InTENTional action: fumigation completed (Activity Report)

MORE THAN 7 HOURS were needed for a 6-man crew to erect and seal up the tent that enveloped Mishkon’s premises on Monday, December 29. 

Four years ago, we had been told that it was not even possible to tent our facility unless our neighbor’s attached building were tented, as well. Yet after the fumigation company’s rep made several site visits and gave much thought to the matter, he came up with a plan to wrap Mishkon’s buildings while minimally involving our neighbor’s. This year, both our board and our neighbor assented to the plan.

Below the jump, you can enjoy 8 varied views of the enormous completed tent.…

FAQ: Tenting & fumigation at end of December (Background Report)

WE ARE ALMOST READY for the tenting and fumigation of our premises at the very end of this month. 

Although this was discussed and previously approved by the board in 2022, it turned out not to be feasible at the time. Many interlocking pieces needed to fall into place, but a few of them did not do so then. Same thing in 2024. However, this time around, it just might work—given the cooperation of our neighbors, the promised participation of many volunteers, and the preparations by our staff that I have already seen.

Below the jump, this post offers an FAQ about what is happening.…

Rain drip guard installed above door (Activity Report)

WE HAVE FOUR DOORWAYS that have been unprotected from above. During rainfall, water runs down the upper wall to the doorway, where it enters between the frame and the top of the door. There, it has caused damage to doors or to the materials below doorways. 

How to keep rainwater out of the building and/or from damaging the (top of the) doors? Putting our heads together, Andrew Roth (a new member of this committee), Fleming, and I figured out a relatively simple, cost-effective, and hopefully long-lasting solution: install an overhead rain drip guard. Andrew tested out this approach a week ago on one of the doors. 

Below the jump, this post documents the need and describes our preventive maintenance approach.…

What do engineering consultants do? A banner example (Activity Report)

UNDER OUR ARCHITECT’S direction, our mechanical engineering consultant has specified the ventilation equipment for our expanded main-floor restrooms. This will allow the City to verify that our plans will meet the state building code, and it will enable the contractor to procure the proper materials and install them correctly. 

Because this kind of work is more visual and tangible than some other engineering tasks, it can serve as a good illustration of what our consultants have been doing for us. Below the jump, this post lets the images do the talking. It features the mechanical engineer’s set of 12 general notes, plus three of his diagrams.…

What’s with the tarps on the front steps? (Activity Report)

JUST BEFORE each of the two big rainstorms this fall, Andrew Roth and I have covered the front steps (with Ruben’s help). We did so in order to protect them from the rain. 

Water will degrade sandstone that is unprotected. Rainwater also percolates through the steps into the concrete substrate—damaging it—and onto the ceiling of the basement spaces below. 

Unfortunately, even after years of trying, we have not managed to find an affordable and practical way to seal the flagstone and grout, and also reduce the water intrusion. (Out of curiosity, I did get a quote to fully waterproof the steps that would involve replacing all of the sandstone, at a cost of $164,000!)

We are still working on a solution—but in the meantime, a physical cover seemed like the least we could do, to minimize the damage. I don’t know whether we will keep this up, though.  

Below the jump, this post points you to 6 other posts on this topic.…

Multiple modes are needed for full access to our building (Background Report)

NO SINGLE MODE of movement will work for all types of people to access all of our spaces. A mix of modes is needed, as this grid shows.

(As usual, click/tap on an image to enlarge it.)

Key to “Mobility type”:

• Walk and climb  =  Easily mobile; stairs are easy

• Walk, not climb  =  Bad knee/hip/ankle/back, or unsteady on feet; stairs are difficult

• Not walk or climb  =  Wheelchair; stairs are impossible

Entry accessibility plan for the sanctuary building (Activity Report)

AN ENTRY ACCESSIBILITY PLAN was required by the City as a prerequisite for doing renovations. Happily, ours has now taken shape. On October 23, our architect presented the draft plan to a civil engineer on the disability access team at the Department of Building & Safety (LADBS). She said that the concept seemed workable, given our needs and constraints. That not only clears the way for the planned restroom renovations, but also sets the course for significant accessibility improvements.

