Congregation Dor Tikvah celebrates synagogue dedication following massive renovation of former JCC building
Ever since it was built in 1956, the Jewish Community Center (JCC) in West Ashley served as a cultural hub and meeting place for Charleston’s Jewish community. But in 2015, after nearly six decades, the JCC sold its physical building and rebranded itself as the “JCC Without Walls.”
The JCC began holding its events at various locations around Charleston. However, the building at 1645 Raoul Wallenberg Blvd., remained an important space for the local Jewish community. It was where many West Ashley-based Jewish families worshiped every week and on holidays. Bar mitzvahs were held there and Charleston’s only kosher catering company continued to operate out of the former JCC kitchen.
Then on Sunday, Aug. 25, the former JCC building was officially reborn as the new home for Congregation Dor Tikvah. The event marked a historical milestone for Charleston, which has not had a synagogue dedication in more than half a century. “It is a double bonus,” said congregation president David Rosenberg. “Not only does it repurpose the old JCC building, but we now have a new synagogue in West Ashley.”
For those in West Ashley who remember swimming or playing basketball at the JCC, they will recognize that the renovations are substantial and quite impressive. “We didn’t want it to look like the ‘old JCC,’” said Rosenberg, who has overseen the project’s construction and has been involved in the planning since the very beginning.
The old swimming pool has been filled in and is now a grassy field. The former lobby of the JCC has been transformed into a social hall, adorned with beautiful cypress woodwork. An overgrown courtyard is now a usable space for events. The small chapel, which was one of the first things to be renovated, is where the congregation had been meeting during much of the construction.
The most impressive part of the new synagogue, however, is the sanctuary itself. The grand, round-shaped room is visually stunning. A large skylight on the ceiling and glass blocks along the walls allows in natural light. But the focal point is the front wall of the sanctuary where a gilded archway meets a large wooden wall. It’s enhanced by the eternal light, a large red and gold pendent lamp whose flame flickers above the beautifully-crafted doors to the ark, an ornamental cabinet where the Torah scrolls are kept.
Since microphones are not use during Shabbat, sound engineers were hired to create a space that had outstanding acoustics. The furniture in the sanctuary was all hand-crafted in Israel and shipped over here. Production managers from Lavi Furniture Industries also made the trip to oversee the installation.
Rosenberg explains that while the massive overhaul of the former JCC has taken over a year to complete, the journey towards a new synagogue actually began 12 years ago when several Jewish families in West Ashley made the decision that they wanted to be more observant and practice their faith within the community where they lived. On Saturdays when Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) is observed, many Jews, especially within Orthodox Judaism, refrain from all forms of work and creating, including the use of automobiles. So having a place to worship within walking distance of their homes is a necessity.
The West Ashley Minyan (WAM) was formed in 2006 (a minyan is a quorum of 10 Jewish men required for certain religious obligations) when they began meeting in people’s homes. Quickly interest in the WAM grew and six years later Congregation Dor Tikvah was officially formed and has seen steady membership growth every since, said Rosenberg.
Shortly after its formation, Rabbi Michael Davies moved from Oakland, Calif. to Charleston and became the new synagogue’s first Rabbi. “I recall fondly my visit to what was then the West Ashley Minyan several years ago. The energy and excitement that has grown since then is powerful,” said Rabbi Davies, whose passion and excitement about the newly-renovated synagogue was obvious when he spoke at the building dedication to a full house, which included Congregation Dor Tikvah members and other members of the greater Charleston community, including Mayor John Tecklenburg, West Ashley City Councilmembers Keith Waring and Harry Griffin, and West Ashley County Councilmember Brantley Moody.
Mayor Tecklenburg commented that he, like most folks at the dedication, grew up coming to the JCC to participate in various community activities. He then borrowed a common Hebrew blessing in offering his congratulations and best wishes to Congregation Dor Tikvah. “So with sincere and prayerful wishes may you go from strength to strength in dedicating this beautiful and welcoming new synagogue,” said Tecklenburg before introducing Anita Zucker, whose late husband Jerry was one of the visionaries of the new synagogue and who the sanctuary is named for. Tecklenburg then finished by showing off his limited Hebrew by offering a friendly “Shalom, y’all,” which drew both laughter and applause from the crowd.
As Rabbi Davies walked in front of his congregation for the first time in the newly built sanctuary, he noted that the 12-year journey to get here is a significant and symbolic period of time. “It’s the age of Bat Mitzvah, when a young Jewish girl is considered to become a Jewish adult. A rite of passage in her Jewish journey,” he said. “So this is our Bat Mitzvah.”
