State of the Shul

Dear CTC Membership:

After tremendous effort from the Rabbi, Board, and several very involved members (and, of course, amazing siyata d’shemaya from HaShem), our growing shul made a big step forward this summer in acquiring our own home! However, the real work is just beginning. I want to take this opportunity to update you on the plans for the shul going forward and what is needed to make Toras Chaim into a beacon of spiritual growth and Torah learning in our community.

Childcare & Children’s Programming

In our new facility we have the opportunity to provide excellent children’s resources and programming. Our long-term plan is to renovate the backyard completely (including the removal of the pool) and to build a children’s playground. We also plan on dedicating a space in the new building for childcare. In the meantime, we are arranging for a pirchei group / Shabbos activity for children from 10AM to 11AM at the Rich home. The details will be announced, imy”h, over Shabbos. Until we finish renovating the building, removing the pool, and preparing designated childcare space, it is very important that parents keep their children within their sight and supervised when they are in the new building. This is important not only for the well-being of the shul, but, most importantly, for the safety of the children.

Davening

Currently the front of the house (facing Mumford) is used for davening. After renovations, most of the house on the northern side (facing Frankford) will be converted into a space for tefillah. Eventually, the women’s section will occupy the northwestern part of the house (about where the master bedroom is currently located). With the completion of the renovations, the total tefillah space will be about 1200 sq. ft.

Funding

With our new location comes a bevy of new financial responsibilities. These expenses include renovation costs and regular operating expenses. They also include several urgent costs that must be covered immediately. You can help in a number of ways:

• Meat Sale – Buy kosher meat in bulk at amazing prices.
• High Holiday Seats – High holiday seats are a major way to support your synagogue. If you have any questions about pricing, or need to discuss alternate payment arrangement, please contact me or Shul Treasurer Josh Rothstein.
• Shalosh Seudos & Kiddush – Sponsor shalosh seudos and/or kiddush for friends, loved ones, or in honor of special events. Shalosh Seudos and Kiddush sponsorships are important ways of connecting the CTC community and helping the shul to meet its financial goals.
• Help us to build – Toras Chaim has many available sponsorship opportunities in our new space. These are opportunities to create long-lasting monuments to departed loved ones, to honor a person’s achievements, or to commemorate joyous events.

Torah Study

The Rav and the board are working to build a new schedule of exciting shiurim and events. We will bring in guest rabbis to conduct multi-week learning seminars, partner with local institutions to create Torah learning projects, and host regular shabbatons and melava malkas. The best way to support and ensure the continuance of Torah learning at Toras Chaim is simple: be a part of it! Your participation in the Torah learning and davening at our shul is the most important component in the continued growth of CTC.

As always – your input and feedback are very important to me. If you have any questions or suggestions for the shul, please call me at (903) 818-7343.

Gut Shabbos!

Avraham Chaim Bloomenstiel, President