The grounds at Chizuk Amuno Congregation have been undergoing a transformation in recent weeks as the synagogue looks to improve the facilities at the Goldsmith Early Childhood Center, building up the inner courtyard, fixing the chapel, and improving the parking lots at the synagogue.
The synagogue began construction work after the school year ended in May to minimize the disruptions and get ready before the start of the next school year with much desired upgrades.
"The amount of people that move through the campus on a daily basis for 12 months of the year is substantial. [In 2022] we celebrated 150 years at the synagogue," said Harel Turkel, vice president of development at Chizuk Amuno. "What we found is we could celebrate the 150th in a very thoughtful manner with some specific capital campaign gifts, and then, of course, endowment gifts as well that go to different programs and educational components. Beautifying the campus was one of our priorities."
One of the first things that the synagogue targeted was the Goldsmith Early Childhood Center, which has completed a two-part renovation that began around a year ago.
That first part upgraded the lobby and hallways and added new secure doors, among other things. The rest of the construction was paused while school was in session.
This summer, the synagogue worked on completing all the preschool classrooms and doing a general update of the spaces, including kitchens and bathrooms.
"The Goldsmith Early Childhood Center has had a waiting list for years now because it is such a sought-after preschool program in the community. So that's being finished early next week," Turkel said.
The synagogue is also working on updating the inner courtyard. The courtyard has seen several small updates over the years as it contains the synagogue's permanent sukkah with a pergola structure hanging over. There is also a Holocaust memorial garden in one area of the courtyard.
Turkel said that they've changed the stonework and the masonry of the courtyard and reinforced the structures already there, which he said would create a better flow from their auditorium to the outdoor space.
The chapel is also getting renovated with new audio-visual systems, pulpits, seating arrangements, furniture and carpeting. Turkel said that work is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 15.
Rabbi Joshua Gruenberg, Chizuk Amuno's senior rabbi, said that the construction efforts that are currently underway are a sign of the community constantly looking for opportunities to grow and improve.
"When we started doing college visits with my son, the first college campus that we went to was the University of Maryland, and there was so much construction. And they [the tour guides] said something very interesting that I've kept it to heart since," Gruenberg said.
"They were like, 'Look, when you go on a college visit, you actually want to see construction. That means that a campus is building, they're growing, they're recognizing growth opportunities, areas of challenge.'"
Gruenberg said that the construction has been a period of adjustment for the whole team at Chizuk Amuno, but they're working on being as flexible as possible by letting employees work from home on certain days, scheduling projects for low-traffic hours and adjusting the summer camp experience.
He added that the synagogue is lucky to have a community that embraces the opportunities for growth and that people are willing to tolerate the temporary inconveniences for the reward of a beautified space.
Turkel said there's a buzz of excitement from the congregation as the construction nears completion.
The No. 1 item people are excited about are the updates to the parking lots, he said.
Turkel added that people are very excited to be able to use the chapel, as they get low on space at times during High Holidays and during Shabbat services.
The courtyard in particular received more wear and tear than is common during the pandemic with people constantly outside, and Turkel said it will be a great space for people to use for b'nai mitzvah and weddings.
"People want to go visit and support spaces where they're with their friends and their peers, but also they feel like it is a good use of their time. So we're not only upgrading the spaces but we're also making it safe and accessible to all ages, all demographics, ADA compliance, all those things that are necessary. So this is the place people want to visit," Turkel said.