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June 2005 ~ Demolition Days

I am writing this column in between our two Demolition Days – our first Demolition Day took place last Sunday, and our second will take place this coming Sunday. The first D-Day was an amazing experience. Amid clouds of dust and bits of falling plaster (high-quality masks generously donated by Jonathan kept everyone breathing safely), 36 wonderful volunteers wielded crowbars, sledgehammers, wheelbarrows and shovels to take down the walls and ceilings of the second floor of the Greenleaf house. As I peered dimly through my fogged safety goggles, I couldn’t help but be deeply moved at the sight of our members working together to create our sacred space.

Rachel Prabhakar, BAJC President, with her daughter, Ella

From the children riding bicycles outside, reminding us of why we were undertaking this back-breaking work, to some of our oldest members, working cheerfully and tirelessly, we did this work together. This is a time to congratulate ourselves, and thank all those people who worked so hard. But it is not a time to hang up our work gloves – not yet! By the time you read this column, D-Day II will have taken place, but we will still need volunteers over the spring and summer to work alongside our contractor on the buildings and the grounds. Come fall, with a bit of luck and a lot of hard work, those bare studs that we exposed last weekend will be clad in new sheetrock and fresh paint. The building will have brand new wiring and a sprinkler system. Each time we come to services or drop our children off for Hebrew school, we will be able to take pride – a personal, immediate pride – in our shul. "See," we’ll be able to say, "I took down that ceiling. I painted that wall."

B’shalom, Rachel