BRING IT HOME BETH AM
share our vision for phase 2
See amazing drone footage of the construction site.
Its been an exciting year so far…
NOW IT IS YOUR TURN TO JOIN US.
TO SEE MORE PHOTOS FROM OUR GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY
CLICK HERE
Senior Rabbi Jeremy Barras and long time Temple member David Serviansky, sign one of the interior beams in the new school building.
On October 30, 2020, we welcomed, for the first time ever, a very small, socially distanced (and masked) group of our top campaign leaders to our construction site. They were welcomed by remarks from our Steering Committee and Campaign Chair, Lily Serviansky, Stuart Ratzan (President), Senior Rabbi Jeremy Barras, Brian Chartock (Executive Director) and Nora Anderson (new Head of School). After the remarks, they toured around the site with hard hats, checking out all the progress that has been made over the past several months. Attendees signed a beam that will be part of the structure for the School Building Atrium. We hope to welcome more groups for tours in the coming months.
Sculpture Refurbished, Mattathias’ Legacy
This installation celebrates the history of Mattathias, the hero of Chanukah. Mattathias had the courage to stand up to the Assyrians and send his five sons to war. Made of huge aluminum tubes that rise up, the work forms a solid presence at 16 foot tall. The five beams represent five courageous sons.
July 2020, Plaque Installed:
As a tribute to those who made this possible, we have installed a plaque at the new site of the Mattathias’ Legacy sculpture. The sculpture was originally next to the RAMBAM building. When construction began, the sculpture was moved across the street from the main sanctuary entrance. It has recently been refurbished and a dedication plaque installed.
THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS
We would like to thank our Owner’s Rep Amicon, Moss Construction, and our dedicated lay leaders on the Steering and Building committees who continue to make this project a priority. While many businesses have been shut down, the State considers construction a vital service. As a result, our new classrooms for Day School and Religious School will be ready…on time…for our most precious resource, our children. Share in Rabbi Barras’ excitement about the building project continuing to move forward. Watch his new video by clicking here.
WE PRESERVE OUR PAST
WE CELEBRATE OUR FUTURE
We commissioned Michele Weinberg, a nationally recognized Jewish artist, to create a one of a kind art piece utilizing sections of the original sanctuary windows plus some of her own art. The wall showcases four large plaques, one for each of the buildings that are coming down during the campus renovation. Each section includes plaques with the names of all donors who contributed to our capital campaigns since Beth Am was founded in 1955. This wall is located in the lobby outside our current chapel.
“When the BTC project was formalized as a total campus renovation, two things became clear, we were writing a new chapter in the life of TBAM and that we needed to honor and preserve our history.” – Lily Serviansky, Steering Committee Chair and Past President
This donor wall was dedicated in February 2020 as part of preserving our history. In addition, we started formalizing our archives.
As Beth Am grows and changes every day, we are grateful to those who came forward in the past, some of those names are still supporting Beth Am’s dreams today.
Beth Am breaks ground for campus renewal project
On December 6, 2019, Temple Beth Am & Day School held a Groundbreaking Ceremony for our monumental campus renewal project, which will have the capacity and the foresight to advance Temple Beth Am beyond the curve to ensure that we remain the beacon for Jewish life in South Dade.
Pictured above (from left) at the groundbreaking were the “Beyond the Curve” Steering Committee and other members of the Temple Beth Am leadership team: Richard Siegel, Alex Krys, David Young, new Executive Director Brian Chartock, Evelyn Greer, Leslie Miller Saiontz, Stuart Ratzan, Lily Serviansky, retiring Executive Director Robert Hersh, Richard Fain, Colleen Fain, Dan Koffsky, Howard Wolofsky, Rabbi Jeremy Barras, Michelle Kramer, Bill Grossman, Kate Lampen-Sachar and Barbara W. Havenick.
Not pictured: Arnaud Karsenti, Tracey Spiegelman, Daniela Zanzuri-Beiner
“By building a 21st century day school, and new religious school facilities, we insure the future of Jewish life in South Miami Dade; we inspire young children and young families to learn in an enriching environment,” noted Stuart Ratzan, President of Temple Beth Am in his remarks. “And we deliver a complete and outstanding education in reading, writing and arithmetic, but also an education in our rich story so that we pass it to them and they pass it to their children, much like my parents did for me when they enrolled me at TBAM so many years ago, and then like my wife Mycki and I did for our children, and so many of you have done for yours.”
Click here to view the complete photo gallery from the Groundbreaking Ceremony.
fundraising progress
Our silent phase began in late Fall 2018, raising over $28 million dollars. This put us in a strong position to meet our financial goals! As we publicly rolled out the campaign to the rest of our Temple members and Day School families in Spring 2019, we continue to see our thermometer grow, reaching another milestone in March 2021 of $39.2 million dollars raised to date. We took a break from March 2021 through September 2021 from fundraising due to COVID-19. After the High Holy Days 2021, we began again…and have now reached a new milestone of $48.5 million raised. Thanks to a challenge grant of $5 million from an anonymous and generous donor, we met our milestone! Help us ensure that the Jewish community of South Dade is not just surviving, but continuing to lead. Please help us finish the campaign. We welcome a conversation with you about how you can participate. If everyone chips in, we will get there. To help, click here. BRING IT HOME BETH AM!
fundraising to date:
$54.1 Million Raised
489 Donors
PHASE 1
This project will be completed in two phases. Phase 1 began on the west side of the campus, by demolishing the Indoor Gym, Outdoor Basketball Court, and Auditorium. The new Day School building will be erected in its place. Existing school classroom facilities and the library will be not be affected during this construction phase. All construction areas are fenced off from the rest of the campus. This project is phased to be the least disruptive and minimally invasive to our students. Many of our historical items such as the large needlepoint, stained glass windows, sculptures, etc. from the buildings that will be demolished will be preserved, and showcased in our renovated campus.
*(Timing: Summer/Fall of 2019 – Spring 2021)
PHASE 2
Phase 2 will begin when our students move into the new school building. Construction will begin on the north side of campus, demolishing the Early Childhood building. In its place, the Welcome Center, Performing Arts Center/Chapel, and Athletic Facility will be built. Construction areas will be fenced off from the rest of the campus. The Lewis Religious Life Center will remain, as will everything east of that building. New landscaping, outdoor play spaces and parking will also be constructed.
*(Timing: Summer 2021 – Winter 2022)
*Timing based on permitting/construction. Subject to modification.
a community effort
The Beyond the Curve Capital Campaign is exciting and historic. It will enable us to remain vibrant and continue to be a Jewish leader not only in South Dade, but the entire country. Beth Am is our spiritual home. Our campus is not just a place to pray and learn, but a location where our Jewish values are rooted. We have 63 wonderful years of history behind us and so much more ahead of us. Be a part of this significant mission and help us write the next chapter of our Beth Am history!