| The new building was purchased in March 2006 immediately following the sale of our old building. It has approximately 11% of the area of the old building. The new sanctuary holds 60 with optional additional seating. The social hall seats approximately 30. Although small, the new building is highly efficient. The first floor has the sanctuary, rabbi's study, a washroom, foyer, coat alcove and boiler room. The second floor has a social hall incorporating a kitchen, library, archive display, a small accounting office, a "geniza", storage areas and public washrooms. The building sits on several acres of land.The first service (picture at left) in our new building was held on Friday evening June 26, 2006 at 8:00 PM. It was lay-led by Dr. Edward Epstein, president. Larry Lawson read from the Torah. The dedication of the building took place on August 4, 2006. |
![]() | The sanctuary holds the ark and the bema.These were retained from the old building. The new sanctuary has a wired-in sound system and air conditioning, two amenities that the old building did not have. |
![]() | The building is built on a hill. This places the social hall in a position to overlook the sanctuary through windows. A sound system allows those preparing food in the kitchen to listen to the service. |
![]() | The library area of the social hall holds books, videos and a display of ritual objects. There is also a collection of 1950's news filmstrips showing the early years of the State of Israel. |
![]() | The Beth El kitchen is used for cooking classes as well as for preparing food for the oneg. The study of Jewish history through cooking was introduced by Rabbi Heller and has been very popular. |
![]() | The archive holds documents and taped interviews with members who experienced the early years of Jewish life in Bradford. Most are kept in the "geniza", an isolated storage area. However, when setting up the new building, some historical objects, previously kept in storage, were put on display in the case shown at left. These include one of the torahs from Europe rescued from the Holocaust, a pre-19th century megillah (of Esther) and the three shofarim from the three synagogues that formed Temple Beth El. |