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Interior Sanctuary Wall Design
Here is the latest look at the concept for the east wall of the new sanctuary approved by the JCC Board at the June meeting. 12 of our existing stain glass windows will enhance the bimah, with the additional 2 windows, which are larger in size, placed on the north wall (1) and south wall (1). Flanking the Star of David above the ark will be the menorahs which are on either side of the present ark. Many thanks to Sherry Fruchterman, Interior Design Committee Chair, for her input and hard work with this concept.
The Rebuild Committee, working with C. W. Brearley, A.I.A., Civil Engineer firm of Horn, Tyson, and Stuart Snyder, Esq. filed on or about March 23rd the JCC application for Long Beach Township, Land Use Board (LUB) approval. The JCC application was on the LUB’s agenda for Wednesday, April 14th. The JCC was represented by Stuart Snyder, Esq., architect C.W. Brearley, A.I.A., and civil engineer Jim Brauzowskie of Horn,Tyson.
Our application included two minor variances: (1) A reduced front yard spacing off of 24th street, and (2) Forty-nine [49] instead of 60 parking spaces on the property. The Land Use Board UNANIMOUSLY approved the application and commented that the JCC Rebuild Project shall enhance the character and functionality of the neighborhood and bring the building itself up to Township code.
The LUB approval was made subject to two conditions: 1. that ther JCC file an outside lighting plan jand obtain the Township Engineer’s approval, and 2. the East and North boundaries fences be six feet and solid to block automobile headlights at night so as not to disturb adjacent home owners.
This LUB approval is important because now, we can then start the next phase of the project, IE the construction drawings development phase. For this, the Rebuild Committee again works with the architect and his structural and mechanical engineering consultants to prepare full construction drawings, which drawings shall be used as part of our request for bids from contractors/builders. The first such meeting with the architect is set for April 15th.
The LUB approved architectural building plans are now mounted and displayed at the JCC. Members can see the current first floor layout and front and side elevations of the revised building design, which design the Board has already approved.
Ed Dreyfus, Chair, JCC Rebuild Committee encourages those members who have not yet joined in financially supporting the rebuild project to do so. We need your help in getting this construction project started.
Almost every successful fundraising endeavor has consisted of a small group of its more affluent and generous donors contributing substantial gifts. It also has a large number, the majority, making what for them are generous pledges but are of modest dollar amounts. However, a fund drive won’t be successful unless it also has a sizeable amount of donors making pledges and gifts of significant dollar amounts.
A ratio of 80/20 has been proven over and over again to be a factor in most activities. It says that about 80% of the funds will come from about 20% of the participants. Or that 20% of its members provide 80% of the volunteer hours of an organization.
Here is what this means for the JCC of LBI’s building fund capital campaign. To get these results, I have used a membership base of 260 family units and a fundraising goal of $1.5 million. For us it means that six to ten families will hopefully commit amounts between $50,000 and $250,000. It means that 100 or so families must contribute between $500 and $5,000. But, ESSENTIAL FOR OUR CAMPAIGN’S SUCCESS, it means that 35 to 50 families must contribute $15,000 to $25,000
Obviously these grouping estimates are not rigid. Some families that might be considering a gift in the neighborhood of $5,000 will hopefully step up and pledge 8 or 10 thousand dollars. And some monies will be raised by people who can only donate a few hundred dollars. Also, we still hope that some of the money for this project will come from grants and other sources outside our membership, but we can’t count on this.
The JCC membership consists of many retired or still working accountants, doctors, educators, engineers, lawyers, other professionals, and successful business persons. I am sure that most of us, male and female, have been successful financially. Many of us have homes valued at $ I million or more, and an even larger number live in homes valued between $300,000 and $500,000. And how many of us over the age of 70 have really needed the mandatory distributions from our IRAs or 401Ks to live on? If we reach down, extend ourselves a little, and give generously, I believe the goal of $1.5 million can be attained. But it has to be new money. It can’t be donations, High Holiday Appeal pledges, tributes, or other monies that you normally give to the JCC. Those dollars are needed as they are– to operate our congregation.
We will commit the necessary funds for soil testing, test borings, civil engineering, and architectural drawings of a plot plan and elevations to get the necessary approvals from land use, zoning and other township or county boards. But, as president, I cannot recommend to our Board of Trustees that we commit the substantial money necessary to have full architect’s plans including all the necessary structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, kitchen design, , etc. plans for this complete project until it looks like we have a chance to reach our goal. And we seem to be a long way from that.
Most of us have taken a financial hit in the last part of 2008, and for many this hit was huge. But in times of adversity we Americans and we Jews pick ourselves up and move forward. And so we must for our Rebuild Project. We must look at the big picture, the long range picture. Our project, a new JCC home, is for us and for future generations. It is for something that is necessary and that will make us all proud. Your commitment is a gift to you and to future generations.
