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Lewisville to have its first Jewish Synagogue
By Heather M. Goodwin, hgoodwin@starlocalnews.com
Within a few weeks, Lewisville will be home to its first Jewish synagogue when the Congregation Ner Tamid relocates from Carrollton.
Congregation Ner Tamid is a 28-year-old reform congregation, which was based in Carrollton since its conception. The synagogue signed a three-year lease for a space in Hebron Office Plaza.
"Being on the highway will give us a higher profile, and we're hoping will make people want to join and help grow our congregation grow," said Randy Friedberg, congregation president. "Our congregation has been around since 1984, and our location has stayed the same since we began. We felt that the time was right to move into a new facility. We're hoping this is a convenient location for our members but also allows us to draw new members."
"This is definitely a commitment on our part, and we feel we can financially afford this and are emotionally ready for it," Friedbreg said.
The new space is approximately 1,000 square feet and will include a sanctuary on the third floor, which can also be turned into a multi-purpose space; it will have offices, a study room and a conference room. Once the synagogue has completed the move, it will host service at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturday service, which will be followed by Torah study.
Michael Bergel, a member of the synagogue, said the new location will be more convenient for him.
"There is no synagogue in Denton, so for all of us Dentonites, it will be clearly a very nice change, driving 30 minutes rather than 45 minutes each way previously," Bergel said. "I'm thrilled that we will have again our own place. It feels differently when you have services in a private home. Though it gives a nice and intimate feeling, almost like a family, I feel it's time for us to grow our 'family' and attract more Jewish people that perhaps would feel more comfortable to meet for services, Torah study and adult education in a synagogue setting."
Brittini Grant, a member of the synagogue, also lives in Denton. She said the location will make it more convenient for her to attend service.
"I am most looking forward to the exposure the space will bring the congregation, as well as meeting the potential new people to meet and learn from," Grant said. "I think the biggest difference between the new space and the home services will be transplanting the lived in, warm homey feeling of the home services into the new building."
Marcy Prager said her family is looking forward to settling down in a bigger space that will add the opportunity for growth and permanency.
"We have enjoyed and appreciated the generosity of other congregants opening up their homes so we could continue to pray and learn while looking for a central location that would fit our needs. The new location will provide us in having a physical, dedicated space in which to pray, celebrate and call our religious home," Prager said. "While the congregation never lost is true essence of spirituality and community, when the doors at our new location open, I look forward to seeing our religious symbols back where they belong. The truth of the matter is, our congregation is a family and no matter where we are located we will find the sense of belonging and the comfort of knowing where we can go each time to be together for all congregational events, whether prayer, study or life cycle events."
Friedberg said it's always the dream of every group to build its own synagogue, but he said it's also "very realistic."
"We're not in a member or financial standpoint to do that, but we do intend to build our own synagogue in the near future," Friedbreg said. "We've grown over time and at one time we had about 80 families in our congregation. Right now, we have about 25 member families; we're starting to attract new ones."
Bergel said he wishes for the day to come that the synagogue will be able to purchase its own building rather than just renting it.
"That would really give me a sense of establishment. I also wish we had enough young couples with children in school age, so we could renew our Sunday school," Bergel said. "Having our own space can certainly be the first step in attracting young Jewish couples to our otherwise very vibrant congregation."
For information visit www.congregationnertamid.org.
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