Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-02-03
THE HUMAN SIDE OF RELIGION
Rabbi to Be Honored
On Anniversary
BY CASPAE NAMES

Ill July 1900 u young couple
came. to Washington on their
honeymoon.
They visited the imposing
government buildings, went to
Mount Vernon, drove past the
numerous houses Of worship in
the city.
The couple liked what they
saw, so much so that the bride
remarked wistfully at the end
Of their visit, II wish we could
stay here"
What was expressed as a for
lorn hope Unexpectedly came
true. Five months later Rabbi
Henry Segal, then spiritual
leader Of Ohev Sholom Congre-
cation at Albany, N. Y, was
called by B'nai Israel Congre-
cation here.
He accepted the call and
came to Washington in De-
cember that year. Next week,
starting Friday and concluding
Sunday, the congregation will
honor Rabbi Segal on his silver
anniversary as its spiritual
leader. The observance will be
climaxed with a testimonial
dinner at Z pm. February IL
in the Fig Auditorium Of B'nai
Israel Congregation, Sixteenth
and Crittenden streets NV.
Memories crowd in these
days upon Rabbi Segal.
II came here as a young man
just married and now at the
end Of Is years I am a grand
father" he said. This means
my life and the life Of my
loved ones have been bound up
closely with this community"
Perhaps his most satisfying
achievement has been erection
of the present beautiful B'nai
Israel synagogue, auditorium
and educational wing. When he
came the congregation was wor-
Shipping in a structure at Emer-
son and Fourteenth streets
N. w., accommodating 420
persons. The building on Six
tenth street seats, 1875 wor-
shippers in the main auditorium,
with provisions on high holy
days for an additional 800 in
the Fig Auditorium.
1T took seven years to raise
the money for our present
home," Rabbi Segal recalled.
"At times it was discouraging.
But we persisted. We started
in 1943 when Sam Fig was
president and dedicated the
building in 1851 when William
Bernstein was president"
When the rabbi arrived in
1886 the congregation had ITS
families and go children in the
religious school. Today it has
800 families and $50 young stu
dents.
But despite this growth Rabbi
Segal has managed; mainly
through his own personality, to
impart q feeling of warmth
and friendliness throughout the
congregation. Visitors immedi-
ately notice this quality.
THE ties Of Is years have
gone deep and have been abid-
ing" he observed. 1--WE have
many close friendships with
the families Of our congrega-
ton"
This concept has been at the
root of Rabbi SegaPs success
full years here. 4
I'm my work I have had a
good time and much Of 1t has
been devoted to my preaching
Duties" he explained. But I
believe my most lasting con-
tribution has been in the pas
toral service I can give. I am
in touch with our families in
their joys as we'll as in their
sorrows. We ha We become
Close"
An important development
that has taken place in the
congregation during the years
stems from the tremendous
growth Of Washington. When
Rabbi Segal came most of the
members lived in the general
. area. Today the congregation
comes from many places, some
as far away as Wheaton, Md,
and Arlington, Va.
This dispersal Of members
has resulted in an innovation
by the rabbi. He has established
a branch religious school in the
Oakland Terrace Elementary
School in Wheaton to serve
the children of families in that
section. Glasses are held there
on Sundays and after school
during the week.
One encouraging aspect is the
closer feeling people in his con-
gregation have for Washington.
when I first came here, I
found a widespread tendency
of people to speak of cities and
towns they hail from as home"
he said. "They considered Wash
ington as merely a transient
stopover community. AS a re-
. suit it was hard to get a SYM
pathetic response or material
support from them for projects
. aimed at benefiting the local
: community. Today I find among
. our people, as well as others, a
greater sense of being at home
here and a better spirit Of COM
munity responsibility toward
Washington itself"
Rabbi Segal praised the Jew
. ish Community Council Of
9 Greater Washington for pro-
viding cohesive quality to the
F.. numerous Jewish organizations