Past, present, and future leaders of Congregation Beth El in South Orange, celebrating a ceremonial ground breaking on June 7 for the synagogue’s $6.7 million renovation, are, from left, Rabbi Emeritus Jehiel Orenstein, congregant Michael Och, Cantor Perry Fine, Rabbi Francine Roston, capital campaign cochairs Ed and Diane Stein (partially covered), congregants Scott Bieber and Atara Jacobson (and their children), and congregation president Mark Brownstein.
Photos by Johanna Ginsberg
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Preschoolers perform at the ground breaking.
June 11, 2009
The hard hats were out and the golden shovels were ready to go on June 7 as Congregation Beth El of South Orange held a ground-breaking ceremony for its $6.5 million renovation project.
Construction is scheduled to begin in July and last about 18 months.
When it’s all over, upgrades will include a new entryway and lobby area, a new energy-efficient HVAC system, an enlarged chapel, a remodeled sanctuary with attached social lounge, a new social hall, and refurbished bathrooms that use energy-efficient water technology.
The renovation, designed by architect Lance Blake of Rotwein & Blake in Livingston, will include elevators to connect parts of the building that were built on different levels. (The building was constructed in two sections, one in 1948 and one in the 1950s.)
“Much of what we are doing is not glamorous; it’s just taking a building designed in the 1950s and bringing it into the 21st century,” synagogue president Mark Brownstein told NJ Jewish News.
Asked whether he worried about embarking on a renovation in the current economic climate, Brownstein said, “We are pleased to see that commitments to the campaign are holding firm and pledged contributions are continuing to come in. Building trades are anxious for work, and this is emerging as a silver lining to starting our project now.”
The ceremony was attended by about 100 people, including South Orange village president Doug Newman, who addressed the gathering.
Other speakers included Rabbi Emeritus Jehiel Orenstein, current religious leader Rabbi Francine Roston, Brownstein, and capital campaign cochair Susan Lieberman. The children’s and adult choirs, led by Cantor Perry Fine, performed, while teenager Jason Roth entertained younger children with his balloon creations.
The ceremony culminated in a symbolic shoveling of dirt in the front of the sanctuary by Roston and Fine, together with capital campaign cochairs Diane and Ed Stein and Susan and Mitch Lieberman, Michael Och, and Atara Jacobson and Scott Bieber and their children.
After the ceremony, Diane Stein, who held back tears, told NJ Jewish News, “If we don’t do this, there’s not going to be a future for those kids. That’s why we’re doing this. We believe in synagogue, in family, in tradition.”
Mitch Lieberman added, “We’re here to honor the founding families of Beth El, who had the foresight and vision and desire to build something for the next generation. They had the ability and vision to do it. Here we are, 60 years later, building something for the next generation.
“We’re really proud we can participate, and we hope the next generation will do the same.”
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