Emanuel Synagogue gets $2.5 million makeover

As the Jewish New Year approaches, with Rosh Hashanah a season of renewal and spirituality, The Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford will welcome worshippers to its newly refurbished building at 160 Mohegan Drive. 

"With carefully planned renovations and repairs—focusing on our worship, learning and gathering spaces—we will ensure the continuity of a beautiful and inspiring home for ourselves and our next generation," said Emanuel Synagogue President Gail Weinstein.

This year, the Conservative synagogue embarked upon a $2.5 million Capital Campaign, called "Growing Emanuel's Future/L'Dor Vador Capital Campaign," to raise funds for capital improvements to the entire building. There are three phases to the campaign: Phase I was to upgrade the front lobby and the chapel with new carpeting and painting; Phase II was the sanctuary renaissance; and Phase III, still under way, is to paint and put in new carpeting in the Silverman Auditorium and Koret Hall and rear corridor common area.

Sheri Rowley Gold of Advent Design in West Hartford , was engaged to oversee the project. The 600-seat sanctuary, built in 1970, was refurbished with new carpeting, reupholstered seats in the pews, with materials designed and manufactured in Israel, and improved and energy efficient lighting.

The pulpit (or bima), has now been made fully handicapped-accessible with the addition of a graceful new permanent ramp. Some pews were eliminated to create an open area in front of the pulpit to provide space for the needs of the physically disabled and for prayer readings from the floor of the sanctuary.

The historic sanctuary elements, such as the stained glass on the sides of the pulpit and the Eternal Light, which hangs in front of the Ark, were restored and cleaned, and the tall original cabinets housing the stained glass were totally rebuilt.

The Capital Campaign, led by Campaign Chair Ben Engel and Vice Chairs Alan Mendelson, and Alan and Michele Parker, also included a newly paved driveway and parking lot, replacement of the roof, the conversion from oil to gas to be more energy efficient, and the purchase of the new High Holiday prayer book of the Conservative movement, for use by the entire congregation.