- April 20, 2024
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A community-wide Jewish Sabbath service at Temple Beth-El hosted nearly 300 people last weekend.
BY EMILY BLACKWOOD | STAFF WRITER
Nearly 300 people filled the synagogue at Temple Beth-El Friday, for its 31st-annual, community-wide Sabbath service.
The event welcomed Jews from all synagogues. Gloria Max, executive director of the local Jewish Federation, said being able to mingle with other members is important due to the size of Jewish community in Volusia and Flagler counties.
“Our Jewish population is very tiny,” Max said. “We don’t have thousands of members like some of the churches do, so it is nice when a group of people get together and see each other. It gives the congregants from other temples a change to hear another rabbi give a service.”
That rings true for Jews like Sara Bronshtien, who says she attends mostly for the social aspect.
“It is like a reunion,” said Bronshtien. “That is the reason we are here, to meet people.”
In planning the event, the Jewish Federation usually arranges for an outside guest speaker; however, this year's speaker was already in-house.
Rabbi Barry Altman, of Temple Beth-El, will be ending his 38-year career this year. He had the floor all to himself on Friday.
“When I first came here, I was just like a baby,” Altman reminisced before the service. “I am leaving one facet and I am entering into another. I’ve always taught at Stetson as a faculty, and I’m expanding my role there.”
As for the day's diversity, participants said they enjoyed intertwining with other local synagogues.
“It is all part of a Jewish community,” said Mark Rubin, board member for the Jewish Federation. “We get together once in a while and pray together. It’s important for community solidarity.”
