New Sanctuary to be Dedicated at Kol Ami

The Hanukah lights will burn with a very powerful and special glow at Congregation Kol Ami this year as the synagogue, located in White Plains, celebrates the completion of its newly renovated sanctuary. The sanctuary will be dedicated at a Shabbat service on the seventh night of Hanukah, Friday, December 14th at 6:15 pm.

"We are incredibly excited about the re-visioning of our new sanctuary. This marks a great day in the history of our dynamic congregation, where we will worship in a magnificent newly renovated space" said Andrea Seiden of Scarsdale, the chairperson of the capital campaign.

"Our goal was to provide a warm, welcoming and functional environment that respects our past and embraces our future. We succeeded in creating a worship space that is both visually and spiritually beautiful." Said Shira Milgrom, Co-Rabbi of Kol Ami with Rabbi Tom Wiener.

The sanctuary has a number of innovative and state-of-the-art features. The soaring 30-foot ceiling gives the space an open, modern and expansive feel. The Bimah or platform area was lowered for more inclusive and embracing services which will also accommodate members and guests with special needs. The side windows were replaced with a clear curtain wall of glass to connect the outside and the inside.

The stained glass windows from the original sanctuary on Sterling Avenue in White Plains have been included in the design blending the history of the old and new. Of great use are the 300 movable chairs, which allow for flexibility so that configurations can change depending on the programs, practices and life cycle events of that day.

Kol Ami's capital campaign, called "L'dor Va'Dor" , means from generation to generation. It has raised over 4 million dollars. The sanctuary was the first phase of a project to modernize the Kol Ami campus and infrastructure. The firm of Levin/Brown & Associates, Inc. of Owings Mills, Maryland was retained as architects for the project. The construction company for the project was Kohl Construction Group who have extensive experience in religious projects in the tri-state area. Maura Smolover of Arts in Architecture was commissioned to design the Torah Ark and the Ner Tamid, the most sacred aspect of the sanctuary space.

Congregation Kol Ami, has been serving the area reform Jewish community since 1923. The congregation, which has grown to over 800 families, offers a unique blend of Jewish worship with an array of programs both spiritually uplifting and educational. The main building includes not only the new sanctuary but also cross-functional spaces for meetings and receptions; a nursery school and a Hebrew school. There is an alternate sanctuary, the Schulman Chapel in the Woods as well.

"I am deeply proud and thrilled to be a member of Congregation Kol Ami. This new sanctuary space will enhance all aspects of our current Temple life and for the future generations to come," said David Lee of Scarsdale.

For more information, please contact Janet Hershey, Director of Membership and Development at Congregation Kol Ami at 914.949-4717 ext. 115 or email janethershey@nykolami.

(Photo Credit: Mariela Melamed)