Context: This is a congregational merger. They have been sharing space and largely functioning as one organization for a year, but the two communities have often been siloed. The formal, legal paperwork has just received the final touches, and we have billed this Kabbalat Shabbat as a special service to honor the merger. We’ve been building up to this ceremony throughout the service, but particularly, we have introduced it during L’cha Dodi - setting up the image of a loving union: Shabbat with the Jewish people, and now Temple Beth Tsuris with Congregation Rodef Kesef. They have chosen to take on a new name entirely: Kehilat Shira Chadasha. The service is being led by the rabbi (retained from one congregation) and the cantor (retained from the other), as a symbol of the new merger and community bonding.

Danielle: Earlier in the service we mentioned that L’cha Dodi is a piyyut where we, as the Jewish people, greet Shabbat as our collective bride.

David: We are now finalizing our congregational merger. We are setting a seal. Our merger is a holy partnership and a holy union.

Danielle: A time of celebration and joy.

David: Embracing a new identity.

Danielle: Transitioning from two congregations with two unique names to one shared community, singing a new song.

David: And transitions can be challenging. We are no longer single congregations, but we’re forming a union to create a new family. We are agreeing to pray together, be one community, support each other in times of sickness and in health, grow our family, and welcome others into our shared home.

Danielle: We have been sharing space for the last 6 months: praying together in this sanctuary, celebrating weddings, supporting our Hebrew school students, grieving at funerals, and having spirited debates at our new book club. Now this building is officially our joint home, which will witness all of our shared experiences going forward.

David: Before a couple is married, the couple sits down and signs the State marriage license with clergy and witnesses. Then they sign a ketubah where they set down in writing what they expect from each other and how they want to be in relationship. In the marriage of our congregations, the Merger Committee has finalized the legal contracts, and now it’s time for us as a new congregation to sign our ketubah and make our promises to each other.

Danielle: [Displaying the ketubah] Over the past few months, we asked for your suggestions of how you envision this new congregation. We received many poignant submissions, including several from our Hebrew school students. Using these submissions as guides, the Merger Committee drafted this ketubah and Ploni Cohen from Congregation Beth Tsuris added his beautiful artwork.

David: I’d like to invite up the heads of the merger committee, Emily Aaronson and Ilana Goldman, representatives from both former congregations, to be the firsts to sign our congregational kebutah. During the oneg after our service, the Rabbi and I invite you all to sign your names at the bottom of this Ketubah. We will leave it open for the next month for those who were not able to join us this evening to sign as well, and then we will frame this ketubah to hang in the Iacono Lobby.

[Emily and Ilana sign contract.]

[Pik’s Shehecheyanu]

Danielle: On your handouts for tonight’s service is the text of the Ketubah. I’d first like to invite congregants from the former Temple Beth Turis to rise as you are able and read the first section.

TEMPLE BETH TSURIS:

- We, the congregants of the former Temple Beth Tsuris, promise to love our neighbors as ourselves.

- We promise to open the doors of this building as wide as the entrance of Abraham and Sarah’s tent, so that it feels completely like home to our new partners.

- We are happy to have so many new friends.

[Now I ask the congregants from the former Congregation Rodef Kesef to rise and read the second section.]

CONGREGATION RODEF KESEF:

- We, the congregants of the former Congregation Rodef Kesef, will miss our old building and also love praying and learning in this new one.

- We will love our new school and enjoy going on trips together.

- We promise to add our strength to enhance the congregation’s missions of tikkun olam - repairing the world - and pursuing justice.

[Together, we read the last section and make the following promises to each other.]

KEHILAT SHIRA CHADASHA:

- We, the founding members of Kehilat Shira Chadasha, promise to show support to one another in times of joy and pain, to celebrate simchas and mourn losses as a community.

- We will honor our unique pasts and build a new future together as a holy congregation. - We will always be nice to each other; sharing is caring.

- We promise to see one another as family, living in one home.

- We will use our voices to sing a new song, together.

[Cantor leads all in singing “Bless This House” by Marshall Portnoy. Joint congregational choir joins in.]

David: We remain standing as we begin our Torah service. Traditionally, a Jewish wedding is begun with the couple circling together. We’d like to do our hakafot in a new way this evening. We’d like to invite up Mike Moskowitz, Jane Smith, and Rudy Huxtable to lead us in a communal hakafa around the sanctuary.

[Torah is removed from the ark. Ki Mitzion/Baruch Shenatan/Shema.]

[Hakafah: Cantor leads all in “V’nomar L’fanav shira chadasha” and other hakafah tunes a la Simchat Torah.]

[End evening with a reprise of Bless This House and Siman Tov.]