New Jewish Congregations Greet Holidays

Members of newly formed Jewish congregations in Ojai and Camarillo this week are preparing to hold their first-ever services to usher in the Jewish new year.

Services for the Jewish High Holy Days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur will be held across Ventura County over the next two weeks, but they will hold special significance for the county’s newest congregations.

“We’re just anxious and excited that all of our efforts will finally pay off,” said Nancy Greenfield, one of the founders of the new Ojai synagogue. “It should be a wonderful service.”

A growing frustration with the lack of a united Jewish community prompted the formation of the two groups.

The Ojai congregation purchased and converted a Meiners Oaks church into a synagogue where they will gather for this year’s holidays.

Greenfield said about 130 people are expected to attend the first services, which will be led by a student rabbi from Los Angeles.

About 350 people are expected in Camarillo, where the Jewish Families of Camarillo was formed just over a year ago.

“Most of the people were looking for a way to get together locally and celebrate the Jewish holidays together,” said Cindy Wolfsohn, the group’s president. “Now they have a place to go.”

Ventura Rabbi Michael Berk, who oversees the county’s largest synagogue, said he was thrilled with the creation of the new Jewish groups.

“These are people who were looking for something in their own cities to bring them closer to their religion,” Berk said. “I think it’s good for Judaism.”

Holiday services at temples around the county begin Monday night, on the eve of the Jewish calendar’s new year. Rosh Hashanah services will be held Tuesday.

Services for Yom Kippur, the time for Jews to reflect on the previous year and pledge to lead a better life in the year ahead, will be held Sept. 14 and 15.