Sanctuary Phase 1, Week 10
The new accessible bimah is taking shape. With the new, flexible seating, our Sanctuary will be a comfortable space for a variety of worship and life cycle events. New light fixtures will be added to the ceiling, improving the experience for worshippers in the Sanctuary and those who connect virtually.
The temple’s clergy and administrative office suite was renovated to create a safer work environment. With simple changes, individual work spaces were created as well as wider passageways for an improved flow of staff, members and guests.
Sanctuary Phase 1, Week 8
Sanctuary Phase 1, Week 6
The storage space behind stage left of the stage in our Social Hall has been removed and is being prepared for the construction of two new accessible bathrooms. Brackets and support for the new Social Hall storage closets have been erected on either side of the Social Hall. The tracks for our new recessed Sanctuary lighting have been cut. The new Sanctuary lighting will increase visibility and enhance the beauty of our newly renovated Sanctuary.
Sanctuary Phase 1, Week 3
Now a little over two weeks into the sanctuary renovation, the demolition and preparations for the new design continues. Base-boarding and flooring in the sanctuary and social hall have been removed, as has the retractable wall separating the social hall from the foyer. The removal of some pieces of the bimah concrete has begun to prepare the bimah for its new accessible ramp and extension.
Sanctuary Phase 1, Week 1
Sanctuary Phase 1 Project Begins May 10
On Monday, May 10, work will begin on the Sanctuary Phase 1 Project. We are excited for congregants to return in the fall (health conditions permitting) to a refreshed sanctuary and social hall with comfortable, flexible seating; a more accessible bimah; new restrooms; vastly improved lighting; and state-of-the-art audio-visual systems. Construction will take place weekdays from 7am to 3pm, with the noisiest part of the project taking place in the next several weeks. We are coordinating closely with any activities scheduled in and around the building to ensure a safe and secure environment. We will share updates on the construction here and look forward to inaugurating the space in the fall!
The sanctuary, ready for work to begin
Reopening Update
Dear Sinai Community:
Spring with its promise of renewal seems doubly hopeful this year. As more and more people get the COVID vaccine, we can feel our frozen lives begin to melt. This is an exciting time in a lot of ways, but it also remains a challenging time. We are reaching out with an update of how we are gradually, yet cautiously, making a return to in-person activity at the temple.
Shabbat Services
Over the past four weeks, our clergy have been leading Friday night services together from the sanctuary and Bet Am while the congregation has joined from home via Zoom. This Saturday morning, we will begin holding b’nei mitzvah services in-person with limited attendance in the Bet Am. We are doing so within the guidelines set by the District of Columbia:
- a maximum of 30 attendees (25% capacity) in addition to the clergy and staff,
- everyone is required to wear a mask and complete a health screening before entry,
- household clusters will be seated at least six feet apart, and
- singing aloud will be significantly curtailed.
While we know some members of the congregation will be pleased with this development, we appreciate that others will want us to open up more, or less. Indeed, we know that the rules have been changing very quickly and at times we have opted for a more cautious approach than public guidelines allow. But we have always and will continually consult the D.C. rules and medical experts as we update our policies. We know these changes can be confusing and disruptive. We hear all of your concerns and share the frustration that we are not yet where we want to be. However, we hope you understand that the pace of the changes reflects the complications of myriad new requirements and precautions, technological and building challenges, and more.
For now, most of us will continue with virtual Shabbat services and other temple activities, while our clergy and small groups of life cycle celebrants return to the Bet Am.
Renovation
As we slowly start the reopening process, we face an extra layer of challenges stemming from the renovation of the main sanctuary. The months-long work is expected to begin any day and will make our largest indoor worship space unavailable until Rosh HaShanah. We look forward to the day when we return to worship and gathering in much larger numbers with the beautiful new sanctuary to match our congregational renewal.
