The Groundbreaking for our Temple renovation took place on Sunday, May 20, 2001. With over 500 people in attendance, there was excitement and celebration in the air! The event began in the Temple Sanctuary with Rabbi B. Allison Bergman giving the Invocation, then Rabbi Stahl gave the D'var Torah. Harry H. Levy, IV, Temple President, welcomed everyone and introduced all the dignitaries and building representatives. Cathy Heins and Sandra Rosenberg, Groundbreaking Committee Chairs, told everyone of all the events happening for the day. Religious School children, led by Renee Rubin and Rebekah Planto, led the congregation in singing "V'Samti Makom." Rabbi Block then said a few words and and led everyone in a responsive reading for the kindling of the ner tamid (eternal light). The beautiful hand-crafted ark, designed by Bernard Harris and built by Gerald Dubinski, will be used for worship services during the construction period. Everyone then went outside on Belknap Place, and received a hard hat as they left the building. Harry H. Levy, IV, and Elliott Z. Cohen, Building Committee Chairs, used a golden shovel to move the earth brought in for the occasion, while congregants and guests in hard hats looked on. Kids painted a mural, to be used as a temporary backdrop for our worship services to be held at Christ Episcopal Church, lunch was served in the Jacobson Garden, and families had their photos taken on a backhoe. If you'd like to view or order prints of those photos, go to http://www.texasexposures.com.
Below are 50 photos taken by Warren Lieberman and Mary Ann Green during this festive occasion. Please have patience as they load.
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