Thursday, September 20, 2007: The synagogue opens for business!!

This was a very exciting day for us. Construction isn't completely done yet, but things are close enough so that we can start using the facility.

Yesterday, we met at the Rabbi's residence and carried the Torahs back home. The event started off with a small ceremony at the rabbinate:

A chuppah was prepared to (mostly) cover the Torahs during the trip from the rabbinate to the new synagogue:

The Torahs were carried out of the rabbinate, and a shofar was blown to signal the start of the journey:

The Torahs were then carried from the rabbinate to the synagogue. The pictures speak for themselves:

Once in the synagogue, there was another small ceremony as the Torahs were placed inside the ark:

After the Torahs were placed inside the Ark, a mezzuzah was fitted with a scroll, and we then went back outside to mount the mezzuzah at the entrance to the synagogue:

(The eternal light was also turned on, but we don't have pictures of that part of the ceremony.)

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Some other pictures from yesterday:

A view of the entrance arcade with the sunset reflecting off the circle:

Another view of the Torahs (with the crowns) inside the ark after the ceremony:

A view of the bimah after the ceremony (note that the carpet has not yet been installed):

Two views of the Torahs being rolled for Yom Kippur services (note also that temporary chairs have been set up for Yom Kippur):

A view of the courtyard at night:

A view of the sanctuary from the courtyard (note that most of the memorial plaques have been mounted at the back of the sanctuary):

And three views of the front of the building at night:

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