Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part series about Beit Echad, a new congregation in St. Joseph, Missouri.
St. Joseph, Missouri, has a Jewish history stretching back more than 150 years, and two main synagogues, Temple Adath Joseph and Temple B’nai Sholem, have been the community’s only congregations for more than six decades. Now, the two congregations have worked together to form Beit Echad, the first new synagogue in the city in more than a century.
The founding of a new synagogue is significant, especially considering that the Jewish population of St. Joseph, once in the thousands, is now estimated to be fewer than 75 people.
Beit Echad (meaning “One House”) opened on Sept. 27 with a Shabbat dinner that drew 41 people.
“It was so exciting,” community member Sandy Rosenak said. “It was so hopeful, because not only was it finally happening… [but also] it showed that the community wanted to support [Beit Echad].”
Rabbi Beryl Padorr (formerly of Kansas City-area Congregations Ohev Sholom and Beth Shalom) affixed the mezuzot and led a Saturday morning Torah study and Kiddush lunch the following day.
“I was blessed to be a part of their first Shabbat together and in their new spiritual space,” Rabbi Padorr said. “They are a warm and welcoming community, and made me instantly feel a part of their Beit Echad community… I experienced the joy of the congregants and Shabbat as we sang in praise of G-d together, followed by an amazing Shabbat meal.”
St. Joseph Jewish community members at Beit Echad’s first Shabbat dinner.
The new congregation celebrated its second milestone the following week, when Rabbi Jonathan Rudnick, Jewish Family Services of Greater Kansas City’s community chaplain, traveled to St. Joseph to lead dozens in Rosh Hashanah services.
“These High Holidays with Beit Echad in St. Joseph were among the most meaningful experiences I’ve had as a rabbi,” Rabbi Rudnick said. “I hope I was able to bring uplift to Beit Echad — I know I was lifted up by Beit Echad, and I’m grateful for this experience with them and look forward to continuing the relationship.”
Beit Echad also held an Oct. 7 memorial event, drawing about 30 community members, including St. Joseph’s only Israeli. Considering that Beit Echad’s email list of known Jewish community members contains only 56 accounts, the congregation considers these attendance numbers successful and a positive sign for the new synagogue.
A creative solution
St. Joseph’s Jewish population has been in decline for decades. There had been discussions of merging Adath Joseph and B’nai Sholem multiple times since the 1970s, but concerns of the congregations losing their identities and being absorbed into each other barred a merger from fruition.
In 2016, the dwindling population and synagogue attendance resulted in the congregations agreeing to hold alternating weekly Shabbat services in Adath Joseph’s building. By 2018, B’nai Sholem had sold its building because of low usage and high upkeep costs, and some Jewish services were taking place in community members’ houses.
With a merger being off the table and the two congregations feeling the effects of the shrinking community, the idea of creating an entirely new entity emerged.
“The decision was to meet in a new place,” said Bob Ott, president of B’nai Sholem. “[There were] two different entities trying to mesh their controls, so what it came down to is, through a lot of negotiation… to create a new congregation.”
In the spring of 2023, the first community meeting for what would become Beit Echad drew 29 attendees, including formerly inactive community members interested in preserving Judaism in St. Joseph. The meetings were fruitful, and months of work led to Beit Echad officially opening in time for this year’s High Holidays.
“I was struck by the indefatigable determination of a relatively small group of Jews… to continue organized, vibrant Jewish life an hour away from Kansas City,” Rabbi Rudnick said.
Currently, Adath Joseph and B’nai Sholem still exist. Adath Joseph still has its historic building (though not in active use anymore), and both congregations still have boards and funds. Ott describes the older congregations as “charitable organizations at this point,” with all prayers and Jewish life now taking place at Beit Echad. The Adath Joseph and B’nai Sholem Sisterhoods have joined under Beit Echad.
“We’re not ‘us’ and ‘them’ anymore. We’re new,” Ott said.
“Beit Echad, one home, one house, [is] bringing the Jewish community together in love and compassion now and in the future, welcoming all who enter the sacred space,” Rabbi Padorr said.
The future of Adath Joseph and B’nai Sholem as entities remains unsure, but St. Joseph will have an active Jewish congregation in Beit Echad.
The second part of this story will be published in the Dec. 5 issue of The Chronicle.
