Piqua temple

Marshall Weiss

The Dayton Jewish Observer

With $9,353 raised by the beginning of April, Temple Anshe Emeth started making roof repairs on its sanctuary and congregants hope to begin the largest part of the project, the social hall roof replacement, later this spring.

The March issue of The Dayton Jewish Observer highlighted the congregation’s difficulty raising $16,000 to replace its roofs.

According to Anshe Emeth member Judy Feinstein, the congregation received numerous calls and offers of help following publication of the article, Upkeep a challenge for Piqua temple, written by Martha Moody Jacobs.

“We are astounded by the success of our roof fund-raising efforts,” Feinstein said.

Anshe Emeth President Eileen Litchfield said the temple received an anonymous donation of $400, but most donations have been in the $50-$100 range.

“We have received donations from members’ families and their congregations — from as far as Cleveland and New York,” she said.

Litchfield had sent letters to Ohio congregations soliciting honorary memberships for $50 each to help fund the project.

She added that the congregation received three donations directly related to the article “from members of another congregation who all live in Yellow Springs and were acquainted with our congregation either through family or past membership in the temple before they relocated to the Dayton area. That was very uplifting for us!”

“The best part of this project has been hearing from past members, many elderly, who went to Sunday school at temple, or perhaps were married there. Many have relocated out of state. Sharing their memories of the temple has been a joy to read.”

Funds are now trickling in slowly, “but are still needed,” Litchfield said.

She asked that contributions and voluntary memberships be sent to the Anshe Emeth Building Fund in care of her attention, 3808 Beanblossom Road, Greenville, OH 45331.

© 2006 The Dayton Jewish Observer