Jeff Dannis joined Temple Emanuel shortly after it opened at its Reisterstown location in 1996. The synagogue quickly became an integral part of his family's life. It's where he was married and where his son was confirmed.
On Saturday, Dannis was among the temple's congregants to help it move to another location. Congregants carried the synagogue's Torah down Owings Mills Boulevard on a ceremonial walk to its new home on Crondall Lane.
"I started coming here and brought the whole family in. It's home. This will be home," Dannis said after Saturday's service.
The service began at the Berrymans Lane building, which Temple Emanuel sold in response to declining numbers. Temple Emanuel will now rent space from Beth Israel synagogue on Crondall Lane.
Before the walk, Rabbi Rhoda J.H. Silverman read Sh'lach L'cha from the Torah; it describes 12 spies who are sent to survey Canaan, the Promised Land of the Israelites. Silverman describes how 10 of the spies report back their concerns about the new land, while two others, Joshua and Caleb, speak of its possibilities.
Silverman likened story to the challenges that remain for Temple Emanuel, of fitting in with a larger, established synagogue yet maintaining a distinct identity. She urged her congregation to see the benefits of the move.
"We must move forward. We must strive to see the potential for milk and honey, for promise. We must, like Joshua and Caleb, see the goodness that lies beyond the challenges," Silverman said.
She said after the service that she fought back tears, and called the move "bittersweet." Given the economic realities, she said they couldn't remain in their original location. She noted that another local synagogue had to file for bankruptcy.
While some expressed concern about the Reform congregation losing its identity by moving in with Beth Israel, a Conservative synagogue, David Beller, president of Temple Emanuel, said that "it's an opportunity for a unique collaboration" between Reform and Conservative synagogues.
Such collaboration, he said, has never happened in the Baltimore area.
"It's sad and very exciting at the same time," said Barbara Narrow, a board member, describing the many milestones — from weddings to funerals — members had experienced at the building on Berrymans Lane.
On Saturday, much of the synagogue had been packed up. In the entryway, bookshelves sat empty. A note was taped on the front that read "sold."
Some of the school's desks were sold to Baltimore County schools, said Andy Benjamin, a past president, who handled the logistics of the move. Some of the books were donated to the Towson library, he said.
The building was sold to Messiah Community Church.
At Beth Israel, Benjamin said, they will renovate a space for a new sanctuary, which will not be completed until the beginning of next year.
"To me, this solution makes sense. We don't need a big building," Benjamin said as he walked.
The group endured the heat and humidity. At points, drivers honked their horns as the group made its way down the sidewalk along Owings Mills Boulevard.
They had taken a bus from Berrymans Lane to Owings Mills Road, since synagogue officials said marching across Reisterstown Road would be a violation of county ordinance.
Some carried water bottles in their pockets. Some wore wide-brimmed hats for relief from the sun. But a few opted for the kippah, a traditional head covering. Many wore shorts and tennis shoes — one young participant rode in a jogging stroller — as they passed a shopping center and walked up the hill to Beth Israel.
Once inside, they placed the Torah inside the wooden ark, or cabinet, and concluded the service.
"Shabbat shalom. Please stay hydrated," Silverman said, concluding the first service at Beth Israel.
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