High Holy Days
We have also begun to plan for the special challenge of the High Holy Days. While we expect to have some form of in-person gathering for these services we anticipate that D.C. pandemic limitations will continue to place serious restrictions on the number of people who can attend. Therefore, we are planning a hybrid of live services with in-person attendance and Zoom or other streaming capability to meaningfully engage the majority of our members virtually. If the government restrictions allow more in-person attendance, we will adjust accordingly.
Of course, we are continually considering ways to further re-open. Our clergy, board, and other lay volunteers are working on plans to further expand in-person Shabbat services, classes, and meetings over the coming months.
We are aware of the personal burden we each carry from this difficult time. We have lost so much. The reopening that is happening around us can be a reminder of those losses. For some this may be an anxious time. As always, our clergy is here for you.
We are so looking forward to seeing you in person again. Soon. Until then, wishing you good health, vaccine appointments, and a joyous Spring.
Rabbi Jonathan Roos
Senior Rabbi
Deborah Lewis
President
Rabbi Jonathan Roos’s Fund
Rabbi Jonathan Roos’s Fund
Donated By | |
Anonymous, Raina Fishbane & Chuck Walker, Joseph Sternlieb & Linda Singer, David Stonner & Anne Schwartz |
In Appreciation Of | Donated By |
Rabbi Roos’ support | Jonathan & Andrea Berlowe Binder |
Virtual High Holy Days services | Elaine Greenstone Sheila Leavitt |
In Honor Of | Donated By |
the Bat Mitzvah of Hannah Brickman | Rita & David Brickman |
the Confirmation of Felicia Furman Paul | Joan Furman |
the Bat Mitzvah of Caroline Goldstein | Jordan Goldstein & Hillary Davidson |
the Bar Mitzvah of Izy Greiff | Barrie & Carole Greiff |
the Bat Mitzvah of Miriam Hakim | Jeffrey & Haya Hakim |
the Bar Mitzvah of Justin Rosentover | Todd Rosentover & Alycia Weinberger |
the marriage of Jeremy & Jessie | Jane & Garrett Sanders |
the Bat Mitzvah of Grace Schuham-Anders | Aaron Schuham & Christopher Anders |
the Bat Mitzvah of Rose Sussmann | Michael & Apple Sussmann |
In Memory Of | Donated By |
Lenore Ehrenberg | Ellen & Jeffrey Agler |
Elaine Parker | Martin Burns & Wendy Kahn William & Julie Davenport John & Raymonde Koonce Bruce Vinik & Ginny Levin Mitchell Goldstein & Susan Schiffer |
Erin Markowitz | Maria Catt George & Barbara Korengold |
Kiira Lee | Adam Cohn Jerald & Robin Cohn |
Hannah Adele O’Toole | David & Cathy Goldwyn |
Ken Hirsch Dr. Steve Hirsch |
Linda Hirsch |
Stephen Arthur Klein | Harvey & Amy Michaels |
Dan Stoll | Janie Stoll |
Albert Goldstein | Darwin & Karen Walker |
*This listing includes all donations received between June 1, 2020 and February 1, 2021. Our apologies for anyone mistakenly omitted from this listing. Please reach out to Noah Benjamin at nbenjamin@templesinaidc.org with any questions or concerns.
Rabbi Noah Diamondstein’s Fund
Rabbi Noah Diamondstein’s Fund
Donated By | |
Charles Lerner |
In Honor Of | Donated By |
the installation of Rabbi Noah Diamondstein | Marylee & Stuart Alperin Judith Herr & Robert Samuelson Larry Lang & Elaine Deutch |
the Bat Mitzvah of Hannah Brickman | Rita & David Brickman |
In Memory Of | Donated By |
Ruth Mahler | Seth & Carolyn Himmelhoch |
Phyllis Dobin | Owen Luehrmann |
*This listing includes all donations received between June 1, 2020 and February 1, 2021. Our apologies for anyone mistakenly omitted from this listing. Please reach out to Noah Benjamin at nbenjamin@templesinaidc.org with any questions or concerns.