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March 12, 1999/24 Adar 5759, Vol. 51, No. 24
Temple Chai breaks ground on expansionThe completion of phase one of Temple Chai's "Chai Dreamers Campaign," initiated in 1997 to finance the temple's planned expansion, will be celebrated with a ground-breaking ceremony at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 21, at the temple, 4645 E. Marilyn Road, Phoenix.Phase one of the campaign raised $2.2 million. Phase one of the expansion will enlarge the temple's kitchen and social hall. The new seating capacity of more than 350 people will allow the temple to provide additional programming and to accommodate life-cycle celebrations, such as bar and bat mitzvah parties, wedding receptions and other social events. The temple has dedicated future net rental income from the hall to expanding its youth and adult programs. Phase two of the campaign is under way with a projected goal of raising an additional $2.2 million in the next 18 months. Phase two funds will pay for a new learning center that will house additional classrooms, a library, the Shalom Center for Healing, a Holocaust memorial and much-needed meeting rooms. The temple's current sanctuary and social hall were built in 1988. At that time, membership was approximately 260 families, while today it has grown to more than 950 families. The ground-breaking ceremony will include a special program honoring those who have contributed their time, money and support to the success of phase one and those committee members who helped in the planning and design of the social hall and kitchen. Entertainment will be provided by the Temple Chai adult and junior choirs, and a movie on the temple's history will be shown. |
