Our neighborhood synagogue, Shiloh's Ashkenaz (mammash Ashkenaz, not Nusach Achid Sfard) was too small for our needs from the start. But it was all we could afford, and somehow it managed to hold quite a few festive occasions. For many, many years each committee when elected to "govern it," declared that "expanding the shul is our first priority." I was on the committee a few years ago for a few years and must admit failure.
Then a couple of years ago a new committee was elected, and a neighbor, who is davka descended from Sefardi Syrian Rabbis took over. He made it almost an obsession, the good type done to help the community, to expand the shul. He got an architect to find ways to utilize every single possibility, and he was on the scene working with the contractor daily. As the building progressed, some of the plans changed. In the end, I can see that it all makes sense.
There are three new seating sections. Two are for the women, one upstairs extending the old Ezrat Nashim (women's section) balcony and one downstairs, which is accessed by a ramp for wheelchairs and baby carriages. The ramp/doorway is next to a playground.
The men also have more seating room. And we still have a combination "kiddush" study room library. The stairs to the balcony were moved. They're not yet finished, so a temporary set was arranged.
One of the amazing things these past few months was that the synagogue stayed in use every single day. Every Shabbat, regardless of what had to be destroyed in order to build, there was an Ezrat Nashim, women's section, and our community's life wasn't affected.
May this be l'illui nishmata
to raise the soul
There are three new seating sections. Two are for the women, one upstairs extending the old Ezrat Nashim (women's section) balcony and one downstairs, which is accessed by a ramp for wheelchairs and baby carriages. The ramp/doorway is next to a playground.
No comments:
Post a Comment