THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409220175
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY TOM HOLDEN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 216 lines
INSIDE THE EXPANSIVE sanctuary of Ascension Catholic Church, where the altar stands high over the pews of the faithful, hangs the congregational ark of Beth Chaverim, symbol of the Jewish community.
After Friday night services, the small Jewish congregation departs to make way for the larger Catholic community that holds its Sunday services in the same room.
It is as unlikely a marriage as possible, and now, after nearly a decade of sharing the same space, it is nearing an end.
With the turn of a shovel last Sunday, congregation Beth Chaverim - Hebrew for House of Friends - broke ground for a new synagogue under the watchful eyes of Rabbi Israel Zoberman and the Rev. William J. Dale, founders of the unique partnership that has flowered on Princess Anne Road.
The ceremonies on a vacant lot at Rosemont and Stoneshore roads, where the building will begin to rise later this month, were everything that Zoberman and his congregation had hoped they would be.
A worrisome sky that earlier threatened rain held fast, with even a few rays of autumn sun thrown in for good measure. Dignitaries praised the near decade-long effort to raise money for the synagogue. Congregants served plenty of food and a deejay provided klezmer music to brighten the event.
But more than the sky or the speeches was the proof, found in the shovels of dirt and the architect's drawings, that Beth Chaverim's 250 families will soon have their own temple.
``The lesson here is to know that dreams come to fruition for people of good will, to Jews, to Christians, to Muslims, that they can all be grateful of God's creation and that this world can be what it really is, a home for all God's children,'' said Zoberman, the congregation's founding rabbi, after ceremonies at the building site.
For Dale, now rector at St. Pius X in Norfolk but for eight years Zoberman's partner at Ascension, it was a heartwarming experience.
``The two communities have grown very close,'' Dale said. ``We joined each other for social events. Both were present in each other's lives. It was very much like two families that had merged in a common effort. It is, after all, the same God we worship.''
Soon they will worship in separate buildings.
The new synagogue, made of stone, glass and mortar, will rise in two phases. Phase I will encompass about 10,300 square feet to include a social hall that will serve as a temporary sanctuary with seating for 330. It will include two permanent and three flexible classrooms, which will have folding walls opening to the social hall.
A large kitchen will adjoin the social hall. A library/board room, main office, gift shop and rabbi's study will complete Phase I.
Target date for completion is next August.
Phase II will include the addition of a 4,000-square-foot sanctuary plus an educational wing with eight classrooms. By late summer, the building fund for Phase I stood at $693,000 with the goal of $1.2 million yet to be reached.
Ever upbeat, Zoberman did not see the new building as a departure from the close ties his congregation has forged with Ascension Catholic Church. It is widely thought to be the only known arrangement in which Catholics and Jews share the same house of God.
Instead, he focused on how the partnership underscored the spirit of cooperation that will exist long after the new building is in place.
``We have been led by God to bring the spirit of Shalom, not just for the Jews and Catholics here, but to the entire community at a time of profound change both at home and across the world,'' Zoberman said.
``People take miracles for granted. They should not. This is a miracle as far as I'm concerned. We have seen improved relations between Jews and Catholics. I'm so encouraged.''
The story of how this small congregation emerged, first in a Norfolk living room and later in a Methodist church before the Catholic ties were forged, has long inspired those who watched it unfold.
``Persistence pays off,'' said U.S. Rep. Owen Pickett, D-Virginia Beach, who was on hand for the ground-breaking. ``This is a group that simply would not be stopped. It came true because they wanted it to come true.''
The dream took shape in the Norfolk living room of Paula and Gerald Levy, whose house in Colonial Place was the site of the first services for eight founding families.
Services were fairly informal as families found themselves leading portions of the services. The congregation had no full-time rabbi, largely because they could not afford one.
Those first services were held in the Levys' dining room as a kind of dry run to the formation of a more organized temple, said Gerald Levy, a professor at Old Dominion University.
``We sat on card table chairs and lawn chairs, picked out a service we could handle without professional help, and had our service,'' he said. ``It's not all that uncommon. There is no requirement that you have clergy present during a ceremony.''
During high holidays, they obtained the services of a part-time student, Rabbi Barbara Goldman Wortell. She would serve the congregation on a part-time basis for two years.
Levy noted that the first temple bulletin, issued in December 1982, stated the long-term goals were to find a rabbi.
``That was always our No. 1 goal.''
Finding a synagogue had always been another priority, and as the congregation grew so did the desire to find another meeting place.
Sharing a synagogue did not seem practical, so members turned to their Christian brethren for help. The first church that opened its doors was Wesleyan Acres United Methodist Church. But it lasted only about a year. Beth Chaverim's membership grew quickly - it is now up to 80 families - and they needed more space, and a full-time rabbi.
The community began to interview candidates through the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and among them was Zoberman. When he was selected, the partnership with Dale soon followed.