Below the jump, this post lays out our plan.… 

Has the board approved a full (wraparound) stairlift?

ANSWERING THAT QUESTION is a complex endeavor, because of the indirect way that the approval came about. The short answer is Yes: the board approved two related motions in February that together constitute approval of a full stairlift. One motion approved its upper half, and the other motion approved its lower half. 

What has puzzled some board members is the fact that the stairlift was not mentioned explicitly in the wording of either motion.

Below the jump, this post explains how it all came together.…

First 6 months of Phase 1 renovations: Preparatory steps (Activity Report)

IN LATE OCTOBER, our architect (along with a pair of synagogue representatives) had two productive meetings with City officials. They conducted an initial review of the planned Phase 1 of renovations. Both of those meetings settled a number of uncertainties. That result now enables us to move forward with our Phase 1 renovations. It also provides a good opportunity to take stock of what has been accomplished during the 6 months (this week) that the project has now been formally underway.

Below the jump, this post provides a progress report, along with a brief look at what comes next.…

Mishkon engages architect for Phase 1 of multi-year renovations (Activity Report)

MISHKON SIGNED A CONTRACT in May with KCK Architects, an accomplished historic preservation firm, to oversee Phase 1 of renovations in our historic sanctuary building. After meeting with representatives of seven firms, I recommended this one as the best suited for our needs among those available to undertake our project.

The planned work is to be carried out in several phases over a period of 3–4 years. The only phase we have contracted for at present is the first one, which includes restroom remodeling (lobby level), lobby reno­vation, and the siting/integration of a possible elevator, within the context of an overall entry accessibility plan. Fu­ture phases are subject to approval by the board and/or B&G Committee.

Below the jump, this post discusses the background, the need, and the architect’s services to be performed—with brief status notes as we near the 6-month mark.…

Ventilation plan implemented for High Holy Days (Activity Report)

THIS YEAR, with the incidence of Covid-19 infections at a moderate level and a predicted high temp of 78° for Rosh Hashanah, we implemented a particular plan to provide reasonably healthful air for attendees at our High Holy Day services. 

Below the jump, that plan is outlined for future reference.…

L.A.’s potential funds for shade-tree root pruning and hardscape repair (Background)

THE CITY OF L.A. runs a rebate program for sidewalk repairs that sounds great in principle. In practice, taking advantage of the offer is somewhat challenging. 

Sidewalk damage caused by “our” street tree

Below the jump, I outline how the program would work in our case, if we applied for a rebate.…

Air purifiers installed in sanctuary HVAC system (Activity Report)

JUST IN TIME for the High Holy Day crowds, a pair of air purifiers was installed yesterday in our historic sanctuary’s HVAC system—one for each blower. These devices use needlepoint bipolar ionization (NBPI) technology, as described HERE—from when we were preparing to install one in our school building.

One of the new ion generators,
mounted inside the forced-air unit (FAU)

As long as the HVAC blowers are on, these purifiers will be generating ions that the fans are casting out into our large hall, where the ions can neutralize airborne viruses and bacteria right where people are sitting—without needing to wait for the air to recirculate to the HVAC filter. Hence I believe that these devices will be significantly reducing the airborne transmission of disease inside our sanctuary.

These ion generators are designed for a system that is up to 2.4 times as large as ours. That’s good, because our retrofitted system is only about half the size needed when the sanctuary is full of people. In other words, our air purifiers are properly sized for the space. 

For links to evidence that the ions produced by this device are indeed effective at neutralizing airborne pathogens directly, see HERE.

Duct smoke detectors installed in sanctuary HVAC system (Activity Report)

ALTHOUGH I HAD provisionally concluded that duct smoke detectors were not required in our sanctuary, as described HERE, I nonetheless looked for an opportunity to get an authoritative opinion. That opportunity presented itself exactly one week ago, when Tom Nasrollahi, a mechanical (HVAC) engineer, made a site visit as a consultant on our main-floor restroom renovation project.

One of the new duct smoke detectors

Unhesitatingly, Tom replied that these devices were indeed required in our sanctuary, according to code. 

