Synagogue and community members join together at Beth Judah’s Freedom Seder.
In all corners of the community, there have already been numerous celebrations for Israel’s 75th anniversary. As the year progresses, there are many additional opportunities to celebrate throughout Atlantic & Cape May counties. Nestled down in Wildwood is the community synagogue Beth Judah, which is planning its own celebrations.
For Israel’s 75th anniversary, Beth Judah is hosting two community events: A Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a birthday celebration oneg on Friday, May 12 at 7 p.m. Friday night’s Kabbalat Shabbat will feature songs led by Rabbi Ron Isaacs on guitar. The second event is a Taste of Israel program featuring Israeli Meze (Kosher), music and dancing in cafe style setting on Saturday, May 13 at 7 p.m.
In May, Beth Judah will also host a history of the wedding dress and afternoon tea event, a program on the history of antisemitism, and an ice cream social after Shavuot services. Ruth Edelman is a program co-chair for the synagogue and she shared, “By offering such a wide range of programs, the synagogue is engaging the community with a broad range of social, cultural and spiritual needs of Jews, of interfaith couples, and those who simply want to learn, and be a part of a welcoming community.”
Beth Judah’s historic synagogue is the outward symbol of Jewish presence in Cape May County. They pick event themes that are relevant to both Jewish and non-Jewish people. Their recent Freedom Seder left one community member who had been “synagogue averse” since his teen years saying, “I didn’t know it could be this meaningful.”
Edelman added, “We’ve been discovered by people walking by, by those looking to attend an occasional service or event where they visit or rent or own a vacation home. We are encouraged when we hear, ‘I’m glad I found you. I didn’t know there was a Jewish presence in this part of NJ.”
This summer, the synagogue will be very busy, hosting several services at the beach in North Wildwood and Cape May in August. They will also offer a program on show tunes and their influence from Jewish liturgy, as well as a field trip to the Sam Azeez Museum in Woodbine, NJ.
To RSVP for the Taste of Israel night, a payment of $36 can be made to Beth Judah Temple, P.O. Box 1183, Wildwood, NJ 08260, or by credit card at bethjudahtemple.org/home.html. RSVP by May 10 to secure a spot.
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