Gather & Glow: Sukkot, Solar & Supper
Save the Date!
This year, on Sukkot, we are gathering in something new: the first fruits of HBT's solar collectors. The sun's power is endless, and HBT will be harvesting it for decades to come. This first harvest only happens once.
It's been too long! For the first time since May, our whole HBT community is coming together again, and we're celebrating in a big way.
Join us for a joyful Welcome Back Sukkot Bash. We'll kick off the evening with the official ribbon-cutting for HBT's new solar panels, followed by a delicious community dinner and festive Sukkot celebrations.
Reconnect with old friends, meet new ones, celebrate Sukkot, and help us kick off an exciting new year at HBT.
Come celebrate together.
Bringing Light All Year
HBT's Solar & Sustainability Campaign
Temple HBT's completed solar array, viewed from the front of the building.
We are illuminating a more sustainable future through our Bringing Light All Year campaign — a community-wide effort to care for our aging building and invest in long-term environmental and financial resilience.
For over 70 years, this building has sheltered Jewish life in West Roxbury. For 55 of those years, Temple HBT has filled it with community. Now, it is our legacy to make this home stronger, greener, and more efficient by replacing the roof, installing solar panels, and upgrading the heating system.
This project was made possible with generous support from our community and a $40,000 grant from the Jewish Solar Challenge, project of the Schwartz-Rosman Foundation.
We replaced the roof, installed a 126-panel solar array, and upgraded the building with high-efficiency heat pumps. Together, these improvements move HBT toward full electrification and allow our solar system to produce nearly all of our annual electricity.
This project will help HBT shine for decades to come — not just in moments of celebration, but every day of the year.
Chevruta Corner — Sukkot and first fruits Chevruta: the practice of studying in pairs. This is where we share the thinking behind what you're reading. Tap to open Tap to close
As we gather for this solar-panel Sukkot opening, we bring the ancient teaching of bikkurim (first fruits of the season) into the present. In Ki Tavo, we are taught to recognize the first fruits of the earth as gifts, to give thanks for them, and to use them in ways that strengthen the community. Sukkot celebrates the season of asif, the ingathering.
Today, the sun gives us another kind of harvest. These panels gather sunlight and transform it into energy for our shared life. May this project remind us that the gifts of creation are entrusted to us, not merely to consume, but to receive with gratitude, use responsibly, and share generously.
Reflect: What first fruits are you bringing this year?
Why This Matters
Caring for our building is caring for our community. Sustainability isn't separate from Jewish life at HBT, it's part of what it means to be a Kehilla Chaya, a living, breathing community that takes responsibility for the home it shares.
A Roof at the End of Its Life
Our roof was nearly 30 years old and needed replacement, at a cost of $112,500. Delaying repairs would have risked leaks, interior damage, and rising costs.
Tearing off the original roof, nearly 30 years old, to prepare for the new solar-ready roof.
A Moment of Possibility
Because we had to replace the roof anyway, we designed it to support solar panels and electrification. Doing everything together — roof, solar, and heat pumps — saved time, money, and disruption.
What We Accomplished: A Greener, Stronger HBT
1. Replaced the Roof
A safe, durable, solar-ready roof now protects our sanctuary, classrooms, and community spaces.
2. Installed Solar Panels
HBT's new 126-panel solar array (54.81 kW-DC) is projected to produce nearly all of our annual electric use — shifting HBT from burning oil to producing clean power.
Solar brings light in the darkest time of year and now helps HBT shine year-round.
The completed 126-panel array, covering the sanctuary roof.
3. Electrified Our Classrooms and Offices
HBT has installed high-efficiency heat pumps throughout our classroom and office building, greatly reducing our reliance on oil heat there. Our classrooms are now noticeably quieter and more comfortable, a big improvement for learning and teaching.
One of the new high-efficiency heat pumps serving HBT's classroom and office building.
The upgraded breaker panel behind the scenes, supporting the new electrical load.