He explained that even though each of the sanctuary’s two systems has its own thermostat and each one by itself has a small enough blower to be exempt, they must together be treated as one overall system because they both participate in conditioning the same space. The system’s cubic feet per minute (CFM) for the total space is what counts.

Happily, a pair of detectors was installed yesterday. They were placed just upstream of the air filter before the blower intake (see photo). 

Thus we have made a capital improvement (betterment) that addresses a life-safety risk, which is of course the highest priority use for our precious funds.

(How did it come about that the installer of our replacement heating system in 2017 did not include these devices at that time? Maybe I don’t want to know.…)

Shiny brass (Condition Report)

IN HONOR OF the High Holy Days, most of the brass fixtures in the sanctuary have now been professionally polished. This includes the door pulls and push plates between the lobby and the sanctuary, and on restroom doors. The difference will be immediately evident when you walk in.

And in a nod to the value of preventive maintenance, a protective clear coat has been added to those items, so as to preserve their shine.

Some other brass fixtures in the sanctuary, such as the banisters leading to the bimah, were manually polished. They will continue to need repolishing each year (but see below).

NOMENCLATURE:   The Historic Structure Report (2003), in its cataloging of our sanctuary building’s architectural features, most often employs the term copper alloy rather than “brass.” The more general term is preferred in preservation and museum circles as a matter of accuracy. That is, the term “brass” is seen as possibly misleading because of the widely varying proportions of its ingredients (usually copper and zinc, but sometimes also other elements), which can shade into bronze, which is likewise a copper alloy. But in this blog I will continue to use the more common and informal term.

PRESERVATION TIP:   The salty air in our ocean-adjacent location means that our brass tarnishes relatively quickly. Yet for brass items that are not meant to be touched (such as the chandeliers in the Social Hall), there is a relatively easy hack: After polishing such items, rub them with a cloth that has been sprayed with WD-40. The resulting thin layer of that lubricant will help to protect the brass over time. 

(Indeed, it is said that WD-40 can also be used as brass polish, by spraying it on the metal and letting it sit for 15 minutes or so, and then rubbing it off.)

CONTACT INFO:   The vendor that polished and coated our brass items was: V&M Metal Polishing (Chatsworth), vmmetalpolishing@gmail.com 818-632-0603, "ask for Vidal.”

APPRECIATION:   Thank you to Carole Stein and Ginni Rosenfeld for this round of brass polishing! Long may it shine!

Update on the stairlift (Draft Proposal)

AS OUR ARCHITECT prepares to meet with City officials next month to discuss our entry accessibility plan, it is timely to revisit the stairlift component—which was introduced HERE (Feb. 12) and updated HERE (May 8). 

Again, the overall goal is to ease the entry to (and exit from) our sanctuary building for people who find stairs difficult. Our doing so is required in order to get building per­mits to make further alterations to the facility, such as expanded restrooms.

Below the jump, I give updates on three aspects: recommended equipment, cost, and the permitting experience of a nearby church.

Plenum at play in the main-floor Ladies Lounge (Background Report)

ALTHOUGH SELDOM NOTICED, a plenum (shaft) runs from floor to ceiling through the lobby-level “Ladies Lounge.” (It continues through the mezzanine, too.) It’s behind the wall that is straight across from the door to the lounge from the lobby. What is it doing there?

Below the jump, this post discloses what’s inside that plenum—and why.

Revised configuration of the sanctuary’s HVAC system (Background Report)

IN FEBRUARY 2023, I described the sanctuary’s HVAC system in this post. Just recently, I have revised three aspects of my earlier understanding. The newer picture looks like this:

Below the jump, this post describes and documents the salient results of what I learned from my recent explorations.…

Ventilating the restrooms: A possible approach for air intake (Speculation)

OUR PROSPECTIVE CONSULTANT, a mechanical engineer, has observed that our restrooms have exhaust fans yet no clear way to replace the exhausted air. He believes that in order to approve our permit for expansion restrooms, the City might well require a dedicated source for intake air. (HVAC people call it make-up air, presumably because it “makes up” for the lost air that the exhaust fan is removing from the room.)

