Changing Spaces

Temple Emanu-El breaks ground for expansion
and renovations at the 45-year-old structure.

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN
Staff Writer

A

"It is to make the building much
more functional, plus increase the
ability of members to host events. I
think members will be much more
anxious to hold events here," says the
rabbi.
The lobby will increase by twice its
size, and the offices of the cantor and
executive director will move into the
administrative suite. Their old offices
will become an extra classroom, Klein
says.

Int o

by

Kr is ta

Hu

year ago, Oak Park's Temple
Emanu-El hired New York-
based Barry Judelman to
launch a major fund-raising
campaign. Their goal: $2 million.
By last December, the Reform syn-
agogue had raised $1.4 million. Today,
its total amounts to a little over $1.5
million.
"When it became clear
that $1.5 million was a rea-
REKINT5"
sonable goal, the remodel-
sHA98•00
ing was downscaled,"
explains Rabbi Joseph P.
Klein. It is not a goal of
the renovations to garner
more funds or more mem-
bers, he says; the "goal is to
make the building more
welcoming and more effi-
cient. The purpose was not
to raise membership."
Recently, the temple
brought in bulldozers to
Bulldozers outside Temple Emanu-El. The cleared
break ground for an expan- area will become a larger administrative and lobby
sion. Instead of the barrier- wing.
free bimah and additional
chapel they had hoped for,
The temple's current office space of
Klein says the temple will focus on
340 square feet will add 610 square
expanding the foyer and administra-
feet, Klein says. Workers are in the
tive offices, recarpeting most of the
process of enclosing the land in front
building and making the kitchen and
of the foyer, "so they can work on it in
social hall more accessible and user-
the winter."
friendly.
The expanded lobby will allow for
"We expect everything to be done
onegs on Shabbat and "more comfort-
by the summer," says Klein, adding
able places to sit" than the current five
that the $1.5 million will suffice for
benches, Klein says. The existing
the changes that are "absolutely neces-
doors will be saved and put on the
sary. Our wish list goes on and on."
new entrance; the foyer stands now at
The synagogue, built in 1952, has a
1,152 square feet, but will grow by an
social hall with dark wood- paneled
additional 1,119 square feet.
walls and a relic of a stage. The stage
The kitchen, practically inaccessible
and walls on either side of it will be
due to immense storage units and
ripped out to expand the social hall,
coolers, will be "completely remod-
which will grow by 966 square feet.
eled." Two prefab structures will be
Judelman and John E. Jacobs, Emanu-
added onto the back for storage and
c:
El's president last year, said they want-
coolers, and the non-kosher kitchen
ed to bring the structure into the '90s.
will gain new appliances, Klein says.
Last year, Jacobs said the renova-
The temple will also be outfitted
tions would help with membership
with a new heating and cooling system
recruitment, but Klein believes the
as well as new lights in the hallways of
changes will help retain the current
the religious school and main wing,
membership of more than 600 fami-
Klein says. ❑
lies.

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