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March 26, 2004/Nisan 4 5764, Vol. 56, No. 27
Dedicated builderCongregant makes Or Chadash's ark
LEISAH NAMM
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 Jean and Nate Lipkin stand in front of the ark that Nate built for Congregation Or Chadash. Photo courtesy of Nate Lipkin |
He started last May, building it on the balcony of the 1,000-square foot Phoenix condo he shares with his wife Jean. Soon after he started, the weather became "too hot (and) we had to take it inside the house," he says. "But thank goodness, my wife said, 'go ahead.'"
Lipkin, 85, built the ark - made of oak veneer and lined with velvet - in his home over a five-month period. He used one coat of stain and five coats of varnish to ensure durability and built it with the ability to separate into sections to make it easily transportable.
The synagogue used it for High Holiday services last fall. "(Jean and I) had the honor of opening it up for the first time," he says. "It was very, very nice."
In honor of their 16th wedding anniversary, the Lipkins were called to the Torah during March 13 Shabbat services and sponsored a kiddush at Or Chadash. Between them, they have six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Construction is nothing new for Lipkin. His lifetime of work has included paperhanging, building and installing Venetian blinds, carpet and tile. "That's all I've been doing all my life, mostly working with my hands," he says. His other jobs have included making false teeth, selling children's clothing and running a scrap yard. In between his various jobs, he served in the Pacific in World War II, working on construction projects. He now volunteers weekly in the pharmacy at the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center in Phoenix.
He also makes pillows, Venetian blind covers and decorative tapestries, as well as lecterns for the synagogue. His future plans include a Ten Commandments monument and a Tree of Life piece.
Until Congregation Or Chadash moves into its new location at 91st Street and Bell Road in North Scottsdale later this spring, the ark is in somebody's warehouse, Lipkin says.
Contact the writer at leisah_namm@jewishaz.com.