Emanuel Synagogue Welcomes Worshippers to Newly Refurbished Building

As the Jewish New Year approaches, with Rosh Hashanah a season of renewal and spirituality, the Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford will welcome worshippers to its newly refurbished building at 160 Mohegan Drive.

“With carefully planned renovations and repairs — focusing on our worship, learning and gathering spaces — we will ensure the continuity of a beautiful and inspiring home for ourselves and our next generation,” said Emanuel Synagogue President Gail Weinstein in a message to the Emanuel family.

After 40 years, it was time for a “sanctuary renaissance” of the 600-seat sanctuary, built in 1970, said architect Ira Henowitz, a longtime Emanuel member and member of the Sanctuary Renaissance Committee.

Recently, the Conservative synagogue embarked upon a $2.5 million Capital Campaign, called “Growing Emanuel’s Future/L’Dor Vador Capital Campaign,” to raise funds for capital improvements to the entire building. There are three phases to the campaign: Phase I was to upgrade the front lobby and the chapel with new carpeting and painting; Phase II was the sanctuary renaissance; and Phase III, still under way, is to paint and put in new carpeting in the Silverman Auditorium and Koret Hall and rear corridor common area.

"The goal of the sanctuary renaissance was to respect and restore our historic past and also make our sanctuary an inviting and sacred place for today and many years to come,” noted Henowitz.

Sheri Rowley Gold, president of Advent Design in West Hartford, was engaged to oversee the refurbishment. Her initial observations indicated that the sanctuary, with its natural materials of brick and oak, could benefit from enhanced color and light. Working with Emanuel spiritual leaders Rabbi David Small, Cantor Sandy Cohn, President Gail Weinstein and a committee headed by members Janet Selden and Peggy Mendelson, cooler green earthy tones were selected for the sanctuary carpet — which has a “Tree of Life” motif — and for green reupholstered seats in the pews, with materials designed and manufactured in Israel. The organic colors complement the warm oak tones, said Gold.

The lighting quality was enhanced with the addition of natural light by refurbishing the 22 skylights in the sanctuary and with new lighting fixtures in the reception area and rear entry, said Gold. Henowitz added that a conscious effort was made to be a more “green and sustainable congregation” by adding more energy efficient (LED) lighting. To this end, Emanuel now utilizes a high efficiency boiler for its heating system, powered by natural gas.

The wood planters separating the pulpit from the pews have been replaced with a new riser to encourage more interaction and participatory prayer, explained Henowitz. “The surface is made of Jerusalem stone and children can sit or stand on the performance riser,” added Gold, who is a commercial interior designer.

The pulpit (or bima), has now been made fully handicapped-accessible with the additon of a graceful new permanent ramp. Some pews were eliminated to create an open area in front of the pulpit to provide space for the needs of the physically disabled and for prayer readings from the floor of the sanctuary.

The Emanuel sanctuary has long been admired for the beautiful needlepoints on the chairs adorning the bima and the colorful Torah covers housed in the Ark. Gold said she was moved by the beautiful artwork in the synagogue, including the art that lines around outside the sanctuary walls.

Inspired by the vibrancy of the Torah covers, Gold designed a circular, colorful carpet in the entryway. A larger square version will be installed in the ante space outside the sanctuary, she said. Also, a new Ark curtain has been fabricated. The curtain features an outer fabric which is metallic and iridescent. The inner curtain is see-through fine metal mesh. This change introduces an entirely new layer of "honor, magic and iridescence,” to the Ark, explained Gold.

The historic sanctuary elements, such as the stained glass on the sides of the pulpit and the Eternal Light, hanging in front of the Ark, were restored and cleaned. The tall original cabinets housing the stained glass were totally rebuilt. They now radiate brilliant light and color.

The Capital Campaign, led by Campaign Chair Ben Engel and Vice Chairs Alan Mendelson, and Alan and Michele Parker, includes a newly paved driveway and parking lot, replacement of the roof, the conversion from oil to gas furnace, and the purchase of the new High Holiday prayer book of the Conservative movement, for use by the entire congregation.

Emanuel’s spiritual leader Rabbi David Small, in a message thanking congregants for their support, said, “We welcome a generational opportunity to refresh our Bet Knesset (synagogue), a beautiful useful home for the Emanuel family and the Divine Presence. As we face the future, the Emanuel is a ‘purpose-driven shul,’ a large synagogue with the intimacy and community feel of a smaller one. At Emanuel, people know, care about and care for each other.”

“More than the sum of our programs, we are a true, living, breathing kehillah (community), a gathering of people for shared purpose and life in the best traditions of our Torah and our future generations.”

The Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford, will hold a Sports Jam and Ice Cream Social on Thursday, Aug. 9, 6-8 p.m. It is free for prospective members; for members, $10/family for Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and toppings. On Thursday, Aug. 16, 7-9 p.m., there will be an open house at the synagogue to meet the leadership and staff and to tour the building. Babysitting is available and refreshments will be served. Emanuel members bringing prospective member friends will be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift card. Call (860) 236-1275 or visit www.emanuelsynagogue.org to RSVP or for more information.