Financial Impact: Responsible, Sustainable, Forward-Thinking
- Annual solar loan payment: ~$19,000
- Electricity and oil budget prior to solar: ~$25,000/year
Over time, we expect our solar savings to offset these costs and help protect HBT from rising energy prices. This project was a strategic investment in HBT's future — grounded in Jewish values, environmental responsibility, and financial resilience. Continued giving now helps HBT pay down the solar loan and build toward long-term stability.
Project Complete: More Than $100,000 Raised
Thanks to your generosity, HBT raised over $60,000 from our community. We were also awarded a generous $40,000 matching grant from the Jewish Solar Challenge, project of the Schwartz-Rosman Foundation; together, this $100,000 in initial funding enabled us to proceed with this project.
The roof is replaced, the solar array is installed, and heat pumps are in throughout our classroom and office building. HBT is now a more electrified, climate-conscious building, and a model of Jewish sustainability for our community and beyond.
Ways to Support Temple HBT
With the solar and electrification project complete, your continued generosity helps HBT pay down the solar loan, maintain the building, and plan for future sustainability work.
- One-time Donation — Help pay down the solar loan and reduce long-term borrowing.
- Multi-year Pledge — Sustain HBT's building and long-term planning.
- Tribute Gift — Honor a loved one with a gift that powers our community's future.
- Gifts of Appreciated Stock — Maximize your impact and receive potential tax benefits.
- Planned Giving and Legacy Gifts — Leave a lasting legacy to support HBT for generations.
Sustainability Fund (optional)
HBT is continuing to build a Sustainability Fund, a long-term reserve for major infrastructure and operational needs. This optional fund allows us to respond to unexpected challenges and make the necessary investments to maintain our building and strengthen our community's resilience.
When you give, choose the matching fund from the Type dropdown: select Solar Campaign to help pay down the solar loan, or Sustainability Donor to give to our Sustainability Fund.
Every contribution helps power the future of our synagogue — spiritually, environmentally, and financially.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did HBT go solar?
We took bold steps to care for our building and our planet. A new roof, solar panels, and heat pumps in our classroom and office building have reduced our carbon footprint, lowered operating costs, and aligned our physical space with our values.
Was this financially responsible?
Yes. Our solar loan payment is less than what we previously budgeted for electricity and oil. Over time, we expect meaningful savings and insulation from rising energy prices.
How does this project reflect HBT's mission?
HBT has always evolved with purpose. This project was an investment in our future, grounded in Jewish values of stewardship, justice, and care for generations to come.
Didn't this start during Hanukkah?
Yes! While our "Bringing Light All Year" campaign launched in October 2025, the lights of Hanukkah 2025 inspired the theme. Now that the project is complete, that light shines year-round in a very literal way.
What's happening now?
Installation is complete: new roof, 126-panel solar array, and heat pumps in our classroom and office building. Join us to celebrate at Gather & Glow: Sukkot, Solar & Supper on Friday, September 25, including the ribbon-cutting for our new panels. From here, our focus shifts to paying down the solar loan and growing HBT's Sustainability Fund.
What is the Jewish Solar Challenge?
Founded in 2021, Jewish Solar Challenge facilitates the fiscal and energy sustainability of Jewish community institutions through matching grants, education, and advocacy. Jewish Solar Challenge is a fiscally sponsored project of the Schwartz-Rosman Foundation.
HBT is proud to be one of the congregations JSC has helped bring solar power to life, and we're grateful for their $40,000 grant toward this project.
Can I still give or get involved?
Absolutely. Every contribution, large or small, helps us pay down the solar loan and sustain our building for generations to come. Contribute here , or if you're considering a leadership gift, multi-year pledge, or legacy commitment, contact Benita Block at bblock@templehbt.org .
Join Us: Help HBT Shine Brighter for Generations
Thanks to you, HBT's Solar & Sustainability project is complete, a gift from this generation to the next.
As we celebrate at Gather & Glow and look ahead, your continued support helps power everything we do — from paying down the solar loan and maintaining our building to the music, learning, and community that make HBT a spiritual home.
Every gift strengthens our community. Every step forward is powered by us.
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