In the August 14, 1998 issue of the Jewish Voice, the following article described the founding of Delaware’s newest congregation, Seaside Jewish Community in Rehoboth Beach.

At the Seaside…

An exciting development is taking place in lower Delaware. A new organization, the Seaside Jewish Community, has enlisted one hundred members in its brief span of a little over a year. It all began with a news item in a local paper. Peter Wise who, at the time, owned a small restaurant in Rehoboth Beach put out a call for anyone interested in participating in Jewish services and traditions. The response was overwhelming. Over a hundred people attended the 1997 Seder at Peter’s restaurant.

Since then the Community has found a home at the All Saints Church in Rehoboth where The Reverend James E. Manion and his congregation have provided a warm and hospitable place for the group’s monthly meetings. At one especially meaningful program, a group of Holocaust survivors shared their experiences. At another meeting, the Community enjoyed an excellent production of a short play about two German friends who grew apart during the Hitler era. Another fine program brought in a reconstructionist rabbi from Philadelphia to talk about the woman’s role in Judaism. The Community has also welcomed children with activities such as a Chanukah party and Passover and Purim festivities.

Currently, the Seaside Jewish Community is planning a picnic meeting at the home of Bob and Lenora Cohen, and a New York trip is slated for the near future.

With the interest already demonstrated and with the help of Daniel Chejfec from the Jewish Federation of Delaware who worked with the group to establish direction and goals, the Seaside Jewish Community looks forward to an active and rewarding future.