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58
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1992
Continued from Page 56
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SUMMER 1992
ISRAEL PROGRAM
Spanish San Juan
continental
CablevIston*
verted it from a private
residence into a house of wor-
ship. The community grew
and flourished, but the
building started to show signs
of age.
By the mid-1960s, termites
were a problem, as was the
deteriroiation that's in-
evitable in a tropical climate.
So the members joined forces
and raised funds — a total of
$700,000 — for an extensive
renovation.
Only the original wood
beams of the roof and the rare
leaded glass windows were
preserved. Inside, everything
else is brand new. "We rebuilt
the entire synagogue," says
Mr. Firsty.
Daily minyans and Shabbat
services are now conducted by
Rabbi Alex Felch, an Argen-
tinian native. He came here
six years ago when the con-
gregation finally got a perma-
nent full-time rabbi.
Besides the sanctuary, the
facilities here also include
classrooms for the Hebrew
school students and the
nursery school, offices, a gift
shop, and the extensive
Rothenberg library, the only
full-scale Jewish library in
the Caribbean.
Not far from Shaare Zedeck
is a modest building at 101
San Jorge Street, right next
door to one of the oldest chur-
ches in San Juan, the San
Jorge Church. This is Temple
Beth Shalom, and the Reform
congregation which worships
here is an equally dedicated
and unusual group.
"We took it over when it
was a bar," says Jerry Feld-
man, who's been president of
the 70-family congregaticin
since May 1989. "I like to say
we took a wasteland of the
soul and made it into a
triumph for the Jewish
spirit."
Inside, the building has the
air of being almost brand-
new, and it is. The con-
gregants celebrated their
gala re-dedication of the tem-
ple just two years ago.
In the foyer is a bust of
Moses and a wall of tiles, with
each tile contributed by a
member or friend of the
congregation.
"And this is our sanctuary,
our pride and joy," says Mr.
Feldman. It's a sanctuary of
simplicity and beauty, with
one round stained glass win-
dow, a design of arches and a
sense of space and light.
"We tried to fit the design
to the Caribbean environ-
ment," says Mr. Feldman. The
members selected an award-
winning local architect to
help them renovate the
former bar.
Architect Tom Marvel, who
is not Jewish, had designed
the San Juan School and
several churches on the island
— but never a synagogue.
"This was a real challenge for
him," says ME Feldman.
Besides the sanctuary, the
facilities include a social hall,
a modern kitchen where pre-
Shabbat dinners are prepared
once a month for members, a
gift shop and a study room.
These facilities serve a con-
gregation that was founded in
1967 and now numbers about
150 individuals. It's one of on-
ly two Reform congregations
in the Caribbean; the other is
on nearby St. Thomas.
A native of London, he had
lived in New York City for
nine years when he came for
a vacation to Puerto Rico
"and fell in love with the
island" he recalls. Several
months later, a job opportuni-
ty opened up here — and he
eagerly took it. That was in
1959, and he and his wife
have been here ever since,
raising two daughters on the
island.
At first, they attended ser-
vices at Shaare Zedeck. "But
some of us missed the feeling
of Reform Judaism," he says.
"So, in 1967, when one of my
friends apporached me and
asked if I'd be interested in
helping start a Reform con-
gregation, I eagerly agreed."
The group has grown since
then. Members are mostly
from the United States, but a
few are from England, France
and Israel, and there's also
one Cuban Jew. Although
most live in San Juan and its
environs, there also are four
families from the West Coast
of the island.
Although they have no full-
time rabbi — getting one is
their next big, long-range
goal, says Mr. Feldman —
members hold services every
Friday evening, with an Oneg
Shabbat afterwards. They
also maintain a religious
school, with 20 youngsters
enrolled, and sponsor special
events like the annual Jewish
book fair held the first week
in December.
They send their newsletter
regularly to a group of friends
and supporters on the main-
land called "Off Island
Associates." They are people
who have come to San Juan,
made contact with the con-
gregation and want to stay in
touch.
As for those on the island,
they're a very close-knit con-
gregation. "Most of us don't
have family here, so our con-
gregation becomes a family,"
says Mr. Feldman. "We're a
very heimish, warm con-
gregation. And we're a very
important factor in living
Reform Judaism in the
Caribbean." ❑