On the second day of his walk across America, Pastor Corey Brooks and 10 companions were welcomed at Congregation Ahavas Shalom in Newark, NJ, by their president, Eric Freedman, as the first stop on United Synagogue's Operation Tent of Abraham and Sarah.
After a longed-for rest and the first kosher meal of their lives, Pastor Brooks and his team were taken upstairs to the sanctuary. Eric told the history of Ahavas Shalom, as the longest operating synagogue in Newark, and the special story of the beautiful wood ark that originated in a Reform temple, Rodeph Shalom. Then they had a special experience with Torah.
Pastor Brooks' son, Corey, walked to a Torah scroll that was placed on a table. Rabbi Rozenwasser encouraged him to open it, and, to their surprise, Corey turned to the first line of Parshat Re'eh, Deut. 11:26, "Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse."
Eliseo read the Hebrew to the group, and translated it to English. "How perfect for you on this day," he said. "Through your walk, by example, you're asking others to choose life as well."
Pastor Brooks and his group are in New Brunswick, NJ, heading to Philadelphia, where they will be welcomed by more Conservative kehillot. They are finding kehilla on their way.
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