TORAH TREK-Memberse of Beit Haverim gether at Emanuel Presbyterian Church in West Linn to carry their Torah to its new home in Lake Oswego.

DEBORAH MOON/Jewish Review

Beit Haverim warmly welcomed to new home

By DEBORAH MOON

article created on: 2008-11-15T00:00:00

After 13 years of worshipping at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in West Linn, Congregation Beit Haverim/SMJC followed God’s instruction in the week’s Torah portion to Abraham to “go forth” and they carried their Torah to its new home, the Lake Oswego United Church of Christ.

Founded in 1992 primarily to educate Jewish children in the south metro area, Beit Haverim has gone through several stages in its life. As the South Metro Jewish Community, it began holding monthly services at the Presbyterian Church 13 years ago. When it became the South Metro Jewish Congregation under Rabbi Larry Halpern in 1999 it added weekly services and expanded programming. Last year under Rabbi Annette Koch,the Reform congregation changed its name to Beit Haverim/SMJC.

Congregants carried Beit Haverim’s Torah the 5.2 miles to its new home Nov. 2. Arriving at the LOUCC, the two congregations joined together for a joint service of welcome.

Noting any gathering should include studying a bit of Torah, Rabbi Koch said that in the week’s Torah portion Lech-Lecha, God instructs Abraham to leave his father’s home and birthplace and “go forth and begin the next stage in your journey.”

As the congregation began its trek to its new home, Koch said, “We will take ourselves to a new place and see what the next stage in the journey of our congregation will be.”

She said unlike Abraham who left his birthplace with no idea of where he was going, Beit Haverim knew they had a warm home waiting for them at the end of their journey.

Beit Haverim member Judith Kleinstein commented, “I feel like we are discovering a rich country. We don’t yet know what all the riches are, but I feel the richness and incredible welcome.”

Indeed, Beit Haverim members were welcomed warmly to LOUCC as they concluded their trek.

Bea Neufeld, a retired UCC pastor who is assisting LOUCC during its search for a new pastor, led the joint congregations in singing the hymn “Enter Rejoice and Come In,” the fourth verse of which says “don’t be afraid of some change.”

“Folks we welcome you,” said Neufeld after the hymn. “Our sanctuary is now your sanctuary too. We welcome you and look forward to all the things we can do together and separately in this sacred space.”

Beit Haverim President Michele Beyer said the ability to truly share a space was a big motivation behind the move. She said initially the congregation wanted to find space of its own, but with just 102 member units (families and individuals), she said the cost was prohibitive and sharing space became the goal.

“We will be able to really share the building,” said Beyer. “Our prayerbooks and literature will always be out.”

Additionally, she said the two congregations’ shared values played a role in the decision.

“A lot of aspects of their philosophy fit what we want to do as a congregation,” said Beyer, pointing especially to the fact that LOUCC is a “green” congregation.

Logistically, the fact that renting the space will be cheaper and the fact that it is more centrally located to Beit Haverim members also made the decision easy.

LOUCC member Jan Indermill said the congregation is extremely excited about welcoming Beit Haverim because, “Diversity is very important in our church. … It will enrich our work and our friendships.”

LOUCC is located at 1111 Country Club Road. For now, Beit Haverim’s office remains in West Linn at 21420 Willamette Dr. The congregation can be reached at 503-650-7013.