By Emily K., Alhadeff Associate Editor, The Jewish Sound
The word on the Jewish street is “attrition.” Made painfully clear by last year’s Pew study, Jews — especially young Jews — are falling away from organized Jewish life.
The one denomination that seems to defy the statistic is Orthodoxy; nevertheless, even Orthodox synagogues struggle to keep the seats warm.
In this era of uncertainty, Congregation Shevet Achim is defying the statistics. By the end of this year the Orthodox congregation, which has spent the last two decades in the Northwest Yeshiva High School building on Mercer Island, will move into a home of its own — the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, just a few blocks away on Island Crest Way at 47th Street.
Rabbi Yechezkel Kornfeld said that when the spacious midcentury building and grounds came up for sale, they had to go for it.
“We had a wonderful relationship with the yeshiva high school, but we outgrew them,” Kornfeld said. “Everyone realized that we were trying to make the move.”
Given that Shabbat-observant community members need to stay within walking distance of their shul, the new location had to be in the immediate vicinity. That the church came up for sale was, one could say, a godsend.
Shevet Achim put up a rapid campaign to purchase the property and came through with the $4.5 million needed in 18 months.
“It was a true testament to the community that people stepped up to contribute to make the purchase a reality,” said Shevet Achim president Josh Adler. “I believe that for a lot of people it was the vision of what the building [and] the campus could provide the congregation.”
The church was built in 1961 and is highly regarded by architectural preservationists. In addition to a sanctuary space that can hold up to 244, the building has a 3,500 hundred-foot multipurpose space. Shevet Achim has plans for a playground, a nursery for moms and babies, and classrooms, and the leadership hopes to see more lifecycle events take place, as well as the construction of a mikvah.
“The grounds are exactly what we need to grow the congregation,” said Kornfeld.
Shevet Achim’s growth says something about Jewish life on Mercer Island, home to Herzl-Ner Tamid Conservative Congregation and the Stroum Jewish Community Center, but distant from the larger communities in Seward Park and the Northend.
“I think more Jews will more to Mercer Island,” said Kornfeld. “There are many unaffiliated Jews living on the island. I’m sure they will be impressed by our warmth, our nonjudgmental manner.”
According to Adler, the congregation of over 90 families is growing, and at last count had nearly 100 members under the age of 18. Two families joined just last week, Kornfeld noted. Not all members are observant, and some don’t even live on the island.
“It’s a very accepting, warm shul,” Kornfeld said. “Everyone is welcomed unconditionally to the services and programs that the synagogue provides.”
Miriam Friedman moved to Mercer Island and joined Shevet Achim with her husband and three children. The young family couldn’t be happier.
“We were just greeted with such interest and warmth and affection from all the different members,” she said. “There are so many children. We haven’t had a quiet Shabbos since we moved to Mercer Island.”
A community event and open house is in the works for once the move is complete this winter.
“We’re really excited,” said Adler. “This is a very exciting moment for us and Seattle’s entire Jewish community.”