Home at last

During the ceremony, Arshed will stand at the head of a room designed by Alfred Jacoby with an eye towards modernism reminiscent of artists like Piet Mondrian. When the moment arrives, Arshed will address his audience of friends and family beneath a 30-foot-high wooden ceiling designed to look like the rippled surface of a wave. The Torah, the sacred scroll he will read from, will be taken from a sleek, slender cabinet called an ark that reaches up more than 20 feet. Behind Arshed, framing him and the ark in colorful lights will be a stained-glass window design by abstract Japanese ceramicist Jun Kaneko.

The new temple is slated to be complete June 27, however, after 13 years of borrowing rooms and renting spaces, now that the main hall is nearly complete, the congregation plans to waste no time making use of the 30,000-foot facility. Rabbi Joshua Aaronson estimates he has already booked 20 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs for the space between now and Thanksgiving, and next Monday, Feb. 4, the religious school will begin to host classes in the synagogue.

On Friday, Feb. 1, Aaronson welcomes Park City community members to bless the new structure. Beginning at 4 p.m., along with police escorts, Aaronson will lead a Torah Trek to deliver the temple’s Sifrei Torah from Prospector Avenue to the congregation’s new home on S.R. 224, just east of the Colby School. Snow or shine, he says he will walk along the McLeod Creek Trail after extinguishing the eternal flame from the old headquarters and will conclude with a Shabbat Service at the new temple at 6:30 p.m.

"It’s going to be a ceremony to sanctify the space," he says. "It just didn’t feel right using the building unless there was some sort of formal dedication."

Over the years, Temple Har Shalom has relied on rooms at resort lodges, convention spaces and St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. Scott Adelman, the temple’s president and a founding member, remembers when the temple called itself the Park City Jewish Center and met in private homes. A rabbi from out of state visited every month. To become a part of the center, he responded to a letter printed in The Park Record in 1995 that read, "the time has come!"

Since Aaronson arrived, the temple has grown from 125 families to more than 300 families, 40 percent of which drive up from Salt Lake City a number that more than overwhelms the 3,500-square-foot center at 1922 Prospector Ave.

Adelman, who spearheaded the fund-raising campaign for the new synagogue, says "many folks thought it would be impossible," to build. "It’s been very satisfying to see it all come together," he says.

Beyond the 300 families that belong to Temple Har Shalom, Adelman and Aaronson envision the building as more than a religious space. A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, the temple welcomes Jewish and non-Jewish community members alike, hosting internationally-renowned speakers in person and live via satellite such as William Kristol, editor of the Weekly Standard, and Caroline Glick, deputy managing editor of The Jerusalem Post.

"It’s not only a religious institution, but also a facility and congregation interested in hosting conversations about tolerance and educating the entire community," explains Adelman.

Aesthetically, the new building mirrors Temple Har Shalom’s message of inclusion and community, echoing the surrounding hills in its color and shape. On its property, there is a full-sized basketball court and an area reserved for a playground that includes an eight-foot climbing wall. Large windows let in so much light that during the day, if it’s sunny, it’s barely necessary to switch on a light bulb. Inside there is a large stage for bands and film screenings, and a lounge for informal gatherings. Already, Dondea Sherer-Lykes, the temple’s education and program director, plans to invite a Kabbalist chef to teach a cooking class and is looking forward to potentially including a yurt on the property and yoga lessons in its classrooms.

In Temple Har Shalom’s January newsletter, Aaronson explained the significance of the synagogue, and the journey from meeting in private homes to a permanent place of worship, likening it to the story of Abraham.

"For the Jews of Park City, this moment is akin to entering the Promised Land," he wrote. "Like the Children of Israel, we have been wandering in the wilderness for more than a decade Finally, we are home."

Upcoming events to welcome Temple Har Shalom

Torah Trek and Ceremony

Friday, Feb. 1, beginning at 4 p.m. at 1922 Prospector Avenue. A Shabbat Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the temple’s new building located at 3755 North Brookside Ct., S.R. 224.

Religious School Dedication

Monday, Feb. 4, beginning at 5 p.m.. join Dondea Sherer-Lykes, education and program director for the temple, at Temple Har Shalom at 3755 North Brookside Ct., S.R. 224.

Gala Grand Opening

June 27, 2008 the temple plans to celebrate the completion of the new synagogue.