If you are like me, you saw a significant improvement in the value of your portfolio when you received your 2009 year-end statements. True, the value may still not be where it was in mid-2008, but the 12/31/09 is probably considerably better than 12/31/2008. On average, for every $100,000 value, you may have seen a $10,000 or more increase. Hopefully you are now in a better position to make an initial pledge or increase a previous one.
Our Bible asks us to tithe. Jews don’t, but many Christians do. There are many churches, mostly but not all fundamentalist, that require members to tithe. Tithe not only 10% of their income, but also 10% of their time and talent. And this seems to be a growing percentage of the population. Think of all the Mega-churches you have seen or read about
Have you done all you can in making your Rebuild Campaign pledge? Or as our Rabbi said on Rosh Hashona “All you can and a little bit more” Estimate your total income over the next 3 years. This is from wages, pensions, dividends, interest, withdrawals from IRAs, and disbursements from annuities, etc. And don’t calculate 10% of that 3 year total; just do 5%, or even 3%. For most of you, I’ll bet that number is a lot more than what you have pledged or plan to pledge to the Rebuild Campaign. But without these substantial pledges, the rebuild project that you have approved will not come to fruition. Even one dollar a day over 3 years is a pledge of $1100.
I am not asking you to make a pledge that you think I might want you to make. I am asking you to make your initial pledge or increase your previous one to an amount that you and your family will be proud of. Please don’t wait until later to do so. DO IT NOW. Call Rose Valentine and take care of it right away. Our building needs to be replaced, and we can’t start the process until sufficient funds have been pledged. NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.
Rose Valentine has taken on the tremendous responsibility of chairing our Capital Campaign. Please call her at (609) 361-0892 to discuss your pledge. SHALOM, Don Pripstein
The Board, at its February 9th meeting, approved a modified building design, recommended by the Rebuild Committee, which serves to substantially reduce the building cost while maintaining the same general appearance, spirituality, functionality, and footprint as the earlier design.
Ed Dreyfus, Chair of the Rebuild Committee, reported that the main differences include reducing the 14,000 sq ft building to about 10,000 sq ft by eliminating the second floor class rooms, bathroom, and balcony. Instead, class rooms are now designed into the first level front section leaving generous sizing for the board room/library and office as well as the men’s and women’s bathrooms. In response to Board member questions about future expansion of the building, Ed pointed out that this new design enables, in some future project, the easy addition of two rooms (one perhaps a chapel) north of the sanctuary and two additional rooms west of the kitchen.
This new design preserves the social hall size capable of seating 200 for dinner and dancing, catered receptions, banquets, concerts, and other forms of activities and functions, while the sanctuary, when closed, can still seat over 100 persons, and , when open to the social hall, can seat 400-500 for the High Holidays.
Ed also reported that it is yet possible to move the project along to meet a 2010 construction schedule and a (spring) 2011 occupancy date, such that JCC membership can enjoy the new building and plan for Bar/Bat mitzvahs, weddings, High Holidays, and other events in our own building. However, this ambitious schedule greatly depends upon immediate financial dedication and participation from JCC members. Confident JCC members shall immediately and financially support this project, the Rebuild Committee looks forward to the construction phase of erecting a building of which we can all be proud.
Ed Dreyfus, Chair Rebuild Committee
Click below to view and print JCC Modified Building Design exterior image
JCC modified design building exterior
Click below to view and print JCC Modified Building Design interior layout
JCC modified design building interior layout
Update 2/9/10 kps
Rebuild Project
The Board of Trustees of the JCC of LBI voted to initiate a campaign to raise funds to build a new physical structure here on Long Beach Island on the same site where we have been located since 1961. Our motivations driving this enormous project are strong and numerous.
- Our physical space is too small for holiday services, for social events, for classroom space.
- Our kitchen facilities are inadequate as are the restrooms.
- The Holy Ark is suffering from mold.
- There is no handicapped access to the Bimah.
- Our outward appearance does not reflect the wonderful things which happen inside our building.
We want and need a building which is a reflection of who we are as Jews. We want a Jewish House of Worship that is welcoming and reflective of a thoughtful, dynamic and creative group of people for whom the JCC of LBI is an anchor in their lives on both a social and religious level. Whether we are raising a family here, are full-time retirees or summer residents, we look to our synagogue as a place to be grounded, an always safe and welcome haven, a place where ”everybody knows your name.”
If we rebuild now, the JCC of LBI will become an attractive gathering place for our young families who ar raising families or buying vacation homes here, as well as for the many retirees who are spending more and more of the year on the Island and the surrounding mainland communities. The strength of our tradition and the joy of our celebrations will shine even brighter each tomorrow in our new building as families come together.
