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May 25, 2001/Sivan 3, 5761, Vol. 53, No.34
Temple forms in Sun Lakes
LEISAH NAMM
Assistant Editor
After drawing more than 50 people to their first two Shabbat services, the founders of Havurat Emet of Sun Lakes have filed for incorporation as Temple Havurat Emet and will apply for membership in the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC).
The new congregation will hold its first service at 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 1, in the Bradford room at Oakwood Country Club, Sun Lakes.
Future Shabbat services will be held on the first Friday night of each month, including summer months.
UAHC is the congregational arm of the Reform movement.
Rabbi Lester Frazin and Cantorial Soloist Laura Eisenhart will lead services, with musical accompaniment by Larry Eisenhart.
Frazin formerly led ser- vices at the Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, a Reform congregation that began in the mid-1980s and holds Shabbat services on the second Friday of each month, excluding summer months.
Lester Merritt, treasurer of the group, cited the reason for the split as an "internal conflict" and said Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, with more than 500 members, was becoming "unwieldy" and stopped taking people from surrounding communities.
Marty Silverman, president of Sun Lakes Jewish Congregation, was unavailable for comment.
Sun Lakes is a gated retirement community for adults over 40.
Elected officers of Temple Havurat Emet are Harvey Friedberg, president; Sherine Frazin, vice-president; Joyce Tubben, secretary; Lester Merritt, treasurer; and Dr. Mel Moss, financial officer.
Havurat Emet membership dues, which include High Holiday services, are $36, starting in September.
Call Frazin, 480-802-0831, or Eisenhart, 480-802-4068.
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