Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun synagogue is facing a fateful decision this upcoming Sunday morning Dec 16 as it will be holding a meeting with its membership to determine the synagogue's fate.
As this publication has reported previously, the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg, via the Asper Community Campus, was considering taking ownership of the Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun synagogue building and land on 620 Brock Street. The Federation was to have renovated the building such that that about 64 spots for the Rady JCC daycare for the community could be housed there, and the shul would have not paid rent.
However, as Dr. Earl Hershfield, President of the Synagogue confirmed “The deal as originally proposed will not be taking place”, such that the Jewish Federation will not be taking ownership of the building. He would not say more, noting that a decision would have to be made soon.
The shul congregation will now have to decide whether it will take on the renovation of the 58 year old aged building it owns and rent out space to the Rady JCC for a daycare, or choose another option. The renovations to the existing building must be done in a time frame that would satisfy the provincial funding for day care spots.
If it chose not to renovate the existing building, the shul congregation could conceivably sell off part of the shul land and build a smaller shul that may or may not house a daycare.
A well placed source within the Herzlia community told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that in their view it is likely that the synagogue will decide to undergo the renovations of the building, and house the daycare, rather than move.
The background to the daycare issue is that the Rady Jewish Community Centre received a provincial grant for $300, 000 towards the capital cost of creating 70 new daycare spots by September 2013. All parties agree that it is imperative that a decision about the future of the Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun synagogue and the location of the future daycare be made quickly before funding expires.
The mechanical and electrical systems, washrooms, windows, and boiler in Herzlia-Adas Yeshurun synagogue all need repair. Additionally there has been asbestos discovered in the building, which could be disturbed in fixing the boiler, thus requiring a more extensive renovation. In short, an extensive renovation is needed, more than what the Federation appears to have bargained for when it considered taking ownership of the building.
A congregant of the synagogue has told the Winnipeg Jewish review that, heat is available in the smaller rooms and offices in the building but, not in the sanctuary, as the boiler is in a state of disrepair. With colder weather here, it is unclear how long the building will be serviceable.
We have previously reported that in the meantime, the shul congregation will be meeting in the home of the Dahan’s.
Editor’s note: I have wondered whether the Federation chose in the final analysis not to take over ownership of the Herzlia building not only due to the extensive repairs needed, but also because it may not have wanted the appearance of bias towards one synagogue over others. If it had decided to transfer one synagogue in need of repair, how could it not buy other synagogues, if they too were to need extensive repairs or upgrades in the future ?
Email
Share
RSS
