News Release: Chevrei Tikva Community to Become Part of the Fairmount Temple Synagogue-Community
NEWS RELEASE FROM: Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple and Chevrei Tikva
Chevrei Tikva, a synagogue with outreach to gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) Jews, and their families and friends, and Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple , one of Ohio’s largest Reform congregations, are pleased to announce that the Chevrei Tikva community will become part of the Fairmount Temple synagogue-community.
Over the last year, Chevrei Tikva held a series of congregational and board meetings to determine the best option for its continued development and decided to become a Chavurah within Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple.
"Anshe Chesed means ’people of loving kindness,’ and the clergy, staff, lay leaders, and members of Anshe Chesed have for years demonstrated loving kindness to Chevrei Tikva and its members," said Jonathan Freilich, Chevrei Tikva’s Vice President for Membership, who leads the transition team. "This transformation from an independent synagogue to a chavurah ("group of friends") within a synagogue will enable our members to devote more time to GLBT Jewish outreach and Tikkun Olam ("repair of the world") including the quest for GLBT civil equality."
Rabbi Howard Ruben, Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple’s Senior Rabbi said, "As our doors always have been open to the GLBT community, now we open our arms in welcome to the Chevrei Tikva Chavurah of Fairmount Temple."
Chevrei Tikva, which affiliated with the Reform movement in 1991, has been led since 2001 by Rabbi Rachel Rembrandt. Dr. Nancy Huntsman, Past- President of Chevrei Tikva, said "The warmth and acceptance I felt at Chevrei Tikva invited me both into Judaism and a community where I’ve been able to grow and give back. We are grateful to Rabbi Rembrandt for her leadership and continuing support for this transition. I am excited to be part of this new chapter of life for our congregation."
Fairmount Temple Board President Mort Levin said he anticipates that by the end of summer the Chevrei Tikva community will become full members of the Fairmount Temple synagogue-community and begin participating in every aspect of congregational life. He compared the dynamics of a Chevrei Tikva Chavurah to Fairmount Temple’s current YPC (Young People’s Congregation). "YPC is a very active group of young adults who coordinate tremendous programming which is especially inviting to that community yet open to all members of Fairmount Temple."
Gregg Levine, one of the founders of Chevrei Tikva, said, "while I feel sad that Chevrei Tikva will no longer be an independent synagogue, I am overjoyed with the wonderful progress the Jewish community has made in understanding and acceptance of GLBT Jews. I am very excited about the new Chevrei Tikva Chavurah of Anshe Chesed Fairmont Temple and look forward to the endless opportunities for the community."
For more information from Fairmount Temple: Laura Munson, Fairmount Temple, 216-464-1330.