Our Building

Our building design is centered on two major themes: Tikkun Olam (to repair the world) and the number Ten. Along with our friends at the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration, we have redeveloped the site to be user friendly and environmentally conscious, an aspect of Tikkun Olam. Clean water from our roof is directed to fill a natural pond on the site. The parking lot drains through oil separators into a detention swale which allows the water to percolate into the soil and recharge the aquifer rather than entering the sewer system. Outside lighting provides a well lit, safe area while being careful not to disturb neighbors. A stroll along the gently sloped walkway leads through a garden to our handicapped accessible front door. The front entrance beckons you with the peak over the doorway reaching for the sky.

A welcoming design continues as you enter the building. Coming through the doorway, directly in front of you is the entrance to the sanctuary and, in your line of sight, is the Bima with ten tall windows, five on either side. This theme of “ten” occurs many times in Jewish life and is found throughout our building. The centerpiece of our Bima is the Aron Kodesh or Ark, where our three Torahs are stored.  Above the Ark is a stained glass window with a Star of David. In front of the Ark is our Torah reading table, custom designed to complement the Ark. Our Ner Tamid, eternal light, hangs above the Bima and has been designed by artist Amalia Flaisher. In keeping with our theme of Tikkun Olam, the illumination for the stained glass, the Ark and the Ner Tamid are all solar powered with the solar panels located in the garden outside the sanctuary. Yet another feature of our sanctuary is an inductive loop system for the hearing impaired. Hearing aid wearers need no special equipment to take advantage of this amplification as we strive to be as inclusionary as possible.

As you visit other areas of the building you will notice the comfortable sitting area in the lobby. This has been intentionally designed as a place for family and friends to gather and enjoy time together. Our administrative office is found in the front left corner with a large window overlooking the lobby. The wall area across on the left as you enter the sanctuary has been reserved for recognition of our generous donors who have made this building possible.

Walking down the hallway to the education center, you will pass a stained glass depiction of the tablets with the Ten Commandments. The glass is set in the wall of the Rabbi’s office and is visible from the office as well as the hallway. Entering any of our four classrooms, the lights sense your presence and turn on. They will automatically turn off when you leave. The lights in the restrooms have the same feature. One of the classrooms has been furnished specifically for younger children. The two classrooms which directly abut the sanctuary have folding walls, opening to allow for additional seating during the High Holy Days.

The kitchen is located in the other hallway. It has been designed for our family style pot luck events. The forty nine cubic foot double door refrigerator provides plenty of space for keeping foods cold while the double oven has ample room for heating hot dishes. The kitchen has additionally been plumbed for a future dishwasher.

Our building has multiple heating and air conditioning zones allowing us to cool or heat only the areas being used. While being environmentally responsible, this will also help to reduce operating costs. The lower level has walk out access. It provides space for storage as well as our mechanical room while the major part is unfinished and available for future upgrades.

~Jill Pelunis, Etz Hayim historian