Congregation smaller, but still quite robust

Tuesday's article on the “diminished” Jewish community (“New London's Jewish community places hope in youth,” Oct. 13) was painful.

Omitted was the fact that over 500 households attended Emanu-El and Beth El high holiday services. Scores of families attend weekly Shabbat services. And hundreds attended last week's Sukkot, Simchat Torah, and Shemini Atzeret services and festivities. Both synagogues' online adulted and social functions draw healthy crowds.

But most painful was The Day's assertion that only 70 families remain at Beth El. In fact, Beth El and Emanu-El each has about 200 member families.

It's true that synagogue membership has shrunk, just as for most religious organizations. But it's diminished local economic activity over 20 years that's caused population loss.

It's true that Beth El sold its building, but we're not without a house of worship. We share space with Crossroads Presbyterian and formerly at All Souls Unitarian congregation. Both churches have a long, welcoming history. Finally, Beth El, Emanu-El and the Jewish Federation are working to create a common campus.

Like most local faith communities, we meet via the “House of ZOOM.” COVID-19 hasn't discouraged but actually boosted attendance at our religious and social events.

No apologies are called for. Just please encourage reporters to factcheck and remember that they're just a phone call away from the synagogue leadership they want to write about. Matthew Shulman

Groton