Charleston has two distinct Jewish congregations that date back to the late 1800s.
Temple Israel, on Kanawha Boulevard, is among the founding members of the Union for Reform Judaism. At Congregation B'nai Jacob Synagogue on Virginia Street, members practice traditional Judaism.
B'nai Jacob has daily services, mostly in Hebrew; Temple Israel services, which include English, are only on the Sabbath and holidays. Biblical dietary laws are observed at the synagogue, but not at the temple. Temple services feature music and are more inclusive of women than the synagogue, where music isn't a part of services.
Despite those differences, both congregations could be worshiping in the same building in the near future.
"I think it's the right thing to do for the next generation and I think it could be exciting for those of us who are here now," said Steve Rubin, a lifelong synagogue member and the chairman of the steering committee planning the possible merger.
The committee plans to present its plan to both congregations this fall for a vote. If they vote in favor of the move, Rubin said the congregations could be worshiping in the same building by Rosh Hashana, the start of the high Jewish holidays in the fall of 2017.
Many details remain to be worked out, including where the combined congregation would worship - at the temple, the synagogue, or a new building.
For now, both congregations are doing fine financially. But local Jewish leaders see their population declining, as it is in many places in West Virginia, said Temple Israel Rabbi James Cohn.
"Both congregations are well-endowed and well-supported right now, but we see what's happening in West Virginia," said Rabbi Victor Urecki, of B'nai Jacob. "Jews in general are the oldest minority in America. Most communities are starting to struggle, except for the largest communities. Again, we've kind of dodged bullet after bullet, but we know what's going to happen in 10 to 15 years."
West Virginia and the United States have fewer Jewish congregations than in the past. Parkersburg's Temple B'nai Israel closed in 2013, according to the News and Sentinel. Huntington's B'nai Sholom is the result of a 1978 merger between a reform and a traditional congregation, Rabbi Jean E. Eglinton said. Rabbis from B'nai Sholom occasionally host services in Ashland, Kentucky, which no longer has a synagogue of its own, Eglinton said.
When Cohn came to Temple Israel in 2009, there were 140 households on its membership list. Now there are 110.
Cohn said his congregation is aging and not being replaced. Young Jews, like many young people, leave the area because they generally don't want to live in the same place they grew up, he said - and with West Virginia's struggling economy, there's not much to draw younger people here.
"Absent some change in the economy that would draw young Jewish people here, there's no reason to believe that trend won't continue," Cohn said. In fact, he said, the rate at which the temple is losing people is increasing.
Talk of some kind of merger has been around for years, Urecki said. But Rubin's committee marks the first time someone's studied it with any seriousness, he said.
Better to join the congregations now, Rubin said, than wait until they're struggling. By that time the members - whose average age is already 65 - will have aged. In 10 to 15 years the congregations are likely to be a lot smaller, he said.
"You're going to have two semi-empty buildings in maybe 10-15 years, and the future can be so much brighter than that," Rubin said.
If the merger doesn't happen, Cohn said, it's possible in 30 years that the temple might have only 25 people.
Under the proposal to be presented to the congregations, both rabbis would be retrained, and both reform and traditional services would be offered from one building.
Cohn said the committee's plan to merge is unusual in that it seeks to honor both traditions without either having to forfeit its identity.
"If I had any misgivings, it would be because of the concern that either identity might be submerged in the other, and I'm not seeing that here," Cohn said. "I'm seeing a lot of respect for and enthusiasm for retaining the traditions, customs and approaches of both."
The Jewish Sabbath begins Friday at sunset and ends Saturday at sunset. The new facility shouldn't have scheduling conflicts for Sabbath services because the temple traditionally holds services Friday night and the synagogue has them on Saturday morning, Cohn said.
The exception might be for Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement that falls in September or October. But Cohn said there will probably be other rooms in the building besides the sanctuary where services can be held, he said.
Rubin envisions a center that offer programming for all ages.
Urecki uses a coffee shop metaphor. A past synagogue would offer one style of worship - only black coffee, in Urecki's comparison. He envisions a "Starbucks" model, where there's something for everyone.
"The community of the future has to be able to attract everybody - and even people who might not necessarily be Jewish, or want to be Jewish, there might be something that the center [can offer them]," Urecki said. "It will be a nondenominational, welcoming, inviting place for everyone who would like to be a part of it."
Rubin said the 18 steering committee members have organized other committees to study various other aspects of the combination: from rituals to finances to the facility. More than 65 people from the Jewish community have been involved in the work. Rubin said he's been at 45 meetings about the possible combination.
He credits the "smart, talented" people on the committee who have given countless hours to planning.
If the congregations vote yes, there'll be more work to do, he said.
"It's gonna take a lot of work and dedication," Rubin said. "And fortunately we have those people available in our community who are willing to give the time and energy."
There are three options for a building - the temple, the synagogue or a new facility entirely. Even if one of the existing buildings is chosen, there will be changes.
"The committee's idea is that it's going to be a new sanctuary, so it will be something that we build together that will incorporate aspects of both congregations and also incorporate something new," Rubin said.
The committee has looked at property it could buy for a new facility.
"To buy and build new - that would have been the preference, to build new - but we found that the financial reality is that property in Charleston is very expensive and then the cost to build is very high," Rubin said.
Urecki observes Shabbat rules that prohibit driving or riding in a car on the day of rest, so moving his place of worship might require him to move as well, within walking distance.
As you might expect when talking about changes regarding a religion that's been around for thousands of years, there's been some trepidation, the rabbis said.
Cohn said he's not sure if the Temple Israel congregation will vote yes on the combination.
But things will happen as they should happen, he said.
"My approach is a non-anxious one," Cohn said. "I can see great opportunities if they decide they want to combine. I see a great future if they don't."
Urecki has been with B'nai Jacob his entire 30-year career. He said it would be much easier for him to keep doing what he's been doing.
But change is often necessary for growth, he said. He wants to be sure the Jewish community that he loves will continue to be there for his daughters the same way it's supported him, he said.
"That's their community," Urecki said. "It would be a disservice to them if we didn't start planning for their future."
Reach Lori Kersey at lori.kersey@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-1240, or follow @LoriKerseyWV on Twitter.