The Farmingdale Jewish Center recently closed its Farmingdale location and combined with the Wantagh Jewish Center. Now called the Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center and located in Wantagh, the center serves over 400 families, making it one of the largest congregations in southeast Nassau County.

On Oct. 29, 1950 the group known as the Wantagh Jewish Community Group was formed and voted to be a Conservative congregation. In July 1951, Rabbi Mordecai Rubin was hired as a weekend rabbi as well as for the High Holiday Services. May 1953 saw the groundbreaking for the synagogue.

The Farmingdale Jewish Center traces its roots back to 1926 when the First Hebrew Congregation of Farmingdale was founded. In 1944, the name was changed and the first building that it could call its own was dedicated in 1948.

At separate congregation meetings in April, both congregations voted to consolidate the synagogues. Effective July 1, the Farmingdale Jewish Center and Wantagh Jewish Center combined resources to form the Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center. Financial and demographic concerns were the main reason for the merger.

From Jewish education to book clubs, the Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center offers a variety of programs and activities for all age groups, including daily minyans, adult education programs, a sisterhood, a men's club and couples club. The addition of the Farmingdale Jewish Center has brought a Yiddish Club and egalitarian services to the Wantagh Jewish community.

The Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center will have two co-presidents this year; Maddy Ross, formerly president of the Wantagh Jewish Center, and Bob Cooper, formerly president of the Farmingdale Jewish Center.

Cooper, a Farmingdale resident himself, said he is at the new center every night.

"It is very gratifying," he added. "I was expecting it to be much more difficult. We're trying to build a consensus for everyone, but so far the response of both congregations has been incredible and I'm really proud of what's happened."

Ross, a Wantagh resident, said she and Cooper have been cooperating nicely and even collaborate on their tasks.

"For the Torah dedication we wrote a speech together and for the High Holidays Booklet we wrote one article together," she added.

As for combining the boards, Ross said it is now 80 members strong.

"We have co-everything and every position has co-positions," Ross explained. "No one was left out. It was a true consolidation."

Rabbi Alan Lavin, who joined the Wantagh Jewish Center in 2003, remains the congregation's spiritual leader.

"I was very pleasantly surprised to see many more people at services, both Friday night and Shabbat morning," Lavin said. "Services during the week have been particularly strengthened as well. People from Farmingdale have been coming quite regularly."

Lavin said he has been meeting with the Farmingdale congregants regularly.

"They do miss their building and their traditions and it's a little bit bittersweet but most of them are very excited," he added.

Recently, Torahs were escorted from Jerusalem Avenue down to the synagogue on Woodbine Avenue during the march along a two-block route by members of the congregation and were heralded by the sounds of blasts of the Shofar, the ram's horns sounded historically through the ages and on High Holy Days. To help the new congregants blend together, the Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center will be hosting a New Membership Get-together on Sunday, Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

The Farmingdale Wantagh Jewish Center office, located at 3710 Woodbine Ave. in Wantagh, is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. If interested in joining, call 785-2445 and leave a message for Membership Vice Presidents Bruce Hartman or Charles Paress. For more information call 785-2445 or visit www.templefjc.org.