1632-10 Synagogues SUN JUL 11 1993 ED: FINAL
SECTION: NEIGHBORS NE PAGE: 10 LENGTH: 13 . 95" MEDIUM
ILLUST: photo: Norman Giller vice president of Mosaic--Jewish
museum of Florida shows the ornate interior of Temple Beth
tcob.
SOURCE: CECILE M. BETANCOURT Herald Writer
DATELINE:
MEMO:
RESTORED TEMPLE TO HAVE NEW MISSION
Since 1988, Temple Beth Jacob has fallen on tough times.
Paint is peeling off the walls; fallen roof tiles blanket scarred,
wooden floors of the synagogue at 301 Washington Ave. A once-thriving
congregation that has declined to fewer than 100 has moved into a smaller
social hall next door for services.
But the 57-year-old temple is about to undergo "major surgery, " said
Marcia Zerivitz, the director of Mosaic -- Jewish Museum of Florida. At 5 p.m.
Tuesday, state officials and leaders of Mosaic Inc. will officially begin
restoration of the synagogue.
"The congregation could not keep up the expenses to maintain the
temple, " Zerivitz said. "Mosaic has made a commitment to raise $3 .5 million to
restore the temple and turn it into a museum. "
Zerivitz said Mosaic will raise funds through private contributions and
state grants. She said the project will be completed in December 1994 .
The temple, which served the first Orthodox congregation of Miami Beach,
was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The social hall
ised the first temple, built in 1929, but was replaced in 1936 by the larger
.ilding.
"It is so important for our children and grandchildren that the history
is preserved through this temple, " said Norman Giller, vice president of
Mosaic.
The second temple was designed by Art Deco architect Henry Hohauser. It
features 76 stained glass windows, a Moorish copper dome, and several Art Deco
chandeliers. Zerivitz said Mosaic hopes to restore the temple to its 1936
state. However, the seats will be removed to house photos and artifacts.
"One of the main purposes of the museum is to depict the contributions
of Jews to the development of the state of Florida, " Giller said.
JoAnne Bass, owner of Joe' s Stone Crab, is on the board of trustees of
Mosaic. Her maternal grandfather, Harry Levitt, was one of the builders of the
temple in 1936.
"I am very glad it is not going to be turned into another disco or
club. The temple is a symbol of the history of early Miami Beach, " Bass said.
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