Just like the people of Moses, wandering in the desert for 40 years on their way to the Promised Land, a congregation of Messianic Jews in Northeast Ohio has been four decades without a synagogue to call home.
Just like the people of Moses, wandering in the desert for 40 years on their way to the Promised Land, a congregation of Messianic Jews in Northeast Ohio has been four decades without a synagogue to call home.
Until now.
Just as Joshua lead his flock across the Jordan River into Canaan, Rabbi Eric David Lakatos will be leading a procession Dec. 1 as his flock brings their Torah from rented facilities in Lyndhurst to their newly constructed Ark at Tikvat Israel (Hebrew for “Hope of Israel”) in Chester Township.
The congregation — one of an estimated 400 Messianic Jewish groups in the United States, Israel and worldwide, and the only one on the east side of Cleveland — follows Jewish traditions, but worships Jesus, or Yeshua in Hebrew, as the Messiah.
“We are Biblically-based at the intersection of Judaism and Christianity,” explained Chester Township resident Jeff Roberts, media director for the synagogue.
“We are ideal for interfaith couples, for Christians who love Israel and want to learn more about the Jewish roots of their faith, and for Jewish people who desire a more Biblical approach to worship,” Roberts said.
Services are mostly in English, with some liturgy in Hebrew, and both the Old Testament and New Testament are used.
“We observe both Jewish and Christian holidays,” Roberts said.
Current members come from Parma, Akron and as far as Pennsylvania. The congregation is part of the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America.
The 40-year-old Tikvat Israel congregation recently purchased the former Prince of Peace Church —which the synagogue will continue to share with the church since the synagogue’s Sabbath services are on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. and Prince of Peace worships on Sundays.
The modern building at 9319 Mayfield Road — designed by a Jewish architect for its original Methodist church owners — has gone through several identities through the years, including serving as the Chesterland Senior Center. The building eventually fell into disrepair.
Prince of Peace Pastor Kevin Sowers said his congregation purchased the property in 1991 and has put about $150,000 in repairs and upgrades to the building, including new siding, a new roof, new flooring, an updated kitchen and a new HVAC system.
Sowers said his congregation, part of an outreach from the Prince of Peace Church in Mentor, has been dwindling in numbers for the past several years and could no longer sustain itself.
“We had reached out to several churches that are meeting in schools and other places, and found this congregation,” Sowers said. “This will allow us to continue worshipping here every Sunday at 10:30 (a.m.) because we’ll be utilizing the same space at different times.”
The congregations will be hold some services jointly. Signs have been going up in the building in both English and Hebrew.
Sowers said his members will be able to learn more about the historical Jewish roots of Christianity.
“I think the Lord has opened this door for both of our congregations,” Roberts added. “I can’t wait to see what He has in store for us.”
On Dec. 1, Lakatos will lead his congregation at 9:30 a.m. in a motor caravan Sefer Torah parade from Lyndhurst to the new synagogue, where Eduardo Rodriguez will blow the traditional ram’s horn, also known as a Shofar, calling people to worship. The Shabbat service will be held from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Hanukkah services, including lighting of the Menorah, will be held every night from Dec. 2 through Dec. 8 from 5-6 p.m., and a special Hanukkah Shabbat service will be held Dec. 9 at 5 p.m., followed by an Oneg dinner at 6:30 p.m. The public is invited, but people are asked to RSVP for the dinner by calling 216-297-9929 or visiting tikvatcleveland.org.