A typical restroom exhaust fan

This raises the question: What is the best way to supply make-up air to our restrooms?

This question will eventually apply also to the basement restrooms, since they are likewise slated for eventual expansion. So let’s think about a comprehensive solution that will work for them, as well.

Below the jump, I offer a couple of cautions about one option that the architect has mentioned as being fairly normal. Then I outline a custom alternative that takes advantage of our building’s unique configuration [revised 9/10].…

Construction bidding-specs document found, from circa 1940 (Background Report)

ON AUGUST 1, our president (Sol Ortasse) came across a double-folded document consisting of some two dozen typewritten pages. It is wrapped in blue construction paper, which is labeled in colored pencil as “Specifications for building Mishkon Tephilo congregation Venice, Calif.” Sol found it in the mezzanine’s left storage room, in a long plastic storage bin with a green lid. 

In briefly looking over this document, I did not see anything to suggest that it would immediately help our architect or other projects. However, it does contain some potentially useful information if carefully evaluated. It also generates a new albeit minor historical mystery about our sanctuary building’s creation. 

While waiting for the document to be digitally scanned so that it can be examined more carefully, I will share some initial observations, below the jump.…

Plywood on the sanctuary roof: seismic integrity (Condition Report)

PLYWOOD IS THE KEY to the seismic integrity of our sanctuary building, according to three structural engineers I have spoken with. Although no plywood seems to have been employed in its original construction, a layer was added overhead in 2004 during a re-roofing effort, as discussed elsewhere in this blog. 

As of this past week, I can say with confidence that the roof’s plywood is adequate to ensure that our building provides at least a minimum life safety level of performance in the event of a serious earthquake. 

Cross-section in a cut at the walkway alongside the roof's barrel,
showing 3 layers: plywood, sheathing, and rafter.
(I added a typical nail for comparison—but placed it too low.)

Last month, in the process of making structural repairs to the roof, enough plywood was exposed that I was able both to see the size of the nails employed and to measure the nailing pattern used. Those two factors affect the seismic integrity of the roof. 

Below the jump, I show and discuss my findings, while looking ahead to similarly strengthening the walls.…

Limits on construction noise in L.A. (Background Report)

CONSTRUCTION-RELATED NOISE is forbidden by law within the City of Los Angeles (i.e., at Mishkon) before 7:00am or after 9:00pm. That is, any such noise that is loud enough to disturb nearby residents. It includes the delivery of construction materials. (LAMC 41.40a)

Such noise is likewise forbidden within 500 feet of residential buildings on Sundays, as well as on Saturdays or holidays before 8:00am or after 6:00pm. (LAMC 41.40c)

Mishkon does have neighbors who reside nearby: next door, across the street, and down the street within 500 feet.

For details (and the penalty for violation), see the municipal code:

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/los_angeles/latest/lamc/0-0-0-128777#JD_41.40.

Duct smoke detectors: required in the sanctuary’s HVAC system? (Background Report)

A DUCT SMOKE DETECTOR is an HVAC-system device that can prevent flames and smoke from being spread or fanned by the system. In the event of smoke, the detector sends a signal to shut down the fan. Its presence is required by code in most circumstances. Normally the determination is made by city building department officials when a permit is applied for. 

The HVAC contractor Jessy Perets told me that our sanctuary’s HVAC system lacks duct smoke detectors. He also pointed out that our twin HVAC units were installed in a visibly low-budget manner, apparently without a building permit. Which has led me to wonder whether or not a pair of duct smoke detectors were technically required in our case. 

For a fire safety measure, the fact of requirement (if it indeed exists) would argue for installation after the fact (which would cost $1,275 as quoted by one contractor). Conversely, if our case is an allowable exception, that would argue for leaving things as they are. At its June meeting, the board adopted that approach and asked the B&G Committee to find out whether duct smoke detectors are required by code in our sanctuary. 

I have a provisional answer, which I lay out below the jump.…

Historically significant features in the Social Hall and main corridor (Background Report)

CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES of our historic sanctuary building were identified in the Historic Structure Report (2003; “HSR”). These are the aspects that warrant historic preservation, in the eyes of architectural historians.

Below the jump, this post excerpts from here and there the HSR to describe and list the historically significant features in two spaces that some members are reportedly eyeing for decoration. As named in the HSR, those spaces are known as the corridor (B-01) and the Social Hall (B-02). 

How the front columns are constructed (Background Report)

IT TOOK A WHILE to make sense of what I was seeing, but after having peered today at the front corner column from the opened roof above, I can now explain how the front columns are constructed.… 

1. An 8"x8" wooden post stands at the core.
2. At each of 4 or 5 levels, a set of (8) 2"x4" struts extends outward from the core to hold (8) upright 2"x4"s in place.
3. The uprights form an octagonal armature.
4. Tarpaper vapor barrier and stucco wire are attached around the armature.
5. Plaster is built up around the stucco wire. 

The first three items listed are new discoveries. Below the jump, this post presents photographic documentation of the first three of those claims.

A surprise in the corner front column: damp in mid-June (Condition Report)

“MAN, THIS IS CRAZY!” I said to Ruben, as I showed him the moisture-meter’s readouts on the corner front column. For years, I have been hunting the source of the moisture that keeps ruining the paint on this column—as discussed most recently HERE. 

Illustration from the Home Depot product page

The column was wet!

And we have no idea where the moisture is coming from!

Below the jump, I recount the situation in more detail.…

Proposed HVAC system for Social Hall (Speculation)

AN EXPERIENCED H.V.A.C. CONTRACTOR submitted today a proposal for a two-stage HVAC system for the Social Hall. The installed cost of a ventilation system would be $28,000. Later, we could add heating and A/C for another $21,600, plus the cost of electrical work. Subtotal: roughly $50K. 

I asked for this bid because the Ad-Hoc Committee on Capital Priorities recently named such ventilation one of its top five items:

“The Social Hall should once again become an integral part of Mishkon’s life. [It] needs new ventilation and heating.”

Below the jump, I describe the elements of the vendor’s proposal and discuss them, including related options.…

Characteristics of the forthcoming silicone roof overlay (Background Report)

THE MATERIAL SELECTED to cover the roof of our historic sanctuary (later this summer) is silicone with the brand name Type S, manufactured by American Standard Coatings (ASC), based in Chatsworth (Los Angeles). It will be applied by roller according to manufacturer’s instructions at a coverage rate (thickness) that the ASC will then warranty for 15 years. Our roofer calls this “a 15-year specification.”

Below the jump, this post discusses the coating’s benefits and features, why it was chosen for our roof, and its future maintenance needs.…

A fitting challenge for awning in play yard (Condition Report)

FITTING THE AWNING’S SUPPORT POSTS is proving to be extremely challenging. 

If it is true that the sukkah must fit entirely within both the awning’s posts and its overhead frame, then here are the results after laying out the sukkah frame in the yard today:

[Update added 6/9/25] Various stakeholders consulted about this blog post have replied that the proposed arrangement, while it would obviously compromise the sukkah to some extent, is nonetheless tolerable. This consensus has now been reported to the awning vendor.

Below the jump, I provide links to photos, and more discussion.…

Experiment in water intrusion (Activity Report)

THE CORNER COLUMN keeps getting soaked from the inside, upon rainfall, as does the portico slab beneath it. Somehow. And even after we have eliminated several suspected pathways for water intrusion. 

Rainwater is causing discoloration, bubbling, and cracking of the paint—
only on this column, and only on one side.
Where is it coming from?

Last week, the general contractor Yosi Arbib speculated about a possibility that I had not previously considered: whenever rain soaks the planter that is next to the base of the column, moisture is being drawn, via wicking, both up into the column, and down below the column. 

Yosi’s hypothesis

It seemed to me that Yosi’s hypothesis would be fairly easy to test. Basically the test would consist of pouring water into the planter, and then seeing whether the column gets damp.

Below the jump, this post documents the experiment that I carried out.…

Cylindrical white room air purifiers (Condition Report)

THE ST. JOSEPH CENTER recently donated several air purifiers to Mishkon. 

Below the jump, this post documents the main features of these units. It also points to the online user manual and other resources.…

Existing kitchen vent system (Condition Report)

WHAT IS ABOVE the exhaust grilles in the ceiling of our kitchen? The answer is important, as we move toward the necessary improvements to meet the current mechanical code for exhausting air from the room.

Below the jump, this post documents the existing exhaust system, with 7 photos (some with circles and arrows) and a diagram.…

Summer sanctuary roof projects: structural repair & reroofing (Activity Report)

DURING THIS SUMMER, it will be time to do major work on the roof of our historic sanctuary. Mishkon has saved up the funds to pay for this two-part project, and we have been preparing to carry it out.

A silicone “cool roof” recovering is applied in Torrance.

Below the jump, this post describes what our preparation has accomplished: my understanding of the situation and of the options, and what our current plans are.…

Looking into possible funding from a Perenchio Foundation grant (Activity Report)

A PASADENA-BASED FOUNDATION is requesting grant applications from organizations like Mishkon. They want to fund capital improvements that will support the arts locally. 

In their own words, “We welcome applications from non-arts organizations based in L.A. County that maintain robust, year-round arts programming and seek to strengthen their arts-related infrastructure.” 

Below the jump, this post sums up my investigation into the grant program and its requirements. It then discusses how Mishkon could meet those requirements. To be honest, I had not previously thought of Mishkon in terms of its engagement with the arts, so this exercise has been eye-opening for me. 

(N.B.: We still need someone to champion our grant application. Might that be you?)

Stairlift for accessibility to sanctuary from Main Street: Further thoughts (Draft Proposal)

SINCE FEBRUARY, when I proposed that we install a stairlift in our historic sanctuary building’s front stairwell (a move that shortly thereafter was independently suggested to me by Ed Geil), I have spoken with several more vendors of stairlifts. In the process, I have learned a few things.

Below the jump, I share the two biggest lessons learned, and their implications.…

Air purifier installed in school building (Activity Report)

I AM PLEASED to report that the air purification device described HERE was installed today. 

This means that:

• We are significantly reducing the airborne transmission of disease inside our school building — as long as the HVAC blower is on, and the hallway doors are kept ajar, so that the air can keep circulating throughout the building.
• To reiterate, the hallway doors need to be propped open by about an inch whenever possible, in order for this device to work its magic.
• The school building can now revert to using a standard MERV-8 air filter rather than a hospital-grade MERV-13 filter (which is not only more expensive but also shortens the life of the blower motor).

Below the jump, I give links to evidence that the ions produced by this device are indeed effective at neutralizing airborne pathogens directly, quite apart from whether the resulting agglomeration is ever trapped by the system’s air filter.… 

Security/shade covering for play yard: Best design and bid identified (Activity Report)

OUR PLAY YARD is used for many types of activities: as the preschool’s primary outdoor space, as a venue for Shabbat dinners, as the site of our annual sukkah, as the entryway into our sanctuary for wheelchair users, and more. Whatever approach to a security/shade covering that we install to protect the yard, it needs to be flexible enough to allow for all of those uses. It also needs to be durable, because equipment with a short lifespan is a hassle for our busy staff to deal with.

Awning at the Shalom School in Sacramento

That is why we are going with a slide-wire awning design, from a manufacturer of reliably durable products. 

Yet flexibility and durability do not come cheap. Which is why we now need to raise some donated funds above and beyond the amount of the Federation grant that we were awarded last year.

Below the jump, this post describes the selected design and the winning bid.…

Air purifier selected for school building (Activity Report)

WE HAVE SELECTED the most appropriate air purification device for our school/office building. It is a NuShield-R, which is a compact unit—smaller than a cigar box. It uses needlepoint bipolar ionization (NBPI) technology.

It appears that we can count on the impending air scrubber to significantly reduce the airborne transmission of disease inside our school building — as long as the hallway doors are kept ajar, so that the air can keep circulating throughout the building.

