By Andrew Hackmack
Members from the two congregations celebrated their unity last Sunday with a ceremony and feast at the Temple Gates facility on Corona Avenue.
The new congregation will be known as the Valley Stream Jewish Center and serves the conservative Jewish community. Congregation Tree of Life sold its building on Central Avenue last year and since then members have been services at attending Temple Gates of Zion.
Rabbi Yechiel Buchband described the merger as the marriage of two institutions. "It's not one temple absorbing another," he said. "It's two congregations coming together."
Both temples had dwindling membership in recent years, which members from both congregations said made the consolidation necessary. The Valley Stream Jewish Center has about 160 congregants. "We're much stronger together," Buchband said. "We're hoping that other struggling communities will join with us."
Bruce Wulwick, president of the executive board, said one reason the merger went so well is that Congregation Tree of Life members really enjoy Rabbi Yeichel's services.
Wulwick explained that the merger was discussed for at least a year and the entire process went very smoothly. He noted that the Temple Gates of Zion building has great facilities to serve and expanded congregation including the sanctuary, banquet hall, classrooms, library and gymnasium.
Wulwick said that a new sign will soon go up in front of the building identifying it as the Valley Stream Jewish Center. "It's a good name to satisfy both congregations," he said.
Sheila Lewis, a 50-year member of Congregation Tree of Life, said the merger is bittersweet. "We've found a very warm and welcoming group of people," she said.
Lewis, who along with her husband Herman were instrumental in the merger, said it was a logical step to merge the two temples. "You have one shrinking here and one shrinking there, you have to put it together as a whole," she said. "The fact that these two temples decided to merge shows they wish to be a strong and growing part of Valley Stream."
She noted that the two temples have had a long history of working together.
Jonathan Landsman, a lifelong member of Temple Gates, served on the merger committee. He described the consolidation as a "peaceful process" and agreed that it was best for both congregations.
"Everything's great," he said. "We have a lot more members and we're on very stable financial ground. We hope to be here for many, many years to come."
Joel Eichenholtz gave a brief history of Temple Gates of Zion during the ceremony. He said that the land was purchased in 1953 and the building was officially dedicated a decade later. In 1970, he noted, Temple Gates congregant Harry Reed was elected the mayor of Valley Stream.
As the merger committee chairperson, Eichenholtz explained how he first approached Congregation Tree of Life about the consolidation because many people were beginning to realize neither temple was going to survive on its own. "We wanted them to be part of our community, and we wanted to be part of theirs," he said.
He said since the two congregations have begun worshipping together, he sees a rejuvenated spirit among members.
Village Mayor Ed Cahill spoke at the ceremony and wished the Valley Stream Jewish Center the best of luck. "It's such a great day," he said. "The churches and synagogues are just so important, not just here in Valley Stream, but all over."
