The new building, designed by Acton Ostry Architects Inc., would give the synagogue an east-facing sanctuary (towards Jerusalem), where it used to face north, and allow the congregation to host High Holiday services under one roof. The plan was to raise enough money that there would be little or no mortgage.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe campaign began for $10 to $12 million plus about $2 to $3 million for an available piece of land on the southeast corner of the property that Shaughnessy Hospital had expressed a strong interest in purchasing,\u201d Gary Averbach told the Independent <\/i>in an interview earlier this week. \u201cEven then, while running the numbers, it became quite difficult to see how \u2026 we could reach the $10 million mark, let alone the $12 million one.\u201d<\/p>\n
That became even more concerning, he said, once the designs were costed out, and the final tally was going to be closer to $18 million.<\/p>\n
But the visionary donors being honoured, and many others, gave \u201cunexpectedly generous gifts,\u201d said Averbach, thanking Simpson and Bette-Jane Israels for their help raising the funds, and to Etkin, \u201cwho took over after we got the initial pledge.\u201d<\/p>\n
Averbach said, \u201cAlthough we had been incredibly successful in our fundraising, having reached close to $20 million on the day we opened, the final price tag looked to be just over $25 million, and the lot had still not been sold.\u201d<\/p>\n
Etkin had found a potential buyer, but, when that deal looked as if it would collapse, Averbach called Gordon Diamond, who had earlier expressed interest in buying the land for possible Vancouver Talmud Torah expansion. It was a long process, said Averbach, \u201cbut, finally, thanks to Gordon and Leslie Diamond\u2019s insisting that they find a way, the deal was done.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was a final Burn the Mortgage campaign with Lee, Bette-Jane and me. And, under Shannon\u2019s leadership, we were able to pay off all but a little over a million dollars of the final cost of just over $25 million. I believe all that debt has been paid off now.<\/p>\n
\u201cAn important note is that, of the almost $22 million raised, only two donations, totaling $118,000, came from non-members \u2013 and both those had a family history at the BI,\u201d added Averbach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose I could talk about all the important roles the Beth Israel synagogue, our shul, my shul, plays in our community, in our personal lives and in our spiritual lives,\u201d Gerry Gales told the Independent <\/i>about why he and his wife Ruby stepped up. \u201cThe answer is not complicated. There was a need. I was asked. I said yes. There was never a second thought in my mind. I do believe we are all here to help one another, to do what we can with what we have.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said, \u201cRuby and I find great comfort in being in our house of worship, our shul\u2026. We know that we are a part of a great tradition, with roots that were planted thousands of years ago. It\u2019s a tradition that will continue long after we are gone. When I think of all the people who have gathered together under this roof, I feel that I am but a small part of something so much larger than me and I feel that I am never alone.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there is the practical role the shul plays in the unfolding of our lives,\u201d he added. \u201cThe shul is a place where we come for prayers and to pray, the shul is the place where we can send our children to learn all our traditions and to be educated, the shul is a place where we come to celebrate, where we come to mourn, where we launch our children into adulthood.\u201d<\/p>\n
Simpson agrees. \u201cI believe all synagogues play an important part in our Jewish lives. They are a place to gather, pray, gain spiritual renewal, comfort and peace. All so important to our mental and, therefore, physical being \u2013 even more important in our world today,\u201d she said. \u201cPlus, they give a sense of community. Seeing familiar faces, sharing a lunch or meal after services, all so important. They are also a place of learning and expanding our knowledge, answer our questions, gain wisdom from others.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it was an honour for her and her husband Bernie to support Beth Israel.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeth Israel has been our synagogue for all of our married life \u2013 we were married there by Rabbi [Wilfred] Solomon,\u201d she said. \u201cOur children were named there, bat and bar mitzvahs were there and our grandchildren were also named and our grandson\u2019s bar mitzvah has been there, and more to come. I was twice chair of the board of directors and involved in the building campaign.\u201d<\/p>\n
As for her involvement in the campaign, Simpson said, \u201cFor me, the final straw was at my son\u2019s aufruf<\/i> [being called to the Torah the Shabbat prior to the wedding]. The auditorium filled with family and friends was also filled with buckets to catch the rain coming in from the roof and windows. We needed more than Band-Aids.\u201d<\/p>\n
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