receieved in other congre-
gations because of her Fil-
ipino features. "It was not
an issue (at Shir Tikvah)
nd never has been one.
We're accepted here for who
we are," she said.
An added plus for the
Sweets is that Ben's par-
ents, Richard and Shirley
j Sweet, are also members of
Shir Tikvah.
If there is a difficulty for
the fledgling congregation,
lt could come in the growth
factor. The congregation
does own land, but is still
not fixed on a groundbreak-
ing goal. Mr. Witkow as well
as Rabbi Sleutelberg said
they are not sure how big
the congregation will or
hould be. Also, it's unclear
at this point as to when it is
necessary to have a build-
ing. Then, according to Rab-
i Sleutelberg, there is the
issue of money. The congre-
ation, he said, spans all age
ranges. But it is largely
made up of young, growing
families. There isn't a great
deal of discretionary income
available at this point to put
into a building.
"The biggest mistake that
any congregation can make,
including ours, is to put out
the feeling that it is exclu-
sive or better than any place
else," said Rabbi Sleutel-
berg. 'We want to be a place
where any Jew can find a
spiritual home, so in some
sense growth is not control-
lable.
"We've made the decision
that when people feel com-
fortable with us, they most
certainly can become part of
us. If anything, we must
look at our future as a won-
derful challenge: how do we
maintain an intimate, lov-
ing and caring community
as we continue to grow?"
Even without buildings,
Shir Tikvah is looked at by
its membership as a Jewish
community center.
Jo Anne Levy, who with
her husband Cary and their
children are longtime mem-
bers, said the congregation
offers a busy, day-to-day
identity, be it decorating a
sukkah or working on social
action causes. The congre-
gation also has a Caring
Community group that
works to take care of mem-
bers in need.
"It's been a Jewish home
for us," said Mrs. Levy. "And
yes, you can be Jewish and
do very well here in Troy.
It's not a negative issue for
us."
"Our mission is to be the
Jewish homeland for those
who seek us," said Mr. Wen-
grow. "We're the homeland
in the east, and we have to
be inclusive. We can't take
the attitude of only certain
people need apply."
Lynn and John Brobows-
ki will tell you they would be
the first to appreciate Mr.
Wengrow's statement. Mrs.
Brobowski, director of Con-
tinuing Education at Walsh
College, is Jewish. Her hus-
band, who has his own law
firm, is a practicing Catho-
lic. Conversion is not part of
the Birmingham couples'
spiritual possibilities.
"When I first moved here,
I didn't find the Jewish com-
munity welcoming to our sit-
uation," said Mrs. Bro-
bowski. "That turned me off
to the Jewish experience.
Here, though, we've been ac-
cepted even though John
isn't interested in becoming
Jewish. There are a lot of
mixed-married people here
who know what you are go-
ing through."
From a spiritual point of
view, Shir Tikvah's mem-
bers almost glow in endless
description of how the con-
gregation has changed or
added to their lives.
Ben and Remy Sweet
light Sabbath and Havdalah
candles and are doing much
more religiously at home.
Ruth Kranitz said Shir Tik-
vah "is something very dear
to my heart. I was raised
Conservative, but I never re-
ally felt Jewish until I came
here."
"If you find you are unaf-
filiated and you come here
and get involved, you recog-
nize that there was a void in
your life," said Mr. Wen-
grow. "I was the person who
always stayed away from
services. For me, now, it's a
pleasure to attend." ❑
Ed Witkow confers with Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg.