The Shul Outgrows Itself

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Esther Rochel Elkaim

Who would believe that The Shul, with its massive complex on Collins Avenue in Surfside, Florida, could possibly become too small for its congregation.

At a community meeting this week, its founder and spiritual leader Rabbi Sholom Ber Lipskar said the current building, which they have been in since 1994, has become “too small to accommodate the growing membership and needs.”

Rabbi Lipskar said that “there are 40 children on the waiting list for our preschool. Its saddens me to say that our camp cannot accept more children. It’s all due to capacity issues.”

An imposing structure at the intersection of Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands, Indian Creek Village and Surfside, The Shul is a center for Jewish activities for these communities. In 2009, it was included in the list of America’s 25 most vibrant congregations, published by Newsweek Magazine.

Founded in 1981, The Shul has long been a role model and the envy of synagogues around the country for its treasure chest of opportunities for Jews of all ages and distinctions, in addition to traditional synagogue services.

Some of their popular programs include the Sephardic Minyan, Adult Education classes, youth club, young leadership committee, sisterhood, women’s and men’s Mikvah, a school for the elderly, The Shul of Downtown, a Spanish program, Hebrew and After School programs, Bar/Bat Mitzvah Club and Camp Gan Israel.

At the meeting this week, architect and member of The Shul Jaime Shapiro rolled out the plans for the $8.5 million expansion project into an adjacent property which was purchased in 2009. The building was torn down and a new 3-story structure will be built.

The plan is to enlarge the social hall in The Shul into the new property, to hold a maximum capacity of 700 people, up from the current 300. Upon its completion it will measure 5,500 sq. ft and feature a 35 foot glass ceiling.

The rest of the building will be used for a Jewish Montessori pre-school with 8 classrooms (restrooms in each) and administration offices, parking garage, drop-off station for children and outside recreation facilities.

And if that was not ambitious enough, the rooftop will have a basketball court which will double as a Sukkah.

The Shul’s President Eric Stein and Chairman Sholom Moshe Sheridan said construction is to start in April 2013 with the target date of completion for Rosh Hashana 5775 (2014). There will be a groundbreaking ceremony will be in December 2012.

“The Shul is open from 5 AM to 2 AM,” Stein, an attorney, said. “And we need to accommodate that.”

Rabbi Dov Schochet was invited to make a Siyum conclusion on Maseches Krisus, as customary during the Nine Days of mourning.

Some members felt it was appropriate that while marking the date of the destruction of the Temples, they were seeking to grow and build their own mini – or shall we say large – temple in Miami.