ON MAIN STREET in Venice, on a lovely Shabbat afternoon, with a gentle breeze, and a view of the Bay when you stand up! Yes, the portico of our historic sanctuary—protected by its colonnaded overhang—seems tailor-made for sitting down to enjoy a pleasant Kiddush lunch.
What would make that a realistic option? Currently I am working on treating the portico’s flagstone with a special sealant that is said to offer three benefits: permanent waterproofing; hardening the stone; and superior stain protection. That would be a game-changer, in my view.
Once that sealing task is done, we can look into acquiring an appropriate set of chairs and small tables that can be set out on the portico while food/drink is served.
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| (As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.) |
As the above drawing shows, we could comfortably seat 8–12 people there. (The dark ovals represent people, and the lighter ovals represent tables.)
In addition to being enjoyable for us and our guests, it would be the best kind of advertising. Being visible out on the portico would show passersby that Mishkon is not only alive but also thriving.
Seated on the portico at the top of the steps, at a level 6′ above the sidewalk, would be a relatively secure place to eat. And if our security guard prefers it, the front gates could be (mostly) closed for added security, while people are seated at those tables.
(NOTE: This is a speculative post that is exploring a possible project; no funds have been allocated for tables and chairs at this time.)
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