New Synagogue to reopen April 5 following closure for renovation
New Synagogue will reopen next month after closing in July for renovations.
In a recent email to congregants, Rabbi Abraham Unger, the temple's executive director, said in-person services in the "beautified sanctuary" would resume on April 5, the evening of Passover Wednesday.
"From that first night of Passover onward, we will resume our ongoing full complement of morning and evening holiday and Shabbat services," Unger said in the email.
New Synagogue closed July 31 for a major renovation that has its roots in the coronavirus pandemic.
"We decided to expand because of COVID," Unger told the Daily News in July. "COVID showed us just how much community means, and how vital it is that we grow it."
The Modern Orthodox temple, which was founded 22 years ago by resident and Slim-Fast founder S. Daniel Abraham, is housed at the Palm Beach Hotel, 235 Sunrise Ave.
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The worship area, the rabbi’s study and the social area are being rebuilt and redesigned from its modern look into a Colonial style inspired by Touro Synagogue of Newport, Rhode Island. Built in 1763, Touro is the oldest synagogue in the United States and is a National Historic Site.
"Our renovations will incorporate aspects of our original inspiration of the Touro Synagogue in its color scheme, flooring, furnishing and feel, but will exclude any structural changes," Unger said Thursday.
"Unlike our traditional Ashkenazi layout, which places the bimah towards the front of the congregant seating, the new design has the bimah moved back toward the center of the seating space reflective of a more traditional Sephardic design," he added.
A reconfigured seating arrangement, Unger said, will create a women’s seating section encircling the men’s seating section, which will be in the center of the space. When complete, the temple should have seating for between 90 and 114 people, he said.
Noting that "we are always seeking to welcome new congregants into our New Synagogue family," Unger said almost 40 new young families have joined the temple this year.
"I think COVID certainly left us all with a deepened recognition of the value of community and coming together, but we have also been very cognizant of meeting people where they are. We welcome all to a traditional Jewish spiritual experience of prayer and fellowship," Unger said.
The synagogue is not doing away completely with its virtual offerings, and there are two Passover events that are scheduled to be held via Zoom.
The Siyyum Bechorim for the first born on the morning of Passover eve, and its partner series for emerging scholars from Yeshiva University’s Strauss Center for Torah and Western Thought, currently are scheduled to be held virtually.
All other services and programs will be in-person as of Passover, Unger said. For more information, call 561-514-4064 or email info@newsynagogue.org.
Passover schedule:
April 4
Search for Chametz (at home) as of 8:14 p.m.
(Rabbi Bar-Chaim will assist congregants with the sale of Chametz.)
April 5 – Erev Yom Tov
Siyyum Bechorim for the first born, 8:45 a.m. via ZOOM
Last time for eating Chametz, 11:17 a.m.
Last time for burning Chametz, 12:20 p.m.
Candle Lighting for Yom Tov, 7:21 p.m.
At the synagogue – first night of Passover
Mincha, 7:20 p.m.
D’var Torah
Ma’ariv, 7:55 p.m.
First Seder (By reservation only), 8:15 p.m.
April 6 – First Day Yom Tov
Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.
Rabbi’s messageKiddush lunch
Mincha, 7:20 p.m.
D’var Torah
Ma’ariv, 7:55 p.m.
Candle Lighting not before 8:15 p.m.
Second Seder (by reservation only), 8:15 p.m.
April 7 – Second Day Yom Tov
Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.
Rabbi’s messageKiddush lunch
Mincha, 7 p.m.
Shabbat Chol HaMoed
Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma’ariv, 7:20 p.m.
Candle lighting, 7:22 p.m.
April 8 – Shabbat Chol HaMoed
Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.
Rabbi’s messageKiddush lunch
Mincha, 7 p.m.
Seudah Shlishit
Maariv/Havdalah, 8:16 p.m.
April 11 – Erev Yom Tov
Candle lighting, 7:24 p.m.
Mincha/Ma’ariv, 7:20 p.m.
Yom Tov Dinner (by reservation only)
April 12 – Yom Tov
Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.
Rabbi’s message
Kiddush lunch
Mincha, 7:20 p.m.
D’var Torah
Ma’ariv, 8:05 p.m.
Candle Lighting not before 8:18 p.m.
Yom Tov Dinner (by reservation only)
April 13 – Yom Tov
Shacharit, 8:45 a.m.
Rabbi’s message
Yizkor, 10:20 a.m.
Kiddush lunch
Mincha, 7:20 p.m.
D’var Torah
Maariv/Havdalah, 8:19 p.m.
Sold Chametz may be consumed after 9:19 p.m.
Carol Rose is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at crose@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: New Synagogue to reopen April 5 following closure for renovation
