“Thirty (is the age) for (full) strength.”
-- Pirke Avot 5:24
As Congregation Beth Torah turns 30, its leaders believe the Reform synagogue has attained full strength and is on a sustainable path — so they are celebrating.
History
Beth Torah was formed in 1988, to establish a place in Johnson County to practice a modern American brand of Reform Judaism. After a few meetings in private homes, the first public worship service was held July 22, 1988, at the former country club building on Indian Creek Drive that was then the interim Jewish Community Center and today houses the Chabad House of Greater Kansas City. After a bit of wandering and fundraising, in 1996, Beth Torah dedicated its permanent synagogue at 6100 W. 127th St.
Following the retirement of its founding spiritual leader, Rabbi Mark H. Levin, the congregation has stabilized and is growing again. “Beth Torah is an important institution in the Jewish community,” said current, two-time congregation President Barry Katz. “It’s young by a lot of standards, but it has had a lot of impact, and we hope for more going forward.”
Celebrating
Katz said Beth Torah has adopted the theme “From Strength to Strength” for its anniversary year. “At our first 30th Anniversary Committee meeting, congregant Emily Kerstein brought up a passage she had discovered in Pirke Avot, which talks about the development of mankind at various ages and stages — age 5, 10, 20 and so on. And by age 30, a man is deemed to have attained full strength.
“We don’t want to think we are not going to get stronger, so we chose ‘From Strength to Strength’ ” said Rabbi Javier Cattapan, a native of Buenos Aires. He shared that he was attracted to Beth Torah because of many of the community’s qualities, not least its musical tradition, but also,“It seemed like a warmer experience, in general, than other places,” he said. “I think, after being here for two years, I can say that the basic culture matches who I am as a person and as a rabbi. I think we have grown together in the same direction in two short years and I am looking forward to the future.”
Under the leadership of chair SueAnn Strom, the synagogue started the year of celebrating with a gala in May that looked back at history full of moments of community, Torah, learning and social justice. That night also launched a yearlong “pick a party” fundraiser, wherein members organize and host a variety of fun events that show off their expertise. Those events continue through April, and information about them can be found at https://beth-torah.org/30th-anniversary-pickaparty/
Three other big events are set to celebrate the congregation’s anniversary:
-- On Dec. 8, Beth Torah will host scholar and author in residence Dr. Ron Wolfson to lead a weekend of stories and discussions based on the principles he calls “Relational Judaism.” Erev Shabbat, Dec. 7, will also feature Hanukkah candles, Hanukkah themed music and latkes. -- On Sunday, Feb. 10, the synagogue will honor its tradition of social action with a day dedicated to it titled “Panim el Panim (Face to Face).” -- And on April 13, the yearlong 30th Anniversary closes with an adult-only celebration featuring food and drink, live music by the Jewbee Brothers and a silent auction.
The future looks bright for Beth Torah and that is something worth celebrating.