Isolated Jewish congregation requires self-reliance

An important part of faith is the ability to worship with like-minded believers, but what happens when there are not many like-minded believers around? A story by Sheila Hagar in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin highlights the challenges facing the small Jewish community in largely rural southeast Washington.


Congregation Beth Israel, which has had as few as 10 families, now has about 40 families in the congregation. They have only had one full-time rabbi, who stayed for only 2 years. This has meant that the congregation must work to foster their religious practice. Noah Levitt, president of the congregation, told Hagar, "It's not unusual for Jews who move here from larger cities to be surprised to learn of the level self-reliance the local congregation needs. If they want a Jewish lifestyle, they will have to shape it, make it happen."


The local Whitman College helps shape this Jewish lifestyle in Congregation Beth Israel. Synagogue life is maintained through "local leadership, influx of new families and a stream of energy and new ideas as Jewish Whitman students enter the community." But the congregation also sees a responsibility to work on interfaith dialogue and to educate others about their belief. All too commonly, congregation members hear "I didn't know there were Jews in Walla Walla," Leavitt told Hagar. "I think it is our responsibility to show others another way to think about religion." (Read more)