You’re supposed to wait 30 minutes after eating before you go swimming, or so the adage goes, but how long are you supposed to wait before going in the bounce house? People attending the Temple Beth El open house and picnic on Aug. 28 will face this dilemma.
From 1 to 4 p.m., attendees will get to enjoy food and the bounce house, as well as find information and enrollment forms for the religious school. The classes at the school aren’t restricted to temple members. They’re open to children and adults interested in what Juan Hovey calls “a Judaism 101.”
The impetus for reopening the temple’s religious school comes from an influx of new and admittedly unusual congregation members. Edgar de la Pena has brought to Temple Beth El some new life in Congregación Beth Shalom, founded three years ago by de la Pena, who was looking for a way to connect to memories of his past and wanted to fill a spiritual void in his life.
De la Pena and his family attended Temple Beth El several years ago, but didn’t mesh mainly due to the fact that the service was in English. They didn’t return, but they continued to study the Torah on their own. Over the years, several other Hispanic families have joined them, growing their minyan to more than 60 people. This led to the official founding of the congregación minyan three years ago.
The group held its temple meetings in a rented space on Fesler Temple Beth El sanctuary. They were, in the words of Hovey, “hoping to make contact with someone—anyone.” Well, he did, and what a difference that contact has made for both minyans. Once the congregación members’ conversions are complete, they’ll have a place to call home—no longer feeling like they are wandering in the proverbial desert. For Temple Beth El, the new blood has brought revival to an elderly, Anglo minyan, and raised their religious school from the dead.
The school had closed in 2006 due to a lack of need. The kids were growing up and out. However, de la Pena brought with him 17 kids who will now be enrolled. Classrooms are currently being cleaned up and aired out, and lessons are being prepped. Look out Santa Maria, a new school’s in session.
Intern Michael McCone compiled this week’s Community Corner. Send comments or ideas to the Sun via e-mail at intern@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Aug 25 – Sep 1, 2011.