Below the jump, this post explains this unit’s benefits and features.

A plan for entry accessibility (Speculation)

GETTING IN AND OUT of our historic sanctuary building cannot be done according to either the normal building code or the more lenient state historic building code, unfortunately. Yet surely our impending restroom expansion will trigger a review of the building’s entry accessibility. This topic must be addressed before we can proceed with that larger project. Therefore I have been working toward a draft plan for entry accessibility, while discussing the topic with several architects.

Ultimately, such a plan will need to be formally developed by an architect of record. However, I find that our building poses certain constraints that will inevitably guide that plan. Below the jump, this post discusses those constraints, and the remaining options.

Water intrusion continues in SW column (Activity/Condition Report)

THE ROOFER CAME on March 6 and patched a number of small cracks and other openings that were discovered in the flashing on the roof. This work was done under warranty. Yet the water intrusion into the portico’s southwest column continued during the most recent rainstorms at the end of March.

Below the jump, this post documents both the repair and the continuing damage.

Historically significant features of our main-floor restrooms/lobby (Condition Report)

CHARACTER-DEFINING FEATURES of our historic sanctuary building were identified in the Historic Structure Report (2003; “HSR”). These are the aspects that warrant historic preservation, in the eyes of architectural historians.

Below the jump, this post excerpts from here and there the HSR to describe and list the historically significant features in the four spaces that have been assigned the highest priority for rehabilitation/renovation. As named in the HSR, those spaces are known as the ladies’ lounge, ladies’ restroom, men’s restroom, and the narthex (lobby). 

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Capital Priorities, as submitted 2/3/25 (Activity Report)

THE COMMITTEE WAS ASKED to provide the Board a list of priorities for the use of funds currently held in the Mishkon Tephilo Capital Improvements Fund (at Morgan Stanley). The committee was informed that approximately $400,000 was deposited into this fund from proceeds of the sale of the Powerhouse property and the bequest of Larry Kasdon.

(So begins the report. Below the jump, the remainder is given verbatim.…)

HVAC units in school building free up reserve funds (Condition Report)

ACCORDING TO OUR JANUARY 2019 Property Condition Assessment (PCA), our school building’s HVAC units (= furnace, A/C fan coil, and rooftop A/C condenser) were likely to need replacement by 2024. So for more than a year, I have been bracing for an equipment failure any day now.

Below the jump, I recount the ironic tale of how I learned this past week that we can expect many more years of life from our HVAC equipment in that school building.…

Memorializing Ben Levy, whose widow was generous to Mishkon (Condition Report)

A LACONIC PLAQUE on the north wall of our bimah states that our congregation will say Kaddish eternally for Ben Levy on his yohrtsayt, the 16th of Tevet. Indeed, we did so on the Shabbat immediately preceding the 100th anniversary of his death, just a few weeks ago.

Over the years, the synagogue has gone to some lengths to keep Mr. Levy’s name alive—apparently to accord with promises that were made to his widow.

Below the jump, this post documents five signs about Ben Levy that have been posted at Mishkon through the years. In addition, his impressive and informative tombstone is discussed.…

Design criteria for the security/shade covering for play yard (Activity Report) [rev. 2/23]

IN COLLABORATION WITH our director of operations and our preschool director, Violet (the project champion) is developing a list of design criteria for the security/shade covering for our play yard that will be installed later this year. The idea is that all vendor bids must meet these criteria, in order to enable a fair comparison among them.

slide-on-wire retractable awning

Below the jump, I spell out that list of criteria (subject to revision upon further discussion), for the sake of review and refinement by all stakeholders, to make sure that we are all on the same proverbial page. I also append a list of my own current questions.

Water intrusion: status update (Condition Report)

ABOUT 6 HOURS after the rain stopped, I poked around to see how the synagogue fared. (Exactly 0.86” of rain had been measured nearby as falling within a 54-hour period—the most intensive storm so far this season.)

This spot registered as wet (red alarm condition).

Below the jump, this post briefly records the water-intrusion problems that still remain in 8 out of the 10 areas that I checked.…