BJBE Plans to Move to Deerfield
Progress and Plans
The Building Together Capital Campaign has already raised $7.2 million toward our campaign goal of $12 million. In addition to this great fundraising progress, our congregation has grown tremendously in recent months.
We are now approaching 900 memberships, with new additions almost every week. Along with our membership, school enrollment is increasing. Currently, more than 500 children are attending one of our amazing BJBE Religious Schools and developing a deeper understanding of our Jewish faith and traditions. Adult programming is also on the rise. Because congregants asked for it, we have initiated a new and already popular Shabbat morning Torah study. Danny Maseng will be our very special Artist-in-Residence in April. His visit will feature a performance of the widely acclaimed Soul on Fire including our own Cantor Jennifer Frost. BJBE is committed to continuing to meet the needs of its members as we continue to grow.
Construction is slated to begin in spring of 2008, and we anticipate a dedication ceremony in early 2009. We are currently hosting a series of virtual tours of our new home and will host hard-hat tours of the site next year.
Contact the BJBE office for more information about any of these events. As we look to the future, BJBE will continue its legacy of being an open, welcoming Congregation and we hope
BJBE’s New Home: The Architect’s Vision
The design of Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim is derived from the definition of the word synagogue, which means to come together, to assemble. The concept of community, which may seem obvious, is actually a happy confluence of Congregation BJBE’s program goals and Finegold Alexander + Associates’ philosophy of synagogue design.
Central to the design is the concept of the Village Center. This idea is represented by a special space just beyond the main entrance doors. Greater than a lobby, greater than a community court, this space is designed to represent, respect and capture the energy of Congregation BJBE. It is a space of many mini-functions that affords the opportunity to meet and greet and encourages people to stay.
This concept is important because today’s synagogue represents congregants from a wide geographic area, and the Village Center allows congregants to get to know each other better by creating serendipitous moments.
Not only is this space essential for fostering community, it also serves as the organizing space from which all other functions are easily identified. BJBE’s design includes at least four spaces that are specifically detailed for worship and special events: sanctuary, social hall, chapel and contemplative space. Each is different in spatial concept yet all relate as a “family” of design elements.
In the classroom wing, a similar Village Center Court in the heart of the space affords opportunities for worship and for special educational programming as well as simply for the children to meet and greet each other. The design, while respecting its location and environment, emphasizes the use of natural light.
When completed, BJBE’s new home will support and facilitate the energetic concepts engendered by the congregation and our own architectural philosophy.
Moe Finegold
Finegold Alexander + Associates
August 2007
Message From Rabbi Kedar
February 1, 2007
Dear Congregants:
Well it really is cold. I suppose we were lulled into the hope that maybe we would escape winter in Chicago, but here it is. This afternoon, I couldn’t get the heat going fast enough as I began my drive to Temple. As I was shivering, my mind was racing with a kind of to-do list that appeared as a montage of bullet items, images and prayers. All at once, I was thinking of tomorrow evening’s Tu B’Shevat Shabbat dinner (the holiday where we celebrate trees, nature, creation), the latest architectural drawings (ask to see the plans; they are wonderful), nurturing the new and emerging leadership (we are blessed with so many people who are stepping up to enhance our community), a fresh idea for Confirmation class (what a fascinating group of teens), the playlist I want to share with the cantor (isn’t she wonderful?), and, oh yeah, and don’t forget to tell Rabbi Linder…..
My mind came back to the road. The heat had kicked in. As I passed Glenbrook Hospital, the thoughts in my head stopped and my heart filled with prayer. I often pray in the car, sending words, blessings and light to God, and to people. I started to see the faces of those on my prayer list, an inventory of souls and caring and healing. Then my heart went to the families that lost people this past couple of weeks – their eyes swollen, rimmed with tears. Some old, some very young. I saw their profound grief; I felt the presence of our community as we surround the mourners with love and support.
I turned the corner to Lake, turned down the heat in the car and switched from radio to CD to try to find an inspirational song. My mind kicked in again… I guess I should start packing for Israel, (I’m going for a week to visit Talia and Ilan). Left on Milwaukee, into the middle strip to go into the temple and there it was!
FOR SALE. They put up a “For Sale Sign”.
The sight of the sign shocked me, though I knew it was coming. Somehow to see it caused all the thoughts and images I had in my morning ride to merge into an explosion of emotion: excitement, sadness, anticipation, fear, hope. All that I was thinking, that mixture of thoughts and images burst forth into a single prayer:
Oh my God,
Steady our congregation, for the winds of change are in the air.
We are like the beautiful almond tree of the Land of Israel –
rooted in our love for Torah,
our yearning for God and meaning and purpose,
passionate for justice and healing,
aspiring to be a part of a compassionate and caring community.
And as we reach toward the future, dear God,
Let us be like the almond tree – grounded in holiness.
May we be an array of beauty, blossoming, flowering, bearing fruit.
Our core values are not for sale. We will take them with us.
Holy One, guide us, steady us, bless us
as we continue to move from strength to strength.
Shabbat Shalom,
Karyn Kedar
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