BY ALLEN HOWARD
The Cincinnati Enquirer
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Rabbi Arthur Flicker, stops and blows the Shofar as members of the congregation walk over 11 miles to their new synagogue.
(photo photo)
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Rabbi Arthur Flicker, leader of the Ohav Shalom congregation, sounded the Shofar early Sunday.
Thus started an 11-mile walk, carrying two Torah scrolls from the church's former building in Roselawn to its new location in Sycamore Township.
"We are carrying out a Jewish tradition," Rabbi Flicker said. "Whenever a Jewish congregation moves from one location to another, the tradition is that they walk and carry the Torah scrolls."
The group that gathered at the old church building at 1824 Section Road in Roselawn took turns in carrying the two Torahs with the five books of Moses scrolled on parchment.
The old church is now occupied by Beulah Baptist Church, an African-American congregation.
Kenneth and Lois Germain were in charge of the Torah walk.
"We have the walk divided into segments of a quarter of a mile each," Mr. Germain said. "At each quarter of a mile, the Torahs will change hands."
As Rabbi Flicker sounded the Shofar repeatedly, about 19 marchers gathered behind him. They were joined on the way by many others. Marty Ruben and Irv Fox, both board members at the church, prepared to carry the Torahs the first quarter-mile, timed at seven minutes.
"When the congregation moved from Forest Avenue (Avondale) to this location (Roselawn), we carried the Torah scrolls," Mr. Fox said.
He is a third-generation member of the congregation, which has about 320 families.
The trek started in the parking lot of the old church and moved east on Section Road. Marchers followed Section Road to Ridge Road and moved north on Ridge to East Galbraith Road.
Rabbi Flicker sounded the Shofar with each exchange of the Torah carriers.
The walk went east on East Galbraith to Kenwood Road, north on Kenwood to Cornell Road and on to 8100 Cornell Road, the new location.
Shortly after noon, as the walkers moved onto Kenwood Road, Mr. Germain said they were right on schedule and had no problems. "We have plenty of water and orange juice on hand," Mr. Germain said.
"We ended the walk with a lot of enthusiasm," he said. "We cut the ribbon, read congratulatory letters, prayed, sang and danced."
Ohav Shalom was the last non-orthodox synagogue in Roselawn. It moved from Roselawn to its new building in Sycamore Township in June. The new building also houses an early-childhood education unit, which opened this year and is operated with the Jewish Community Center.
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