Springhill Avenue Temple

A little history on our Tree of Life on the doors of the Ark:
Like all the original sculpture in the Temple, the Tree of Life was created by renowned New York sculptor Michael Lantz.
He described the Tree he created in bronze outline, "The flowers and entwining branches in the various forms of the Tree of Life is my description of the Everlasting Life. The central porte of the Tree of Life holds the Eternal Light." Above the Tree of Life is a bronze tablet of the Ten Commandments, also created by Lantz.
David Cherniak, son of Rabbi Solomon Cherniak, who served during the design and building of the Temple, states that he believes his father was responsible for choosing the Tree of Life for the sculpture on the doors of the Ark.
(from a memoir by Phyllis Feibelman)

The window of Isaiah is the second in our series about the beautiful stained glass windows of our Temple:
Isaiah is looking heavenward, his hand pointing toward God. Behind him are the wings of the Seraphim, recalling his vision of God in the Temple. To the right are clusters of grapes, symbolizing Isaiah's warning to Judah through the Parable of the Vineyard.

In his hand, Isaiah holds the Law as he proclaims God's message: "Not the waters of Shiloah that go softly, but the floods of destruction," foretelling the coming judgment upon Jerusalem at the hands of the Assyrians. Isaiah's message is ultimately one of hope. Dominating the lower portion of the window is the transformation of the sword into a plowshare, representing his enduring prophecy of a new and peaceful age.
(excerpts from a memoir by Phyllis Feibelman, photo by Sam Feibelman)

Yesterday we celebrated the tenure of our beloved Rabbi Boraz and his wife, Maggie, with a well attended Bon Voyage party. Rabbi and Maggie will soon be heading to Cleveland, OH.

Many thanks to all the committee members who coordinated this event. Thanks, too, to Roy Hoffman, who delivered a heartfelt tribute to Rabbi.

Rabbi and Maggie, you are loved and you will be missed. Many blessings to you on creating new chapters to your life’s story!