Over the past months, our highly skilled team of professionals working closely with our Building Committee, co-chaired by Elise Wagner and Peter Burack, has continued to make slow but steady progress on several fronts.
 
As we previously reported, our plans for the project have received final approvals from both the Town’s Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals, which share principal jurisdiction over the project.  Since then, with a firm commitment to a June 2010 groundbreaking, the Building Committee and the Professional Staff have been consistently and diligently working with our architect, Alex Gorlin Architects, to ensure that the project is designed to best reflect our values and achieve our goal of creating a facility that meets the educational, operational and spiritual needs of the congregation within the $12 million budget under which are operating.

The next several months will be exciting, fast paced and critical.
 

Right now, the Building Committee is undertaking the process of selecting a construction manager to oversee and manage the construction phase of the project on behalf of the temple. The construction manager will manage the bidding process, help us select subcontractors, and provide practical design input by overseeing the architect’s drawings to achieve optimum design, potential savings in construction costs, and the most economically designed facility. Importantly, the construction manager will act as our representative and oversee and manage the work site on a daily basis.
 

With the help of our civil engineers, John Meyer Consulting, we have submitted an application to the New York State Department of Transportation in order to obtain the permits required to undertake the site work on and near our driveway adjacent to South Bedford Road.  JMC has also held preliminary meetings with Con Edison and other utilities to ensure that our electric, phone, cable, water and sewer services are adequate and properly planned for.
 

We have finalized our contract with Alex Gorlin and he and his staff are hard at work completing the final construction drawings for the project.  As during the schematic design and design development stages, Alex has been directed to utilize in the design as many “green” materials, systems, processes and technologies as feasible, so that both energy efficiency and environmental sustainability are carefully incorporated into the overall project.
 

Once the final construction drawings are completed, we will begin to work closely with our architect and construction manager to prepare more detailed and refined cost estimates for the project, and to begin the process of seeking bids from subcontractors for different components of the work.  With this information, and with the guidance and recommendations of the Building Committee, the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees will address and decide the most important and challenging decisions we will face – what will our budget, the success of our capital campaign and the realities of our financial capabilities ultimately allow us to build, and how do we make those decisions within the context of our most essential values and priorities.
 
We are very pleased by the progress that we have achieved so far and will continue to update you on this exciting project in the months ahead.
 
If you have any questions or concern, please feel free to contact Temple Beth El Executive Vice President Harry Cohen at woodybuz@verizon.net.

 

We are excited to report that we are have moved significantly closer to our capital campaign goal that will enable us to create a “second generation” Temple Beth El and meet the needs of our current membership. There has been steady progress since the High Holy Days and thus far we have received pledges and gifts of approximately $9.7 million from 278 families; with many of our fellow members making five year pledges reflecting a strong commitment and confidence in our future..
 

We have said from the beginning that our aim is for 100% participation, and with almost half of the congregation already participating, we are hopeful that aspiration will be met. We strongly encourage that every member, to the best of their ability, join this effort in nurturing and strengthening a strong Jewish community in Northern Westchester and providing the best religious, learning and social environment for our generation and the generations to follow here at Temple Beth El..
 

We are fortunate to be part of a wonderful and diverse community with members in all stages of their connection to the Jewish community. This project will no doubt have a positive and meaningful impact for ALL of our members, at every stage and in every facet of Temple life..
 

We’ve been through a most challenging economic cycle, successfully navigated through all Town approvals and the project will become a reality shortly when we break ground this June. SO THE TIME IS NOW. Please know that every incremental pledge and gift amount matters greatly so we need every temple family to contribute in order to create the best possible outcome..
 

Please contact Steve Adler at steveadler@aol.com (914-238-8535) or Morgan Rutman at jmrutman@gmail.com (646 283 5578) to set up an appointment for a capital campaign committee member to visit you at your convenience or contact Gennifer Kelly at the Temple office 914-238-3928 for additional help.