175 families. When the transplanted con- gregation held its first High Holy Day services a year ago in the new building, it had grown to 285 families, most of the newcomers being young mar- rieds. The average age of the new congregants was 35. The average of the original congre- gation members was 60. Of the two major changes in the congregation's environ- ment, so far at least, the ad- justment to suburban living has been more significant than the fact of residence in Jewish history's first prefab- ricated synagogue, according By BEN GALLOB (Copyright, 1958, JTA, Inc.) education. In this solution, he has an asset which he also sees as an aspect of suburban Jew- ishness—a questing and even demanding attitude by the younger congregants. They want to know. They have been pressing the rabbi for classes in Hebrew. One adult study group last year tackled Jewish laws and cus- toms. More such classes are planned this year. The appearance of the attrac- tive building gives no indication that its congregation differs bas- ically from that of other houses of worship. For a while, the synagogue was a visitors' at- traction for people who knew it was pre-fabricated. "They were pleasantly surprised in some cases," he reported. "They came thinking a pre-fab building meant that if you lose your key to the building, you need a can- opener." to Rabbi David I. Indich, the congregation's spiritual. lead- er. The most obvious and com- pletely unanticipated effect of the environment was that re- ligious school facilities were ob- solete the day the synagogue was opened. The synagogue is unique not Four classrooms were in- only for its unusual building, cluded in the plans for the syn- Mr. and Mrs. but equally interesting as an Holiday Good Cheer agogue for an expected enroll- ALBERT KING example of the postwar exodus ment of 40 to 50 children. to suburbia and of the impact There were 125 children on GEORGE W. GRAY and FAMILY of suburban patterns on an orth- hand for religious instruction— Insurance of 18429 Sorrento odox congregation transplanted an upsurge of demand by no Wish All Their Relatives 17616 WYOMING to a suburban setting. means unusual in suburban con- and Friends The pre-fabricated synagogue UN 3-2900 gregational patterns but one for A Most Joyous New Year was opened on June 15, 1957 which the Golf Manor synagogue planners were totally unpre pared. Mr. and Mrs. I believe that Jewish wisdom The age and interest differ- New Year Greetings Mr. & Mrs. Harry T. Madison is more all-human and universal ences between the original con- than any other; and this not gregants and the newcomers af- DE LAINE J. Fishman & Family 14131. WINCHESTER only because it is the first born, fected congregational life in Oak Park, Mich. of 18284 Steel Avenue JEWELRY CO. but also because of the powerful many other ways. The younger Wish Their Relatives Wish Their Relatives families wanted plenty of social humaneness that saturates it, 15750 LIVERNOIS and Friends and Friends a Happy because of its high estimate of activities, both for themselves DI 1-2695 A Happy New Year New Year man.—Maxim Gorky. and their children. A Men's Club and a Teen-Agers' Club were formed to augment a flourishing Sisterhood, a Mr. and Mrs. Club, New Year Greetings Best Wishes for New Year's Greetings Best Wishes for a Happy and a Simchas Couples Club. So- A Happy New Year cials were demanded and have ART KURTZ New Year BURGER'S been provided. Fire Insurance The original typical Orthodox PET SHOP Mr. and Mrs. synagogue is moving rapidly to- Julius & Diana 12924 GRAT I OT 7934 West Fort St. ward the suburban pattern in TED GLASS . LA 1-2131 VI 2-1850 GREEN which child education and adult social programs bulk as large if not larger than formal worship. c.Q SUI 0 (LS) QRS. Happy Holiday Greetings Another tendency typical of New Year Greetings Holiday Best Wishes to New Year Greetings suburban congregational life KNUDSEN'S Our Family and Friends is a blurring of lines between LOUIS WOOLMAN MR. and MRS. DANISH BAKERY ECONOMY Jewish sects. For an Orthodox Wedding and Party Cakes synagogue this presents some Harry Greenberg and SALES CO. a Specialty obvious problems. In what 8055 LYNDON & Family 18601 W. McNICHOLS ways can such a synagogue CHARLES FINKEL UN 4-9270 Diamonds KE 5-0323 conform to suburban pressure• without diluting its tradi- 33 JOHN R r rirninmnsimms-rim51 515 - tions? Best Wishes