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Bimah and Sanctuary Enhancement

Overview

The Wulfe Sanctuary serves as both the physical and spiritual center of Temple Beth-El. It has been and will continue to be the calling card of our 150-year-old congregation. As such, we have an obligation to honor this sacred space through the generations.

Goals

  • Maintain the historicity and majesty of our sacred space 

  • Create a more inclusive environment

  • Refresh worn-out elements

  • Enhance the communal experience of prayer and music

History

Our synagogue, and more specifically our sanctuary, is a living, breathing sacred space. Many congregants recall updates made in the 1980s, while even more remember the ones introduced between 2001-2003 that included paint, carpet, and the reupholstering of all the pews.

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For the last decade or so, leaders, clergy, and congregants have envisioned the 21st century version of the Wulfe Sanctuary. We have experienced a communal energy in the Barshop Auditorium High Holy Day services that would be amazing to capture in our sanctuary. We have introduced music in ways we hadn’t imagined decades ago, we think about safety on much different levels, and yes, we acknowledge that even aesthetics have changed over the last 20-40 years.

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Six to eight years ago, Temple received an anonymous $10,000 gift to “do whatever would serve you best.” Leadership invested in researching what it would take to renovate the sanctuary.

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In 2018-2019 we launched a project to “put pencil to paper.” We worked closely with architects to reimagine everything: taking the dome back to its original height, leveling the floor, reclaiming the main entrance through the Freeman Foyer, centralizing the bimah to be under the dome, and yes, new carpet, paint, furniture, and lighting. 

Around this time, several informational sessions were held in the Barshop Auditorium for congregants to hear, offer insights, and express opinions. These responses were factored into the architect’s revisions presented to the Temple leadership team.

 

In March 2020, with two sets of chairs we were ‘sampling’ in our care, we put the project on pause, naively assuming we’d resume in a few weeks.

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Once past COVID, it was clear a major capital campaign to renovate the sanctuary was dwarfed by a stronger desire to raise money for our Cemetery Renovation and Expansion project – an equally compelling and necessary project that speaks to many of our congregants’ hearts.

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The needs of the sanctuary, however, did not go away.

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In partnership with the original architects, the team dreamed smaller, more practically, and cost effectively. In so doing, we built a plan that honors our sacred space and continues the work of those who’ve come before us to evolve our sanctuary as our congregation itself has evolved.

What Else Is Possible?

Once completed, it is our hope to continue a phased approach for additional and necessary enhancements.  These are dependent on funding and Board Approval. Investing in these improvements will provide long-term benefits such as social inclusion for all congregants by removing barriers that prevent the Sanctuary from serving as an equitable sacred space.

 

Below is an outline for potential future phases:

  • Bimah accessibility and safety

    • Updates to accommodate congregants (and clergy) of different abilities, ages, and sizes to fully participate at Temple Beth-El without fear of injury or discomfort. This includes an easily accessible ramp to the bimah.

  • Replacement of seating (limited)

    • Investing in chairs that accommodate all sizes and that create a more communal setting isn’t just about physical comfort—it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and ensuring that everyone feels valued at Temple Beth-El. 

  • Upgrades to lighting

    • Upgrades to the lighting on the *bimah and in the Sanctuary will improve visibility for all, reduce eye strain and fatigue and will be especially important to congregants with visual impairments.

 

We’re excited about these renovations and enhancements and hope you are as well. Feel free to read below for further details including a Q & A, and to check back here for updates.

Timeline and Plans

Phase 1: June - August 2024

This phase has been fully designed, received Board approval, and is fully funded by a legacy gift from Jocelyn Levi Straus of blessed memory.

  • Replacement of bimah carpet

  • Fresh paint 

  • New bimah furniture

Please note the details below of potential future phases are subject to change. This webpage will be updated throughout the process. 

Phase 2:

This phase has completed general design steps to estimate costs. Detailed selections (e.g., specific chairs, exact flooring color), have not been made. Board support exists, but approval has not been requested or granted due to lack of funding.

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Depending on funding, this phase could move forward in Summer 2025.

  • Redesign of the bimah to include a ramp for accessibility (vs. the stairs) for religious and social inclusion of all congregants regardless of physical ability

  • A lower-level speaking point, allowing more intimate engagement between the Clergy and the congregation, this would also provide easy access to the ark

  • A section of movable (and comfortable) seats (vs. pews)

  • New flooring 

Phase 3: The "Wishlist" Phase

Phase 3 is not yet scoped, costed, Board approved or funded. It conceptually allows us to paint the rest of the space, professionally clean the tapestries, add lighting, and finish the project properly. 

Interiors Committee

Deborah Miller

Aliza Cantu

Gayle Alterman

Rabbi Mara Nathan, Senior Rabbi

Eric Ryniker, Executive Director

Debbie Roos, Immediate Past President 

Questions? Contact Us

Eric Ryniker, Executive Director, eryniker@beth-elsa.org

Mark Eichelbaum, President, president@beth-elsa.org

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If you would like information about leaving an enduring Legacy by including Temple Beth-El in your estate plans, or in supporting the future Phases, please contact Aliyah Kuchinsky at akuchinsky@beth-elsa.org or 210-733-9135 ext 109.

Congregation Q&A

Q. Why wasn’t the congregation consulted on this?

Procedurally speaking, that’s not how Temple operates. The congregation elects Trustees to the Board to carry out the business of the synagogue. These responsibilities range from lease agreements to policy oversight to contract negotiations to building maintenance. The Board, on behalf of the congregation, is responsible for accepting, modifying, or rejecting the recommendations of the respective committees. The Trustees are charged with considering “the best interest” of the synagogue in their decision-making, accounting for our disparate demographics, our finances, our future-state, etc.  In this matter, the Board, having heard “the case,” believed it was in the best interest of the congregation to move forward with the recommendation as presented.  

Q. Why are we just finding out about this now?

While the Board approved Phase 1 (and support for Phases 2 and 3) in April 2024, start / finish dates with the contractors needed to be determined before we communicated with the congregation. In the interim, the website for ongoing updates was designed / built.   

Q. How can we afford this?

The Phase 1 refresh has been funded in its entirety by the generous legacy gift of Jocelyn Levi Straus, z”l.  The improved lighting that was installed in March was made possible by the generous gift of Freida Fischer, z”l.  There was no impact to the budget or the endowment.  

Q. I don’t like what’s being proposed / Why aren’t you doing more?

We are a large and diverse congregation with a broad array of tastes, perspectives, and history. While change is hard, especially when it’s tied to the heart, great thought and care has been taken to respect the space and maintain its history and majesty while reflecting that we are a vibrant, 21st century house of worship.  

Q. What's driving this?

Joci Straus’ gift inspired us to look more closely at the sanctuary given her legacy of renovating historic spaces.   

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Practically speaking, safety instigated the conversation. The stairs leading to the bimah are problematic. They are particularly challenging for anyone carrying the Torah, whether they are young or old, wearing high heels or loafers, or if they have mobility issues or are spry. In the last several months, two members have stumbled on these stairs – one carrying Torah, one descending the bimah. (Fortunately, they are unharmed.) 

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As we started looking at the stairs issue, the state of disrepair of the bimah in general became apparent. Joci’s gift allowed us to take a significant step forward in rectifying the latter, even if it wasn’t sufficient to resolve the former.   

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