Sacred Space
For 50 years, Beth Shalom has invigorated Jewish life in the community.
DON COHEN
Special to the Jewish News
D
uring the past year, Congregation Beth
Shalom has been celebrating its first 50 years
while working hard to shape and assure its
next 50.
The first and only remaining Conservative syna-
gogue in Oak Park has been holding celebrations
throughout its jubilee year. The festivities will culmi-
nate with a dinner-dance and silent auction on
Sunday evening, Oct. 10.
-.
But don't think the congregation is resting on its
laurels.
During the past year, it hired Danny Kochavi as its
new education and youth director and David
Appelman as its new family program coordinator. It
also formed a search committee for a replacement for
retiring Rabbi David Nelson. In addition, it conduct-
ed a congregational survey and launched the "Etz
Hayim — The Tree of Life" endowment campaign.
"I feel positive about our future because people feel
good about Beth Shalom," says Nancy Glen, congre-
gation president. "Our strength is our ability to evolve
and not remain stagnant. Our challenge is: What is
the best way to experience Jewish life?"
Originally called the Oak Park Synagogue, it
changed its name to Beth Shalom (House of Peace) in
1954. Jack Bodzin was the first president of the con-
gregation which first met in members' homes and
rented facilities. Rosh Hashanah 1955 saw the begin-
ning of its religious school and the hiring of its first
full-time rabbi, Rabbi Mordecai Halpern, who would
lead Beth Shalom for 18 years. The following Rosh
Hashanah, carpets covered the dirt floor and plastic
stretched over openings that would become windows,
as the congregation celebrated the Jewish New Year in
its own building on Lincoln Avenue between
Greenfield and Coolidge.
"We had tears in our eyes for what we had accom-
plished," recalls Connie Fidler, who, together with her
husband, Ivan, and other original members, sat on
folding chairs that Rosh Hashanah. "We built the
synagogue with our hearts and
were willing to sacrifice for better
times. We grew up with the
synagogue.
"Those first years we did
whatever we could to raise
Rabbi
funds," says Fidler, who can
Halpern
still picture herself dressed as
a potato during a
Chanukah variety
show fund-raiser.
In 1955, ground was broken for construction of Beth Shalom's building.
Ten years later, in 1964, the Fidlers moved to West
Bloomfield but have maintained membership from
the very beginning. It is estimated that, like the
Fidlers, about a third of the congregation remains con-
nected, though they live about 20 minutes or more
from the synagogue.
"We stayed because of our commitment
and love for Beth Shalom," says Fidler. "We
love the people there and have made life-
long friendships. We couldn't see ourselves
at any other place. We are proud of what
has evolved as the synagogue has grown in
numbers and we have grown in age."
Ida and Al Rosenblum of Orchard Lake also were
among the founders who have remained members.
Appearing on the congregation's recent "Did You
Know?" video celebrating its history, Al Rosenblum
recalls that the building was built on low land, with a
county-owned drain running through it. At one point,
they had to organize a "bucket brigade" to remove
water from the site. Ida was the first president of the
congregation's sisterhood, which raised the money for
the down paymerit on the land for the synagogue.
There are many families like the Fidlers and
Rosenblums whose lives have been intimate-
ly connected to the synagogue.
Though he was only 4, Jeremy Salinger
of Southfield can still picture the room at
the Andrew Jackson School in Oak Park
where the synagogue held its first Friday
night service and had its nursery school. He
later. attended Beth Shalom's Hebrew school
at Avery Elementary School just across the street from
the synagogue. Rabbi Halpern taught the upper
grades'and Salinger remembers how impressed he was
'
with him.,
"He was quite brilliant in the sense of philosophy
Coy ER
ST ORY
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