Timeline
1983
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Southington Jewish Community Group begins. Hy and Ellen Rosenstein and Mike Rodensky contact local Jewish families to form a “group”. Earliest members included the Rosensteins, Feinsods, Egdishes, Rosenblatts, Kleinmans, Seidmans, Kovaliks, Richfields, Israels, Meyerowitzes, Strombergs, Gozzos, Mike Rodensky, Art Blumer, Rubins (owned Nutmeg Bakery), Bernice Tanzman Diaz (Stromberg), Howie Stromberg, Joyce and Ralph Kaufman.
Original services are held in members’ homes. Howie Stromberg volunteered his wife, Bernice, to lead lay services. Joyce Kaufman leads the first service.
Incorporation papers are filed with the State of Connecticut, 12/8/1983.
First real meeting is held at St. Dominic’s. Some services are held at Briarwood College.
Southington Jewish Congregation joins the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union of Reform Judaism).
- Services are held at Briarwood College.
- Bernice Tanzman Diaz (Stromberg) and Ed Rosenblatt led bimonthly lay services.
- Purim Carnival at St. Dominic’s Church
- First Sunday School children’s program is offered on September 9, 1984 at Southington YMCA with first formal objectives, goals, etc. organized by Robin Lensi and Joyce Kaufman.
- First Summer picnic
- High Holiday Services held
- November – name changed to Southington Jewish Congregation.
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1984
1985
On 8/1/85, the congregation changed its name officially to the Greater Southington Jewish Congregation and filed the state paperwork.
- President – Len Egdish “ A building does not make a Jew. The first shul that a Jew knows is the one he lives, the feelings in his heart and soul that he is Jewish.”
- Services are being held at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church
- High Holiday services are led by rabbinical student Sharon Sobel and negotiations take place to bring her to Southington on a regular basis..
- Military Torah purchased by
Southington Jewish Congregation joins the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union of Reform Judaism).
- Services are held at Briarwood College.
- Bernice Tanzman Diaz (Stromberg) and Ed Rosenblatt led bimonthly lay services.
- Purim Carnival at St. Dominic’s Church
- First Sunday School children’s program is offered on September 9, 1984 at Southington YMCA with first formal objectives, goals, etc. organized by Robin Lensi and Joyce Kaufman.
- First Summer picnic
- High Holiday Services held
- November – name changed to Southington Jewish Congregation.
Rosenblatt and Bernice Tanzman Diaz (Stromberg) from Rabbi Seymour Zahn in Hartford for $100.
- Fundraising dance held at St. Thomas School.
- First Apple Harvest Festival – selling potato skins
- First baby naming, May, 1985 – Bernice and Howard Stromberg’s baby, Lisa.
- October 17, 1985 – Are loaned a Torah from Congregation Beth Israel in West Hartford. Rabbi Silver tells GSJC, “If we ever need it, I’ll call you”.