Friends of Mishkon — germinating a support organization

DURING THIS YEAR of the 75th anniversary of our historic sanctuary building, the time seems ripe for a Friends of Mishkon organization to emerge.

Friends of Mishkon would enable our former members, their families, denizens of Venice, and others to channel their good wishes for Mishkon in support of restoring our historic building. And it would enable that building to receive the loving attention that it deserves from more than just our current synagogue membership. It’s a win-win proposition.

Below the jump, this post outlines what this support organization might look like…

Help Wanted: Volunteer Positions (updated 6-26-24)

WE MISHKON MEMBERS can easily convince ourselves that (nearly) everything at the synagogue is being taken care of. After all, we have paid staff. We have devoted officers and directors and committees. We even have eager ad-hoc volunteers for cleaning up after Kiddush lunches. 

Nonetheless, there are significant gaps in what is being attended to. Wouldn’t you like to know what those gaps are?

This post lays out some of Mishkon’s needs for your energy and acumen, as they relate to B&G concerns. Perhaps you or someone you know would thrive from being engaged in these matters! 🤔

Wanted: Can You Patch Faux-Wood Lacquer?

OUR ARK CAN USE some tender loving care. As you presumably know, it is graced on either side by columns. What you may not realize is that those columns are made of sheet metal that is coated with what seems to be lacquer. Unfortunately, that coating, which is painted to look like wood, has chipped off in places. 

Close-up of chips in the surface of our ark’s columns

Would you like to be the one to fill in the chips — and thus restore the ark? Do you know someone who would be qualified to do so?

The 2003 Historic Structure Report noted that “the Classical Revival–style ark is … made of galvanized steel.” (That surface is the gray color in the photo.) 

A sign visible in a photograph documenting what seems to have been the original dedication in 1948 stated that the “Oron Kaydesh” (אָרוֹן קוֹדשׁ, ark) was donated by Mrs. Ben Levy.

UPDATE, 9/9/22:  See the Completion Report HERE.

Suggested Projects for the Community Building Day

A FEW WEEKS PRIOR to her recent adventure in parturition, Shiri Sassoon asked me for my suggestions of hands-on projects to engage volunteers at the upcoming Community Building Day. 

Here is my wish list, at least in rough form, in order of importance. Now if you tell me which ones that you are interested in pursuing, I will help to refine them.…