Program areas at Friends of Temple Beth-El Jersey City
Restoration of new roof (anticpated total cost $380,000). The distinctive synagogue building houses a magnificent sanctuary whose stately beauty has inspired visitors for generations. The 4,000 sf roof protecting the structure isin need of feplacement. The situation was exacerbated by the theft of copper from the walls of the dome in 2011. The theft further exposed the interior plaster dome the elements anne ee Fundraising by the Friends of Temple Beth-Et will enable st to provide grants to the congregation to complete ane its roof replacement in 2016, and protect the interior of the building from further deterioration
A residential structure, built in the early 20th Century, occupied the lot adjacent to the synagoque structure. The congregation purchased the lot and the building, one floor of which was then used as a denta! office, in 1953, with the intention of demolishing the house and expanding the then overcrowded religious school. During 2015, funds raised by the Friends of Temple Beth-Eland granted the congregation finally enabled the demolition of the structure, removal and proper disposal of asbestos from the structure and the first phase of remediating the impact of the leaking heating ol! tank that served the structure
The interior of the synagogue Is in need of substantial infrastructure re-work, disabled access to all floors, renovation of stained glass, fire and security systems and general reconfiguration of the space to allow more flexible use while maintaining the grandeur of the sanctuary space (anticipated total project cost $3 2 million, architect's fees The congregation approved a preliminary design concept for interior of Temple. Grants from the Friends of Temple Beth-Et during 2015 enabled the congregation to engage an arcitectural firm which produced preliminary drawings and will eventually implement the full TeEMOvaUOn