Temple Beth Or with its new social hall (L) and facade

 

By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer, March 2009

With its expansion, new facade and classroom renovations completed on target in December, Temple Beth Or in Washington Township is ready to open its doors to the community and to thank its donors with a dedication ceremony on March 14.

On that morning, the Reform temple’s religious school students will have a hand in creating the mezuzot for the building’s door posts, with help from Maryland-based Judaica artist Gary Rosenthal and his Hiddur Mitzvah Project.

The term hiddur mitzvah means to beautify objects that are used to fulfill commandments.

“We’re also twinning the project with new Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel,” says Event Co-chair Mary Youra. “That was inspired by our temple’s recent mission to Israel. They visited an absorption center there that was largely populated by Ethiopian Jews.”

Youra says the project also dovetails nicely with a major gift the temple received from the Levin Family Foundation to underwrite its new 7,700-square-foot social hall, along with multi-cultural programming.

“The Levin Family Foundation has been very involved in the production of a documentary about Ethiopian aliyah (immigration to Israel),” Youra says.

The mezuzah-making workshop is open to the public; participants can also make Judaica for personal use. Following the dedication, Rosenthal will host a meet-the-artist trunk show.

A mezuzah is a parchment scroll containing passages from the Torah (Deut. 6:4-9 and 11:13-21), beginning with the declaration of Jewish faith: “Hear, Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is One.” Placed in a small container, a mezuzah is affixed to the door frame of a Jewish home, in fulfillment of the mitzvah (commandment) to inscribe the words “on the door posts of your house (Deut. 6:9).”

In Temple Beth Or’s new social hall (L to R): Capital Campaign Co-Chair Marni Flagel, Construction Committee Chair Ira Segalewitz, and President Myrna Nelson

According to congregant Ira Segalewitz, who oversaw the entire expansion and renovation process, the new social hall (with a catering kitchen) seats 300 for dinner, 500 in an auditorium-style setup. He says the temple hopes rentals will become a source of additional revenue.

“We’ve had 10 caterers sign contracts,” he says. “All are very pleased with what we have here.”

“We had the 25th anniversary of our first service and this place was filled,” says Capital Campaign Co-Chair Marni Flagel of the new social hall. “Ira did a fantastic job. We could not have done this without Ira.”

Temple Beth Or Dedication Ceremony and Mezuzah Making Workshop: Sunday, Mar. 14. 11:30 a.m.: Mezuzah making workshop with artist Gary Rosenthal. 1:30 p.m.: Dedication. 2:30 p.m.: Trunk show and meet the artist. 435-3400.