Adath Israel to build new synagogue By Stacey Dresner APRIL 1, 2005 - NEWTOWN -- Due to the growth of its membership during the past several years, Congregation Adath Israel is building a new synagogue and Hebrew school. A groundbreaking for the new building will take place Sunday, April 11 at 12:30 p.m., at the building site, which is adjacent to the current synagogue on Huntingtown Road. "We have outgrown the old building. When it was built, it was for 20 families. Now we have 100 families with kids," explained Gilda Slomka, chair of the fundraising committee. Congregation Adath Israel was founded in Newtown around 90 years ago by a small group of Orthodox Jews from Eastern Europe. The congregation built their current synagogue in 1919. Adath Israel grew until the 1940s when many of the younger members moved to larger cities for jobs. Less than 20 families belonged by 1970, and the congregation voted to become Conservative in hopes of attracting new members. In recent years, the synagogue's membership has been growing, with people coming from not only Newtown, but the towns of Monroe, Southbury, Woodbury, Trumbull, Brookfield, Danbury and Bethel. Three years ago, Rabbi Shaul Praver was hired as the congregation's first full-time rabbi. "We have seen significant growth in the last three years, going from 75 families to 100," Praver said. "We are more visible now. Until I came, it was seen as a part-time synagogue. We are now going through our adolescence from a part-time to a full-time synagogue. Until now we have perceived ourselves as being out in the ‘boonies.' In truth, we are trying to turn a negative into a positive." Praver said that the synagogue has recently joined the UJA Federation of Eastern Fairfield County, because more than 25 percent of Adath Israel's membership resides in Monroe n which falls within the Bridgeport Federation's scope. This, along with the synagogue's plan to open a preschool n something desperately needed in Newtown n should bring in more membership, Rabbi Praver explained. "With the new building and by joining the Federation, we are trying to get our ducks in a row," he said. Adath Israel's current two-story building takes up less than 2,000 square feet, and houses the synagogue's sanctuary and the Hebrew school, which has an enrollment of 60 children. The new building will be around 11,000 square feet in size and will include a new sanctuary, Hebrew school and social hall. The new building should cost a little more than $1 million. Slomka said that about $600,000 still needs to be raised through the congregation's capital campaign. The groundbreaking weekend will begin with a Shabbat service and oneg on Friday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. A fundraising dinner dance and silent auction will be held on Saturday, April 9 from 6:30-11 p.m. at 707 on Main in Monroe. On Sunday, local officials and clergy, including Rabbi Praver, will be present for the groundbreaking, followed by champagne toast and light lunch. For more information, call (203) 426-2932 or (203) 264-0804.