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Religion

40-year journey leads to Judaism

A Lutheran and a Baptist become "itinerant congregants" before deciding on a faith and a temple that make them feel completely comfortable.

By JEAN JOHNSON
Published April 23, 2005

SPRING HILL - After a long period of studying and accepting Judaism, Bob and Wilma Houghton will celebrate their third Passover, when God passed over the houses of the Jews as all of Egypt's first-born were being slain.

They will again partake of a seder at Temple Beth David Jewish Center on Sunday, the second day of Passover.

For the couple, the search for a faith they could embrace wholeheartedly took 40 years.

"It was like a process of elimination, and we'd go back and forth identifying with Isaac, Jacob and Abraham," said Wilma Houghton.

"It was more of a choice of how to interpret the Scriptures," she said. "It was a belief in "this is what you have to believe or else,' and that's what really makes sense to us. It's the connections to Judaism and learning, teaching and reflecting the Jewish life."

Even though they taught their four children - who are 30 to 40 - about Judaism, the children didn't embrace its beliefs.

"But they do respect our beliefs," she said. Their youngest daughter is in London studying for her master's in comparative religion.

"Although she is undecided about which faith, she wants to teach religion when she returns to the States," said Wilma Houghton, lamenting that the other three don't attend any particular house of worship. "They go with us to the temple when they visit."

Wilma Houghton, who was born in Germany and grew up in the aftermath of the Holocaust, was raised a Lutheran and was still a nominal Lutheran when she immigrated to the United States.

Bob, born in Ohio and raised in New York, was a Baptist. His grandmother was Episcopalian. While in the Army, stationed in Germany, he met Wilma in 1963. They married in 1965 and moved to the United States the following year.

The couple attended Episcopal churches for a while. Although they constantly studied the scriptures, "we could never tie it all together," he said.

Although his Army dog tags read "Protestant," Houghton said during the course of his life he visited every denomination.

"I referred to myself as an itinerant congregant," he said.

Their search eventually led to Judaism.

"We went round and round and one day we decided to go to the temple and check it out," he said.

They joined a class, "A Taste of Judaism," ordered books from the Orthodox Union in New York City, conducted independent research and then "agreed on the ultimate decision, made the choice and became Jews," Bob Houghton said.

Although he makes it sound simple, the conversion required months of classes, reading and studying.

"It is a process," he said. "It's not just something you lightly go into. Lots of people don't understand, but we simply couldn't find a place where we felt absolutely comfortable. There were the long, holy faces that you see a lot of on TV and to the extreme on other side, where they were dancing up and down the aisles. None of it seemed to fit me.

"In Judaism we found a complete balance to our liking; we found a home and a place to be," he said. "It is the first time we have ever been a member (of a house of worship)."

Sheila Friedman, administrator at Temple Beth David, met the Houghtons in 2001.

"It was during their first visit, during their search of where they needed to be," Friedman said. "They attended services and joined the conversion class."

Since joining Temple Beth David almost three years ago, the Houghtons have become very involved in temple life and participate in all holiday observances.

"Once they came to Beth David, they jumped in with both feet. They embraced us, and we embraced them," Friedman said.

"Everyone was impressed with their knowledge and their com-

She added: "They respect everyone's religion and have a tolerance for everyone's beliefs."

Because of Bob's work commitments, he and his wife attend Friday services only about twice a month. But the couple usually attend the Sunday minyon services for daily prayers. The rest of the week is "an individual thing."

A Passover seder will begin at 6 p.m. Sunday, conducted by Rabbi Cyrus Arfa and soloist Gloria Goldman, at Temple Beth David Jewish Center, 13158 Antelope St., Spring Hill. For information and reservations, call Marlene Shaw at 650-4521.

[Last modified April 23, 2005, 00:54:19]