Our New Building

"An unfurling scroll" is one of the descriptions that members of Kehillat Yedidya used to describe the look of our building, construction of which began at the start of September 2000 and finished in August 2003.

The new building, which architect Mendy Rosenfeld has managed perfectly to integrate with its park side environment, has approximately 700 sq. m. of floor space on two floors. The upper floor serves as the main sanctuary, and the lower floor includes space for women's Torah readings, children's activities, and a large multi-purpose area and an office. A basement level has been started and we hope it will be finished in the not-too-distant future.

According to the architect, one of the special features of the building is the quality of the light. Rosenfeld envisioned a sanctuary that is brightly but indirectly lit by natural light through the use of windows placed in such a way as to take full advantage of the direction of the sun's rays in the early evening and the morning. The intention, he said, was to create a space that is at once open and welcoming, but also "set apart" for prayer and devotion.

The sanctuary, of course, has special features in keeping with Kehillat Yedidya's practices and beliefs. The table from which prayers are led and the Torah read, like the Ark, is the center of the synagogue, equidistant from both the men's and the women's sections.

One prominent feature of the new building is the long ramp that leads from the building's entrance up to the sanctuary on the second floor. The ramp provides equal, convenient access to the sanctuary for all worshippers, including the handicapped. It also serves as a transition area in which people arriving for prayers move from the outside into the holy area of the sanctuary itself.

Community Learning Center - Capital Campaign

After important and constructive discussions in the Kehilla, the decision has been taken to go ahead with planning and fundraising for the completion of the lower level of our synagogue. The lower level was partially built when our building was originally completed in 2004, at an investment of 1.1 million shekels. It was not completed at that point for lack of funds. In order to turn the existing bare walls and concrete floors into a useful space and even provide for a substantial programming budget, we lack only about 480,000 NIS out of an additional budget of 1.4 million shekels. Over 900,000 NIS has already been pledged to this effort.

The Community Learning Center will be used by our dynamic and growing youth programs and to alleviate conflicts with simultaneous activities such as women’s torah reading; as a permanent home for our new and successful Evening Bet Midrash; for extra davening spaces during the holidays; and many community programming initiatives. The building program also includes an outside Kiddush patio and handicapped access. A new Programming Committee has been formed to decide how best to use the added programming budget, which is available already for 2009.

We ask you to take an active part in this exciting project by making a pledge to the special building fund which has been designated for the project. Each Kehilla “unit” is being asked to make a commitment of 3600 NIS, which can be paid over a three year period (about 100 NIS per month). This is a flexible guideline – please feel free to pledge in accordance with your ability to give. Larger donations will help us reach our goal faster – we direct your attention to the list of dedication possibilities in the new center. Let a friend or relative that might be interested in a naming opportunity see this list. Newer members: this is your chance to do what the vast majority of our veteran members did when the building was built. In the original building campaign, 80% of our membership took part.

The attached form can be used to indicate your pledge. Please return it to the synagogue office or email to adyed@013.net.il.

You can direct any questions to Marc Render on behalf of the Fundraising Committee.

Yours truly,