May 3, 2018
ANNOUNCING A MAJOR MILESTONE FOR THE KARAITE JEWS OF AMERICA
We will soon welcome our members and the larger Jewish community to our beautiful new space, following four years of intensive planning, fundraising, and construction to renovate and expand Congregation B’nai Israel and to establish the Karaite-Jewish Cultural Center.
We will soon welcome our members and the larger Jewish community to our beautiful new space, following four years of intensive planning, fundraising, and construction to renovate and expand Congregation B’nai Israel and to establish the Karaite-Jewish Cultural Center.
Public festivities will take place later in the summer, but we plan to re-consecrate our Sanctuary for members soon. Expect to receive further details once the construction is complete, final occupancy permits are received, and the finishing touches are in place.
We are absolutely thrilled and can’t wait to share our joy with all who have supported the transformation of our Synagogue. Stay tuned for announcements, and enjoy the photos that show a work still in process, but nearly ready for prime time. A few highlights of the changes and new amenities include:
Words will never do justice to the efforts that have gone into making this project a reality under the leadership of KJA Board President and Building Committee Chair David Ovadia, who spearheaded the project and supervised every aspect of its construction phase from his vantage point as a civil and structural engineer. As with all construction projects there were delays and challenges along the way, but these will soon be forgotten as celebrations begin.
Nothing would have been possible without the financial support provided by members of the Board, the Building Committee, leadership investors, and hundreds of other donors from across the Karaite community in the Bay Area and beyond. Their generous philanthropy has allowed us to meet our fundraising target and to realize our vision of a new home designed to sustain our unique Karaite heritage for future generations.
The building, however, is only part of the story. What happens within represents the next chapter. The hands-on engagement of the entire community is needed to turn our beautiful new structure into a vibrant living space for spiritual renewal, prayer, learning, and fun for all ages. The Synagogue must resonate with activity far beyond weekly Shabbat services, but only your participation can make this happen. So to each person reading this announcement: please lend your voice as programs are planned and implemented in the next phase, and be prepared to be engaged!
Please email Board President David Ovadia at Davidovadia62@gmail.com if you can volunteer to help the KJA Board in the final weeks, as a variety of tasks must still be accomplished to open the Synagogue to members and friends.
Congratulations and thanks to all who have been so involved in making this wonderful vision a reality. Mazel Tov !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are absolutely thrilled and can’t wait to share our joy with all who have supported the transformation of our Synagogue. Stay tuned for announcements, and enjoy the photos that show a work still in process, but nearly ready for prime time. A few highlights of the changes and new amenities include:
- A significantly expanded Sanctuary enhanced by a gorgeous oriental-patterned broadloom carpet custom fitted to the re-designed space
- A beautiful new Social Hall to host our Kiddush lunches and a variety of other events
- An expansive new meeting space housing a library, conference room and classroom
- A state-of-the-art kitchen
- Re-designed bathrooms augmented by a new accessible bathroom and baby-changing area
- A gated, re-paved concrete parking lot
- Many structural and infrastructural improvements including a new roof
Words will never do justice to the efforts that have gone into making this project a reality under the leadership of KJA Board President and Building Committee Chair David Ovadia, who spearheaded the project and supervised every aspect of its construction phase from his vantage point as a civil and structural engineer. As with all construction projects there were delays and challenges along the way, but these will soon be forgotten as celebrations begin.
Nothing would have been possible without the financial support provided by members of the Board, the Building Committee, leadership investors, and hundreds of other donors from across the Karaite community in the Bay Area and beyond. Their generous philanthropy has allowed us to meet our fundraising target and to realize our vision of a new home designed to sustain our unique Karaite heritage for future generations.
The building, however, is only part of the story. What happens within represents the next chapter. The hands-on engagement of the entire community is needed to turn our beautiful new structure into a vibrant living space for spiritual renewal, prayer, learning, and fun for all ages. The Synagogue must resonate with activity far beyond weekly Shabbat services, but only your participation can make this happen. So to each person reading this announcement: please lend your voice as programs are planned and implemented in the next phase, and be prepared to be engaged!
Please email Board President David Ovadia at Davidovadia62@gmail.com if you can volunteer to help the KJA Board in the final weeks, as a variety of tasks must still be accomplished to open the Synagogue to members and friends.
Congratulations and thanks to all who have been so involved in making this wonderful vision a reality. Mazel Tov !!!!!!!!!!!!!!