Seaside Jewish Community Opens its Doors and Seeks New Members

Since dedicating their new space at the Ocean Wave Lodge on Holland Glade Road in Rehoboth (former home of the Metropolitan Community Church), the Community has been adding meetings and events, and reaching out to the community at large for membership.

In their six-year history, they have forged an unaffiliated, egalitarian congregation—welcoming worshippers from all of the identities of Judaism. Neither Reform, Conservative, Re-constructionist, nor Orthodox (the four most well-known levels of observance), the congregation has individual members leading prayer and discussions from whatever point of view they espouse and want to share.

“Our three long-term goals are to have a place to call our own, our own Torah (the sacred scroll containing the first five books of the Bible), and our own rabbi, “ says congregation member Dr. Jeff Hawtof.

In the meantime, the Community hosts a Shabbat Service on the third Saturday of each month along with discussion groups, Bible study, and social events. There are approximately 70 families currently affiliated with the Community.

Following the monthly Shabbat Service, one family generally sponsors a luncheon for the members. “We rely a lot on the goodwill of our members,” says Hawtof.

This year, for the first time, the congregation will be observing the Jewish High Holy Days in the fall in their own space, with a visiting rabbi and cantor.

And along with their long-term goals comes their more immediate determination to reach out to and welcome members of the gay community to their circle.

“We had a conversation with Rabbi Joshua Martin Siegel, who will be here for the High Holy Days, and he asked about our membership and if we were welcoming to this area’s large gay community. There was no question from anyone—we would love to have gay and lesbian members join us.”

In fact, looking at a recent Seaside Jewish Community newsletter, an article spoke of a discussion meeting last spring where the members discussed the issue of homosexuality in contemporary Jewish life and interpretations of Biblical statements, establishing the legitimacy of commitment ceremonies, adoption, and social action.

While a congregation without a rabbi cannot host commitment ceremonies, it’s not hard to imagine that once the Community is large enough to support its own rabbi, those types of ceremonies and more will be in the plans.

“Even now, at our Shabbat services we often have a visiting Hebrew teacher who works with the children of our members during the services. While we’re praying, they’re playing—and learning,” says Dr. Hawtof. “And I recognize that many of the gays and lesbians who live here full-time or part-time or even vacation here have children, and we want them to be welcome in our community too.”

With the horrors of the Middle East situation in the news daily, many of the Seaside congregants feel a renewed sense of community, according to Hawtof. “Just like September 11 brought us all together as Americans,” Hawtof says,” the violence over there makes us want to come together as Jews— we know it could be our families in danger.”

In this time of wanting to reach out and unite people, the Seaside Jewish Community welcomes inquiries about the congregation and encourages people to attend their services.

Anyone interested in finding out more about the Seaside Jewish Community can get in touch with Lynn Chichi, president at Ljchichi@msn.com or Cheryl Fruchtman at cfrucht@msn.com, 302-227-1056, or call Treasurer Sam Mussof at 227-1056. Annual dues are $120 per person, but there are seasonal memberships available as well.

The Seaside Jewish Community will host Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services for the Jewish year 5763 in September. Rosh Hashanah Services (Jewish New Year) are Friday, Sept. 6 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Sept. 7 at 10 a.m. Yom Kippur services are Sunday, Sept. 15, and Monday, Sept. 16.