Two former members of Kingsbridge synagogue search for families of roughly 320 memorial plaques
Fred Smith and Richard Baum, who are two former members of the synagogue, are hoping to return roughly 320 memorial plaques to their rightful families.
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What was once the Kingsbridge Center of Israel is now transforming into Grace Tabernacle Church.
With the church moving in, Fred Smith and Richard Baum, who are two former members of the synagogue, are hoping to return roughly 320 memorial plaques to their rightful families.
"I just walked by casually and I see this becoming Grace Tabernacle. So I said, 'Can I come in and take a look?' And the pastor was very gracious," said Smith.
After walking inside, he noticed the memorial plaques were still located on the wall where he remembered them to be as a child.
Shortly after that visit, Baum and Smith started a mission to return the hundreds of plaques to their families.
"I have been translating the Hebrew into English. There's a Christian name on them, and there's a Hebrew name," shared Baum.
Each golden plate honors the life of a former member of the congregation.
"The significance of the plaques is when somebody passes away, the survivors, the spouse or sometimes the child, will arrange to have the plaque made. On the anniversary of the death, a prayer is said for each person," Baum explained.
Baum shared that, traditionally, along with the plate and prayers, a candle is lit in honor of the person for 24 hours.
Kerlin Calderon, the lead pastor of the new church moving in shared a few words in support of the work Baum and Smith are carrying out.
"I just want to honor Fred and Richard for their hard work. They're doing things for people that obviously is going to be very meaningful and honoring for their families. And I'm pretty sure that they don't know half of those families," said Calderon.
Although Kingsbridge Center of Israel has moved on, Smith and Baum are enjoying carrying out one last deed in honor of what was.
"I remember when we read the idols of the king, and there's a quote that says, 'The old order changes, yielding way to the new. And God fulfills himself in that way.' So that's what I think happened here, said Smith.
If you know a friend or family member who may have had a plaque inside the Kingsbridge Center of Israel synagogue, you can send an email to KCIPlaques@gmail.com.
