TELL May - July 2012 - Emanuel Synagogue

Redevelopment
From the President
www.emanuel.org.au
We are very excited about the building project. We are more than half way to our
target, but we really need everyone to be involved to guarantee success. Our children and
grandchildren will be the beneficiaries.
We hope that members will be interested in learning more about the project and what
stage we are up to in both fundraising and building planning. We have set aside a number
of weekday and weekend times in May when we will provide further
details and you can ask questions to determine how you would like
to support this endeavour. In Emanuel style, we are not having one
extravagant fundraising function, but simple gatherings in congregant’s
homes or in our boardroom.
Part of the fundraising that will be required to transform the
campus will involve the allocation of some new seats, in both the existing sanctuary and the
one to be built. We are asking members to consider pledges to be met either upfront or over
the next three or five years. As part of the egalitarian ethos of the synagogue, no more than
half the new seats in each sanctuary will be allocated, and seats will generally be allocated on
a 2 rows on, 2 rows off basis.
If you do not choose to take this opportunity, there will be room for everyone in the
expanded facilities. Membership fees will be unaffected as the entire development will be
funded from donations. If every one of our 1500 member families gave $20 a week (equivalent
to a coffee a day) for 5 years ($1000 pa), we would exceed our target.
The seats for the current main sanctuary have been ordered and will be installed by the High Holy Days this year.
Current seatholders have priority to purchase seats close to their present location, until 31 May 2012.
Rabbi Kamins and a board member will be holding information sessions every
Thursday in May in the boardroom at 6:00 -7:00pm. In addition, the following dates
and times are also available (sessions lasting no more than 1½ hours).
Sunday 6 May at 3.00 pm or 6.00pm
Monday 7 May 2012 at 7.30pm
Sunday 13 May at 5.00pm
Monday 14 May at 7.30pm
Monday 21 May at 7.30pm
Tuesday 22 May 2012 at 12.00pm and 7:30pm
We look forward to discussing these matters with you over the next few months and
we hope you will email: redevelopment@emanuel.org.au or call the office on
9328 7833 and select one of the times above so we can meet with you in person and
discuss this once in a generation undertaking. When you contact the office we will
notify you of the venue of the information session. Alternatively if you prefer, the office can post you a pledge form
and/or provide details of the cost of the seats and payment options.
The tax deductibility of donations, and the prices of seats, are fixed until 30 June 2012. Please help us close
the campaign at the High Holy Days and get the building underway in early 2013.
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