A Conservative and a Reform congregation have voted to merge here. The Conservative Congregation Beth Israel, 106 years old, and Reform Congregation Judea, 16 years old, will be called Beth Israel–Judea and will use the facilities of the former Congregation Judea. The decision was ratified by about 75 percent of the memberships of both congregations.
Conservative services will be held every morning and evening and on Saturday mornings, with Reform services on Friday evenings. Rabbi Herbert Morris, now of Judea, will continue as rabbi with Beth Israel’s rabbi of 42 years, Rabbi Elliot M. Burstein, becoming rabbi emeritus. No date has been set for implementation of the merger. New school facilities and a large auditorium will be erected adjacent to Judea. The sanctuary will be replaced by a larger edifice eventually, it was reported by the Jewish Community Bulletin, weekly Jewish newspaper.
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