June 14, 2023

Dear Friends,

We have heard from many friends who are concerned how we're doing following our April 13 Fairmount Temple fire.  We want to keep you informed as we move along this journey of repair and restoration. Below you'll find some answers to questions we know you have. If you have other questions or concerns, please reach out to us. We're on this journey together. 

What caused the April 13 Fire?

The fire was determined by all authorities to be an electrical fire. What occurred was entirely accidental, and there was no foul play. Together with experts, we are finalizing methods for continued fire safety and prevention year-round. We are heartened that no one was injured during what was a brief but destructive fire. Just as our Early Childhood Center faculty and Fairmount Temple staff responded quickly and appropriately to this emergency, we are reviewing our safety and security procedures for all activities happening at temple or on its grounds, to keep up a high standard of responsiveness to fire or other risks. The goal we share with all of you is that reparation and construction in our facility be carefully planned so that all of us can experience in the near future a safe, orderly and inspired re-gathering in all of the building of Fairmount Temple. But for a considerable period ahead, a significant portion of our building will shift from being a fire zone to a construction zone and will remain off-limits.

When will work begin to remediate and repair Fairmount Temple?

Remediation and reparation of Fairmount Temple’s facility after the April 13 fire has begun! Many items in the fire zone have been cleaned and restored for use in the limited portion of our building where our staff and schools now operate. Updates in the north wing are occurring now. Some Religious School and Early Childhood Center classrooms are now clergy and staff offices. The Gray Garden has been upgraded for use in communal gatherings and lifecycle events, and the Bogomolny Faigin Activity Center is being carefully reconceived and set as a prayer space. We expect in the coming days to undertake a thorough cleaning process that will enable us to re-inhabit the kitchen space.

TO READ the rest of this column, including upcoming info on Shabbat Services and the High Holy Days, click here to access this full Update message.

B’vracha – in blessing,

Robert Nosanchuk (pronouns: he/him)     Julianna Johnston Senturia (pronouns: she/her)

Senior Rabbi                                              Executive Director

Special Musical Weekend, June 16-17

Friday, June 16, 6:15 pm - Shabbat Evening Service AT Fairmount Temple in our Hilda Bogomolny Faigen Activity Center. The service will also be live streamed at this link.

Join us in person for our first service held at Fairmount Temple since our April 13 fire! The service will be led by Cantor Lapin, Rabbi Nosanchuk, and Rabbi Muhlbaum who will speak. We also welcome special guest musical accompanist Janet Montroy. The Service will be held in the Bogomolny Faigin Activity Center and you must enter through the doors at the Religious School, north entrance.

Click here for the list of names being read during memorial prayers at Friday's service.

Saturday, June 17, 7 pm - Songs of Hope and Light Concert

This special concert in our Bogomolny Faigin Activity Center will feature an array of songs that will fill the room and our hearts with joy!! Pianist Janet Montroy and Cantor Vladimir Lapin will headline a special concert that will include an appearance by the Fairmount Temple Chorale under the direction of Cantor Laureate Sarah Sager! This 7 pm concert is open to all. For security purposes and to plan seating accordingly, RSVPs are required by Thursday to Lindsay Marcus here. Please note, this concert will not be streamed.

Shabbat Morning Torah Study, June 17, 9:15 am. Cantor Laureate Sarah Sager will be leading our Shabbat Morning Torah Study this week, as well as June 24 and July 1. Cantor Sager recently led a program sponsored by our Women of FT with Our Sisters' Keepers that was covered in last week's CJN here. The full text of her presentation can be found here.

Shabbat Across Fairmount Temple, Friday, June 23 - RSVP for Temple Gathering

While the reservations for our in-home Shabbat Across Fairmount Temple have closed, we are still accepting RSVPs for our special outdoor Shabbat gathering at 6:15 pm on our Fairmount Temple grounds with songs, blessings, and a special oneg! For this option, you bring your own picnic Shabbat dinner if you wish. There will also be an early and abbreviated 5 pm Shabbat Service during which names will be read for Mourner's Kaddish and to pray for healing.

So we can prepare accordingly, If you plan to join us our outdoor gathering portion of Shabbat Across Fairmount Temple, please complete this form, and answer #6 of how many attending.

Click here for the June issue of Connections

Printed copies are available at temple. If you or someone you know would like the printed issue, email Cassie Morris here and she'll gladly mail you one.