As reported Friday morning on OTBKB, a large section of the balcony of the main sanctuary of Congregation Beth Elohim collapsed on Thursday. Services for the holiest day of the Jewish calendar have been moved to Old First Dutch Reformed Church. Here is a statement from Rabbi Andy Bachman's blog, Water Over Rocks.
Something happened today that presents challenges for us on so many
levels as we prepare for Shabbat and Yom Kippur. Sometime last night, a
large section of our Main Sanctuary's balcony ceiling collapsed. The
pieces of plaster are large and quite heavy. We are all so extremely
lucky that no one was hurt. After House Committee Co-Chair Susan Doban
called in a structural engineer for a full assessment and
recommendations for next steps, we were advised that several other
sections of the ceiling are compromised and that it is unsafe to sit in
certain sections of the Sanctuary until repairs have been made. As it
has been in other times of crisis, we have rallied and are fortified by
the good work and tireless optimism of so many people. Chief among them
to be named upfront is our friend Reverend Daniel Meeter of Old First
Reformed Church, who has cleared his congregation's own sanctuary for
us to use for Yom Kippur. So much can be said about the spiritual
implications of the events of the day, but that is not for now. This
moment, we focus on where and when we gather to celebrate together.
levels as we prepare for Shabbat and Yom Kippur. Sometime last night, a
large section of our Main Sanctuary's balcony ceiling collapsed. The
pieces of plaster are large and quite heavy. We are all so extremely
lucky that no one was hurt. After House Committee Co-Chair Susan Doban
called in a structural engineer for a full assessment and
recommendations for next steps, we were advised that several other
sections of the ceiling are compromised and that it is unsafe to sit in
certain sections of the Sanctuary until repairs have been made. As it
has been in other times of crisis, we have rallied and are fortified by
the good work and tireless optimism of so many people. Chief among them
to be named upfront is our friend Reverend Daniel Meeter of Old First
Reformed Church, who has cleared his congregation's own sanctuary for
us to use for Yom Kippur. So much can be said about the spiritual
implications of the events of the day, but that is not for now. This
moment, we focus on where and when we gather to celebrate together.
Go to Water Over Rocks for a full schedule for Yom Kippur services.