Because Judaism teaches us that we must take responsibility for our actions, for each other and for our world, Ed Dreyfus and Rose Valentine have taken on two of the most difficult and important jobs to get the JCC rebuilt. Ed chairs the Rebuild Committee and Rose chairs the Capital Campaign Committee. Please contact Rose at (609) 361-0892 or (973) 632-0913 with your pledge, your questions, or your offer to help—NOW!
OVERVIEW
The Jewish Community Center of Long Beach Island was established in the early 1950’s as a summer resort congregation. A handful of families opened their homes to the needs of the congregation, holding services in their living rooms and dedicating themselves to building a Jewish presence in the Southern Ocean County community.
The synagogue as we know it today was completed and dedicated in 1961. The building’s stained glass windows remain one of its most remarkable characteristics, featuring the twelve tribes of Israel along with emblems of the Priests and the Levites. A second set of windows, facing the south, depicts the various Jewish holidays.
In 1979, the JCC opened its doors year round and was no longer considered to be just a summer congregation. A search for a permanent rabbi was initiated; plans for celebrating all of the holidays were made as well as for social activities throughout the year.
Today the synagogue continues to thrive and grow. Our membership includes more than 270 member units. Since 2002, Rabbi Jacob Friedman has been the spiritual leader of our congregation. With more than 50 years of experience as a pulpit rabbi, he and his wife Ali have become an integral part of the JCC community. His knowledge and insight bring the Torah to life as each service under his leadership is both inspirational and educational.
Shabbat services are held weekly and all holidays are observed. In 2007 the rabbi’s residence was completely rebuilt into a two-unit condo providing a very suitable home and a unit for sale. The Religious School offers a comprehensive Jewish education for the young people of our community. Adult Education classes are led by ‘Rabbi Jack’. Our members come to the JCC not only to celebrate simchas, but also to seek comfort, social interaction and new friendships.
The Ritual Committee organizes yahrzeit and shiva minyans for all those in need, both members and non-members alike. Our Sisterhood holds many social and fundraising activities and serves as the welcoming committee at the Center.
The JCC is involved in interfaith activities throughout the community. A Torah scroll, rescued from the Holocaust, and the Holocaust section of our library are the centerpieces for Holocaust awareness programs and education.
DESCRIPTION
Our new JCC of LBI will be situated on the same property as the existing synagogue, with its welcoming entrance facing the main boulevard and closer to it. The one story building of almost 10,000 sq.ft. will have seating for about 100 in the sanctuary and expanded seating for High Holidays, community events, and special occasions for 500 people. Our stained glass windows will be installed in the new sanctuary.
The social hall will provide the perfect setting for receptions, lectures and other functions. Convenient to it is a brand new, large kosher kitchen for use by Sisterhood, caterers and congregants. In the front of the building are the office, library/board room, classrooms and restrooms. There will be handicap ramps to provide access to the building and to the Bimah.
Click below to view the architect’s revised drawings as PDF files
JCC modified design building interior layout
JCC modified design building exterior
JCC Rebuild Committee
March 31, 2010
Edward Dreyfus, Chair
Sub-committee Assignments
Capital Campaign Support
- Jeff Shapiro, Chair
- Lionel Wolpert
Finance/Investments
- Jeff Shapiro, Chair
Legal, Constitution, By Laws,
Surveys, Permits, Contracts
- Stuart Snyder
- Basil Karp
Architect Building Design & Layout
- Ed Dreyfus, Chair
- Don Pripstein
- Lionel Wolpert
- Rabbi Jack Friedman
- Harold Farin
Green Building, Lighting/ Security Systems
- Lionel Wolpert, Chair
- Ronald Marr
- Ken Abend
Office & Gallery Design
- Sherry Fructerman, Chair
- Howard Fructerman
- Harold Farin
Library / Class Room Design
- Henry Medvin, Chair
- Judith Pripstein
- Karen Schwing
- Michelle Goldman, School Principal
Kosher Kitchen & Pantry Design
- Eileen Levin, Chair
- Vivian Fitts
Demolition/Fence + Trailer Sale , Site Prep
- Lionel Wolpert, Chair
- Ken Abend
Contractor Evaluation/Selection/Negotiation
- Ed Dreyfus, Chair
- Stuart Snyder, Esq.
- Don Pripstein
- Jeff Shapiro
- Lionel Wolpert
OTHER SUBCOMMITTEES TO BE FORMED
- Construction Management/Inspection
- Parking Lot/Grounds/Landscaping
- Artifact Removal/Storage/Re-install
Updated 3/31/10 kps
