Chartered in 1972 as The Coral Springs Hebrew Congregation, Temple Beth Orr was the original address of the Jewish community in a brand-new and rapidly growing young town in northwest Broward.
One of our earliest pioneers, Past Temple President Carol Wasserman, shared these reminiscences of our Congregation's history on June 1, 2007 during our final Shabbat service before the renovation of the Sanctuary:
As I look around this sanctuary, I have many fond memories of Temple Beth Orr and its history. My husband Louis and I joined TBO in early 1973. We had Friday night services in the Westinghouse home center and oneg shabbats at the local elementary school. High holy day services were held at a race track, the First Methodist Church, and the Sunrise Music theater.
Our present school building was built in 1975, and served in those days as an all-purpose facility: nursery school, religious school, synagogue, and social hall. We had many wonderful services and holiday celebrations and membership functions in that building. We had few paid administrative staff; we were a true family of volunteers.
I am honored to have a few minutes to talk about our Sanctuary. In the early 1980’s-- as founder and director of the TBO nursery school, volunteer Temple administrator, and vice president of the Temple all at the same time-- I was very active in the fund-raising campaign and building of our Sanctuary and Social Hall.
There was a group of dedicated board members and committee chairs and committee members who rose to the occasion and decided that Temple Beth Orr needed a true home in which to worship. An ambitious and energetic fund-raising campaign was implemented; we all gave what we could; we met with architects; designed; redesigned; selected an architect; selected colors and artifacts-- and began the wonderful journey of watching our new home built.
- With approximately 400 family members, a core group of dedicated volunteers worked to raise the funds needed to give Temple Beth Orr the home it deserved.
- The service of consecration of holy ground was held on Sunday morning June 12, 1983.
- We took a 1.5 million dollar loan from Commonwealth Bank for the construction.
- Joel Schultz and others worked diligently with the architect, Barry Sugarman, to design this building.
- Our dinner dance contributed an additional $25,000 dollars to the building fund.
- President Joel Levenston shared his message of a dream for a new sanctuary and praised Stan Bernstein, building committee chairman for three years, and Buddy Himber, the first building fund chairman.
- With Judy and Phil Averbuch heading the Arts and Artifacts committee, soothing colors were chosen and durable materials selected and beautiful artifacts selected for endowment.
- We took great pride in the development of the design and installation of the stained glass windows.
- Barbara Weinstein and Rose Domnitch signed their names on the mortgage.
- Yes, there is no ceiling-- we never did get to put that in; but that never seemed to matter to me.
Temple Beth Orr’s Sanctuary was consecrated on September 14th, 1984. I had the honor of being president at the time. It was a special night as we had a processional carrying the Torah scrolls from the original building into their new home, this Sanctuary. The building lacked carpeting that first Shabbat night (and, indeed, for nearly two years thereafter!), but the pride and warmth of the congregants filled the building with an overwhelming joy.
I had the support of many dedicated Temple Board members, such as Bert Steiner, Ed Kourt, Judy Henry, Dorothy Sands, Barbara Weinstein, and past president Joel Levenston. Other active members included Stan Bernstein and Linda and Gene Black. There were many more.
All of this brings back some very special memories. The installation of carpet late one Friday afternoon, with several of us clipping threads and vacuuming until almost the very moment services were about to begin. We carpeted a choir stand with a group of unskilled but earnest volunteers armed with staple guns-– dangerous, but fun.
Almost twenty-three years later, the original chairs and carpeting have held up well. Their strength and endurance throughout these years is a reminder of Temple Beth Orr’s strength and endurance. This Sanctuary and Social Hall have been the home to our congregants; now it is time for a well-deserved renovation.
So as one phase ends and another phase begins in the history of the sanctuary of our Temple, may we all have many more opportunities to worship together within these walls. I am excited to see the new look for our shared sacred space.
To all those who have made this possible, I want to say thank you for your commitment and dedication to Temple Beth Orr. As I look around, I am brought back to a very important point: the renovation isjust a well deserved facelift, but it is you-- the families of Temple Beth Orr-- that make it a wonderful religious home.
Carol Wasserman. President
celebrating the consecration of the Sanctuary
on September 14.1984
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