Emanuel’s $15 million revamp

EMANUEL Synagogue is set to undertake a $15 million major redevelopment of its Ocean Street site this year, after receiving a $4 million donation from communal philanthropist Millie Phillips.

Plans include the construction of a new shul, a preschool, a mikvah and a multipurpose intimate prayer space, as well as a car park and an administration building.

Before those changes get underway next year, though, the synagogue intends to replace all the seats in the main shul before this year’s High Holy Days.

The synagogue has already started selling the new seats to members before they are made available to the public.

Synagogue vice-president and building committee chairman Gordon Woolf said the project is on track.

“We put everything on hold because of the global financial crisis, but we have now started our fundraising and it is going extremely well with the aid of Millie Phillips,” Woolf said.

“We are over halfway of raising the $15 million that we need, and it is going very well with the help of our appeals chairman David Gonski.”

Phillips said she is excited about the proposed development.

“[Rabbi] Jeffrey [Kamins] was the one who came to me and I loved the idea,” Phillips said.

“The concept is great and I want to see a synagogue in the round that involves the congregation in a two-way conversation.”

Plans for the redevelopment have been in the works for several years, however, they were put on hold in May 2010. The Sydney East Joint Regional Planning Panel approved the plans with a condition of consent that a security wall on Ocean Avenue be removed. It was a setback, but not a fatal blow for the project.

Woolf said his board may submit a new development application or an alteration to current plans through council.

To buy a seat or contribute to the campaign, call the Emanuel Synagogue office on (02) 9328 7833.

JOSHUA LEVI

An artist’s rendition of the rooftop playspace (above) and the layout of the proposed development (below).

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