This summer has been a season of growth and transformation for our building. The board created and charged a Chaverim Space Task Force to consider how to accommodate our growing school for the upcoming school year. The Space Task force thoughtfully considered multiple options before recommending the exciting plan that has created two new classrooms to better serve our children, teachers and programs. To make this possible, we divided the chapel into two classrooms and added a wall in the Kiddush Room to create a fully enclosed space. These updates will give our Chaverim School and other programs much-needed room to thrive.
We also know that spaces in our building carry meaning and memory. The chapel and the John Cotton Kiddush Room have hosted countless services, celebrations, and community moments over the years. We understand the sentimental feelings that come with these changes, and we want to honor the deep connections many of us hold to these rooms.
As we move forward, we hold two truths together: the importance of honoring our past and the necessity of making room for our future. These changes are a sign of a vibrant, growing community, and we look forward to the new memories we will create together in these spaces. We hope that the new classrooms will become just as beloved, filled with children’s voices, learning, and joy. And we remain committed to creating opportunities to honor the history that lives in every corner of our building.
Thank you for holding this moment with us—with its mixture of change, memory, and hope. Together, we will continue to shape HBT as a place of meaning for generations to come.
With gratitude,
Task force: Rachel Young, Jason Silver, Andi Lipman, Matthew Smith, Sarah Bob,
Becky Shapiro, and David Goldberg
In addition, we would like to acknowledged the following:
Hillary Engler, Education Director
Julie Tishler - VP of Education
Aaron Schleifer - VP of Operations
Moreno Guzman - Facilities Manager
Benita Block - Director of Administration and Communications
With support from the Board of Directors