With its ample space, liberal point of view, and church not too heavily adorned with Christian symbolism, the Church of the Ascension seemed an ideal location. But it was the friendship between Dale and Zoberman that cemented the bond between the communities. Receiving a blessing from Bishop Walter Sullivan in Richmond only strengthened the deal.
The two congregations started with few rules, save for a quiet understanding between Zoberman and Dale that interfaith marriages would not be overseen.
``The Jewish community is rather clear about Jewish and non-Jewish weddings,'' Dale said. ``We have the same expectations for a marriage, and that is we expect the children from the marriage would be raised Catholic. So from the very beginning, we agreed not to step on each other's toes.''
Apart from that, Dale said, the partnership, which attracted attention from around the world, was achieved partly as a function of space, of which Ascension had plenty.
``We never had problems,'' Dale said. ``We had to readjust our schedules now and then, but it was never seen as onerous. A few times during the High Holy days we were a little cramped but that's about it.''
Hal Levenson, a former television producer and now a public relations executive who sits on the congregation's board of directors, said, ``The chemistry between Dale and Zoberman is what got it going.'' But it was Zoberman, Levenson added, who solidified the congregation, focused its energies and drove it toward the goal of a new synagogue.
``He is as catalytic as any religious leader you will have contact with,'' Levenson said. ``He is a high-energy guy who has involved himself in every aspect of religious and community life. He does book reviews for the Jewish community paper. He travels with rabbis all over the country.
``He's a go do 'em kind of guy who touches every base along the way. He is very proud of the relationship with Ascension and has gone to some length to let people know about it.''
Dale was quick to agree.
``The man never stops,'' Dale said of Zoberman. ``He stayed busy all of the time, just a frenetic pace, a man with unlimited energy.'' MEMO: Source: World Book Encycleopedia, 1988 edition.
ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Courtesy Warren Epstein and Associates, Architects, Inc.
An architect's drawing shows the eventual full complex of
Congregation Beth Chaverim at the corner of Rosemont and Stoneshore
roads.
[Color cover photo]
[Unidentified woman, no credit given]
Staff photos by CHARLIE MEADS
The ever-enthusiastic Rabbi Israel Zoberman has been conducting
services for his Beth Chaverim congregation in the sanctuary of
Ascension Catholic Church for eight years.
Rabbi Zoberman says that leaving the building of Ascension Catholic
Church does not mean an end to the close ties forged between the
Catholic and Jewish congregants.
The Rev. William J. Dale
THE THREE MAJOR MOVEMENTS IN JUDAISM
There are an estimated 17 million people of Jewish faith in the
world, about 5.8 million of whom live in the United States. There
are three major movements in Judaism.
Orthodox Judaism: This movement accepts all the traditional
Jewish beliefs and ways of life. Orthodox Jews believe that God
revealed the laws of the Torah, the first five books of the Jewish
Bible, and the Talmud, a collection of legal and ethical writings,
directly to Moses on Mount Sinai.
They strictly observe all traditional Jewish laws, including
dietary rules and the rules for keeping the Sabbath. Orthodox Jews
pray three times daily, in the morning, in the afternoon and after
sunset.
Holidays are observed completely. Orthodox men wear hats or
yarmulkas at all times as a sign of respect to God. More observant
members wear Talit Katan, a small prayer shawl worn under the
clothing.
Services are primarily in Hebrew.
There is a small Orthodox congregation in Virginia Beach headed
by Lubbavicher Rabbi Aaron Margolin.
Reform Judaism: This movement emerged in Europe in the early
1800s and represented a departure from Orthodox Judaism. During this
time, many Reform Jews came to question the traditional teachings of
how the sacred writings of Judaism came into being. For example,
they considered the Talmud a human creation rather than a revelation
of God, and so its authority was weakened for them.
Today, Reform Jews believe that moral and ethical teachings form
the most important part of Judaism. They feel that many of Judaism's
ritual practices have no significance for them. As a result, they
have discarded many traditional customs and ceremonies.
Dietary laws are not strictly observed, although in recent years
some Reform Temples have returned to ritual observance. Yarmulkas
are optional. Central to their actions are matters of social justice
and interfaith teaching.
Services are primarily in English.
Beth Chaverim is a Reform Temple.
Conservative Judaism: A middle ground between the Orthodox and
the Reform movements, Conservative Jewry emerged during the
mid-1800s.
This movement considers the Talmud as much an authority as the
Bible. Conservative Jews believe, however, that scriptures should be
interpreted in light of modern knowledge and culture.
Emphasis on rituals varies among congregations. Their services
are in Hebrew and English, with emphasis on Hebrew. Some members
observe dietary laws.
There are two Conservative temples in Virginia Beach, Kehillat
Bet Hamidrash and Temple Emanuel.
by CNB