Shul Construction Update

Jacking up the lobby floor to install a steel support beam and steel columns

As spring gives way to summer, I am grateful to Hashem that after nearly two and a half years of pandemic, things are returning to normal. Just before the pandemic began, we realized that the floor supporting the staircase to the second floor was gradually sinking. Probes by our conservator and an engineer revealed that at one point during construction, the original contractor planned to build a staircase on the southern wall to the basement, parallel to the staircase on the northern wall. As construction proceeded, the contractor changed his mind and decided that one staircase was enough. As was common from buildings of that era, the hole where the southern staircase was to go was covered but not adequately reinforced. When this was brought to our attention, we resolved to have this deficiency repaired. The pandemic and the the fact that the engineer was sick delayed progress on this project. The condominium collapse in Surfside, Florida, reminded us of the importance of our project and enabled us to get things moving.

Under the guidance of our project manager, Ed Kamper, and a new engineer (hired after our first engineer passed away), we hired a contracted and began to make progress. First, the floor was lifted several inches.  Then, a diagonal steel beam, pocketed in the masonry at the ends and supposed by steel posts, was installed. Finally the beam, and the exposed area of the basement and the electrical room was covered in sheetrock. There are still a few things to do (fixing up the ladies room and installing missing light fixtures, addressing a leaky skylight and leaky windows, and other small issues), but the project is almost done. 

What will we do next? Good question! Next year will be hundredth anniversary of the construction of our building, and truth be told, there is still lots of work to be done.  Down the road, we hope to restore the walls along with all the decorative painting, upgrade the electrical system and replace (with new tin) our tin ceiling. Fortunately, the pattern of the original tin is still available. 

We have come as far as we have thanks to the help of the many people who have contributed to the shul. May God bless all of our donors and may they continue to support this holy house of God.

Help Secure the Future! Capital Campaign 2018

Help Secure the Future!
Old Broadway Synagogue
Capital Campaign 2018

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In the fall, our conservator, Ed Kamper and structural engineer, Jay Butler, opened the wall under the stairs and the ceiling above the electrical room and discovered that the beams had slipped significantly. This problem is compounded by the fact that the stairs to the second floor begin on this part of the first floor and could be compromised by the damage. Mr. Kamper and Mr. Butler propose to jack up the floor and to fabricate and install a steel beam on posts across ceiling of the basement and the Ladies Room in order to shore up and stabilize the first floor and staircase. Unfortunately, this will necessitate moving the electrical, gas and water service, and accordingly, the cost for the entire project could be as much as $75,000.

We have already begun our efforts to raise funds for this project. We will be applying for two grants from the New York Landmarks Conservancy. If we are fortunate and we are awarded the grants, they will cover about $25,000 of the expenses. In addition, a generous friend of the shul is offering us a challenge grant of $15,000. If we can raise the matching amount of money (or at least get pledges for that amount) by the end of the calendar year, we should have enough to start the project. I know that with your support we can achieve this goal. As such, we will keep the shul safe and functional for many years to come.

Make Your Donation Go Twice as Far!

Thanks to the generosity of the new donor, you have the opportunity to double your donation with a 100% match (up to $15,000) on behalf of the Old Broadway Synagogue.

The PayPal Giving Fund will match 1% extra for all donations through this link and charge us no processing fees for credit card payments.

We also welcome checks! Please make them out to Old Broadway Synagogue and send them to us at Old Broadway Synagogue, 15 Old Broadway, New York, NY 10027.

We have sponsorship opportunities for this and other projects at the shul. Please inquire if interested at OBS15OLD@gmail.com

Thank you for your help!

Restoring Our Synagogue

While Rabbi Kret was at the shul, it seemed that the physical structure of the building was somehow held together by his Torah and his menschlikhkeit. If it weren't for him, we were sure that our old building would give in to the forces of entropy. Accordingly, when he retired in November, 1997, we decided that we could no longer keep the building together on faith (or mostly on faith), and began a slow campaign to repair and restore our beautiful, historic structure.Our treasurer, Orrin, put on a new roof in order to keep the building dry inside (a critical step). Then we had the asbestos in the basement abated. Afterward, a new basement floor, and then new restrooms were installed. This was a major step forward. The sinks in the restrooms were only a couple of feet off the floor, as if they were designed for children. It turned out that when the old restrooms were taken out, water seepage had caused the original floor, and some of the fixtures, to sink. So another floor was built on top! There old restrooms were horrible in many ways but they had two great features. First, the urinals were four and a half feet tall. Clearly, there is something about the Eastern European immigrant ancestors that we have underrated. Secondly, the restroom stalls had these wonderful, double-hinged, carved, saloon doors. Fortunately, I was able to rescue them and I hope one day to install them together with new wooden stalls. Soon after this (I think) we replaced the back wall separating our property from our neighor's. In 2001 were were awarded the grant from the New York Landmarks Conservancy which enabled us to restore the stained glass windows in the front of the building, put a new drain on the roof, install new front doors and rebuild the eastern parapet. The windows were particularly challenging because there was only a small amount of the original glass in the smaller lunette or transom window. Looking at a 1939-1940 tax photo and also photos from dinner journals (none of which were in color) we made some good guesses about what the window looked like. We are thrilled with the way they came out. At the same time, we discovered that the drainpipe underneath the building was rusted out, so we replaced it and we used the contractors to sister in new beams under the bimah, since the wood in this area had rotted. In December 2007, our old oil boiler, which was installed, at the latest, in 1937, had finally given up the ghost. In January 2008, we installed a new gas boiler, a change from tradition, but one which will be hopefully cleaner, cheaper, and easier to maintain. In fall 2009, we were awarded two small grants from the New York Landmarks Conservancy to do structural work on the roof, restore the skylights and rebuild the parapets. We have also applied for a bigger grant from State for the same purpose. We are now waiting to hear what the outcome will be. After we restore the roof, we hope to upgrade our electrical system, and when that's done, we hope to restore the plaster walls and recreate the intricate floral that once enlivened the interior of the building. This is assuming that we can raise the money. Our goal is to restore the building so that it will be well-cared for 1920s synagogue that will be a gift for us and for future generations. If we can achieve this goal, then it is because Rabbi Kret's spirit, in some way, continues to inhabit our little gem of a synagogue.