Rabbi Indich believes that New Year Greetings Holiday Best Wishes on New Year's there is a genuine religious re- Happy New Year to All ESQUIRE GRILL vival in America and that his HARNICK BUTLER congregation's membership Restaurant - Delicatessen BAKING CO. "Good Food Is Good Health" HAIR STUDIO gains stem to some degree from LOUIS COHEN Weddings and Parties "No Head Too Difficult" that renewal of interest as it Max Mittler A Specialty 18929 LIVERNOIS applies to Judaism. But he is 12939 West 7 Mile Rd 12647 DEXTER i ready to concede that conform- UN 1-9690 6467 Michigan Dl 1-1607 WE 3-2656 ity and the passion for joining which marks Jewish and Christ- ian psychology alike in suburbia Greetings on New Year's also has much to do with those Holiday Greetings Holiday Greetings New Year's-Greetings gains. CURTIS DRUGS Edith Eckstat, R.E. BUNGALOW CAFE DAVE'S MARKET For such synagogue-joiners an WYOMING NO LIQUOR, BEER OR WINE Beer and Wine - Delicatessen Orthodox environment may be JUST GOOD FOOD Albert Wolgin, R.E. repellant and Rabbi Indich does corner CURTIS Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. ALWAYS FINE EL ECTROLOGISTS Inviting Parties and Afternoon We Deliver 13134 W. 7 MILE not want to repel them. He also Teas to Bungalow Cafe Annex DI 1-2450 Just West - of Outer Dr. Serve from 10 to 110 People WO 3-3047 WO 3-0922 wants to dispel the notion of the Can Open Seven Days a Week 1309 David Broderick Tower UN. 4-9665 average American Jew that 22117 Michigan LO. 1-8239 4f\r "--4--r-e- lt\r".1 -r."--1 Arsl-r-'2Ar• Orthodoxy is something with horns, that it is a gloomy reli- New Year Greetings Best Wishes for A Happy Greetings of the Season gion." He contends that orth- New Year Best Wishes New Year to odoxy "can be as modern as DES AUTEL HIGH GRADE tomorrow." Our Friends and Patrons HARPER An innovation is standardized Dental Laboratory FRONTIER LINEN SUPPLY CO. FURNITURE CO. prayer books, in contrast to the E-Z TERMS Service BUILDING CO. procedures in the old-style Orth- Radios - Washers - Rugs 2847 BAGLEY Refrigerators 5237 West Chicago odox synagogue in which every 19320 JAMES COUZENS TA 5-8282 7330 HARPER worshipper knows the prayers WE 3-4332 DI 1-1111 WA. 1-1414 and their meaning and prays from his own prayer book, no • Season's Best Wishes two of which among the con- New Year's Greetings Holiday Best Wishes gregants may be alike. At Golf DECKERT from New Year Best Wishes Manor Synagogue, standardized CHAMPION ELECTRIC CO. HORBACH'S prayer books make up for a Repair - Rewind All Makes TYPEWRITER CO. lack of knowledge of Hebrew CADILLAC FENCE Dynamometer Tested GARAGE New and Used Motors ,& SUPPLY CO. Soles & Service typical of the suburban congre- Expert Bumping and Painting 6544 BEAUBIEN General Repairs gation. 2014 GRAND RIVER 13675 PLYMOUTH at E. Grand Blvd. 17392 WYOMING But Rabbi Indich draws a line TR 1-7777 WO 1-4165 WE 3-8755 UN. 1-0077 UN. 4-9860 in such changes, as an Orthodox rabbi must. He says: AWe want to be as modern as our religion Holiday Good Cheer Season's Best Wishes New Year Greetings permits, but we believe in every Season's Greetings CAPITAL WASTE part of the Jewish law and keep FEDERAL SUPPLY CASS CHERNOFF BROS. every part." PAPER CO. Plumbing & Heating While he does not know how CAR STORAGE PLUMBING Peter Goldstein SALES AND SERVICE many of the suburban newcom- Sinclair Products Hyman Lipsitz - Ted Wise 19649 Appleton Shell Paint Distributors ers to his synagogue maintain a Complete Parking Service 1962 TROMBLEY 3941 MICHIGAN KE 3-7808 kosher home, he says it is un- 65 W. Baltimore at Cass TR 1-7300 TA 5-5383 likely that more than half of TR 2-9021 them do. He feels, however, that the setting down of an Ortho- New Year Greetings New Year Greetings dox-oriented synagogue in this New Year Greetings sector of suburbia has brought a Holiday Good Cheer MORRIS FRANK'S George E. Fines, Inc. trend toward observance among DAN I ELS CHADWICK & SON Applicators of Friendly Service the suburban families who have Cement Enamel Junkshop joined. Mobilgos Station Electric Service We Specialize in Waste Paper Car Wash - Lubrication He views the essential prob- 18640 WYOMING Rags, Metal, Scrap Iron 7015 W. 8 Mile Rd. Quick Pick-Up Service 18900 Greenfield lem not as one of resistance but UN 3-7650 1345 BREWSTER DI 1-1965 of ignorance and the answer as BR 3-9888 TE 2-5798 congregation-sponsored religious '