Synagogue opens its doors to congregation without church | November 22, 2005

By Mandy Bolen
Keys News

Although the wind of Hurricane Wilma demolished the building that houses Unity of the Keys church on Flagler Avenue and sent the walls and facade crumbling in on themselves, the congregation of about 120 people has not missed a Sunday service.

The Jewish congregation of B'Nai Zion immediately offered worship space to the displaced church that has been meeting at the United Street synagogue ever since the hurricane. "The rabbi invited us, and we haven't missed a Sunday," said Aaron Andes, administrative assistant at Unity of the Keys. Andes reported that crews bulldozed the Flagler Avenue church on Tuesday, and the church is drafting some architectural plans for a new building that will include worship space and classrooms to accommodate the 12-step recovery meetings that take place there. "We're planning on being at the synagogue until we can move into our new building, so it could be several months," Andes said. And they're welcome to stay as long as they need to, said Fred Covan, president of the B'Nai Zion board of directors, who describes himself as a part-time rabbi and full-time psychologist. "We were so glad to be able to do this for them, it's been a feel-good situation for everyone," Covan said, reminiscing about the community's generosity following the arson attack that destroyed the synagogue in April 2002. "We're glad to do this because it's the right thing to do, but it's also a chance to give back to the community for what they did following the arson." Pastor David Florence of Unity of the Keys had offered his church as an alternative location following the synagogue fire, Covan said. But the congregation eventually ended up at St. Paul's Church on Duval Street. Covan also pointed out that "Sunday for us is just a regular day, so the scheduling is not a problem." B'Nai Zion has also become host to the Chabad Jewish congregation since the group lost its lease on Eisenhower Drive. "It's really become an Interfaith Center these days," Covan said. [email protected]