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Celebrating Moiv Than 75 Yiars of Service
VoLLXXIII No. so Onulia
23 Nuan, S7M, AprU 12,1996
Ground-breaking Sunday, April 21
Beth El to complete building plan By Diane Axter Baum, free-lance writer
m m^M ground-breaking ceremony at Beth El on April 21, at 12:15 p.m., will officially launch a construction project to complete the synagogue building, according to Bruce Friedlander, congregation president. Jhe facility will be named the H. Lee and Carol Gendler Family Center. "Lee and Carol Gendler made a generous gift 18 months ago. Their gift provided the impetus for us to undertake an initial gifts campaign and to form the Building Completion Planning Committee," Friedlander said. Chairman of the completion committee is Bruce Shackman. During the past 18 months, Friedlander searched out pledges to reach the million dollars necessary for the project to move ahead. Simultaneously, numerous committees worked on program design ideas. Financing plans were approved by unanimous vote at a congregation meeting on March 24. In addition, opportunities exist for dedications in the
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tiew facility, said Friedlander, who is chairing the dedications campaign. , Architect for the project is Marty Shukert of RDG Crose Gardner Shukert. Contractor is Hawkins Construction Company, under the direction of Willis Epstein. Construction is scheduled to start in May. Estimated cost is $1.5 million. Mr. Shukert said the building project will increase Beth El's existing social hall by approximately 55% and more than double the current storage space. He said the Family Center will provide facilities for Beth El Synagogue Talmud Torah, including seven large classroom-multipurpose rooms, two offices, a lounge area for students, and a room that will function as a computer lab and teacher work room. Another feature will be a sky-lighted court adjacent to the social hall. An outdoor space to be known as the "Garden of Peace" is among future options planned.
Carol and Lee Gendler Mr. Shukert said the addition will make use of the same brick color and architectural rhjrthms as the existing building. "The addition will be an enhancement of the existing building and maintain its integrity," he explained. "This addition will take a building that works extremely well and make it better," said Mrs. Gendler. She and her children, she said, are extremely pleased that the Family Center will be a lasting tribute to her husband's memory. Lee Gendler, who was president of Marathon Realty Corporation, served as president of Beth El and chairman of its school board. Before his death last fall, he was in constant contact with Friedlander to discuss efforts to bring the building project to fruition. Following the ground-breaking ceremony, a light lunch will be served. Hollie Fineman and Sheila Polikov are co-chairing tlie event.
Dr. Zev (Adolfo) Roitman to speak at the JCC
Dr. Zev (Adolfo) Roitman, curator of Jerusalem's Shrine of the Book, the museum built in 1965 to house the Dead Sea ' /crolls, will speak at the JCC Itheater, Tuesday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. Dr. Roitman's ilecture will be held in coruunction with the opening of the Bethsaida and Jerusalem Artifacts exhibit, "Cities of Dauid: From Bethsaida to Jerusalem" which will be on display at the Jewish Community Center from April 23 through May 20. Dr. Roitman was appointed curator of the Shrine of the Book in November 1994, replacing Magen Broshi, who retired after having served in that post since the museum's opening in 1966. His goal for the museum is to teach about Jewish History through the Scrolls, especially about the development of Judaism. "Much has been written about the value of the Scrolls for our understanding of early 'Christianity," Dr. Roitman said. But the first step
is to understand them in the light of Second Temple Judaism. The second step is to grasp their implications, as they touch on other movements, such as Christianity and Hellenism." Dr. Roitman, originally from Argentina, moved to Israel in 1980 after completing a B.A. in Anthropology in Buenos Aires. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and taught in the departments of Jewish Thought and Comparative Religion at the University. He also taught at the Seminary of Jewish Studies. Dr. Roitman's lecture is sponsored by the Jewish Cultural Arts Council and is underwritten by a grant from the Philip and Ethel Klutznick Chair in Jewish Civilization at Creighton University. The lecture is free and open to the public. The exhibit, "Cities of David: From Bethsaida to Jerusalem" will be on display in the Jewish Community Center gallery Monday through
Thursday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit features artifacts excavated at Bethsaida and antiquities on loan from the Bade Archaeological Museum in Berkeley, Calif, from a site seven miles from Jerusalem. Bethsaida, translated as "the house of the fisherman," is oneand-a-half-miles from the Sea of GaUlee near the Golan Heights. The exhibit includes fishing implements; wine cellar; gods, goddesses and minor deities figurines; palace wares and Hellenistic and Roman finds. An important find is a first-Century shard of pottery displaying a cross, which is significant because it predates by 300 years the use of the cross as a Christian symbol. Both the exhibit and Dr. Roitman's lecture are a part of the ongoing celebration of the 3000th Anniversary of Jerusalem.
Young leaders visit Washington
Lgft pKotm flrom left, Suaan Lehr, Jeff Oordauui, Jeff Epstein, SUMUI Norten, Senator Jamea Ezon, Tom Vann, J.D. Gordman, Kevin Saltzman, Suaan Noddle. MiddUt pKotoi Suaan Lehr, Senator Bob Kerry, JeffEpatein, Tom Vann, Kevin Saltzman, Jan Perelman, J.D. Gordman. Right photfK Tom Vann, Kevin SalUman, Jeff Epatein, Jon Chrlatenaen, Jeff Gordman, Suaan Norton, Suaan Lehr, JJ). Oordnua; ttuUdt Suaan Noddle. Stoo^ on p<va''• A ;,:!.• iai£Lis^ai4u*j3i"s.j_;j'=-T:.;
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