Asper donates $3M for Shaarey Zedek upgrades
Gail Asper has announced a $3-million donation to the capital campaign for Congregation Shaarey Zedek, which she likened to Grand Central Station for Winnipeg's Jewish community.
Asper said in her remarks at a ceremony where she announced the gift that the decision to support the synagogue 'was the easiest and fastest to make' because generations of her family have benefited from its services.
'If we have benefited so much from something, we have a responsibility to be there for it,' she said, adding her family wanted to do its 'fair share' to support the synagogue.
The Asper Foundation is giving $2 million, and the Gail Asper Family Foundation is giving $1 million.
The campaign to renovate the synagogue will cost nearly $18 million. The Jewish community has raised $8.4 million, including the donation from the Aspers. Another $3 million was from the synagogue's reserve fund, while the Manitoba government is contributing another $3 million. About $3.8 million must be raised.
The donation will enable Shaarey Zedek to 'meet the needs of a changing congregation,' Asper said, adding she is 'confident it will be able to do so for generations to come.'
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Shaarey Zedek executive director Rena Secter Elbaze said the donation will enable the 'beloved building to be transformed' for the community.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek was closed from 2022 until last fall for the renovation project, which included floor-to-ceiling windows in the auditorium, pews and carpeting in the sanctuary, modern conference rooms, accessible and gender-neutral washrooms, a child-care centre and upgrades to the audio-visual system.
Asbestos was removed, and security features were enhanced, including the addition of shatter-proof windows, 32 CCTV cameras and a pass card-entry system.
Secter Elbaze said the building is a 'welcoming space' for all and is used by non-Jewish groups as well.
faith@freepress.mb.ca
John LonghurstFaith reporter
John Longhurst has been writing for Winnipeg's faith pages since 2003. He also writes for Religion News Service in the U.S., and blogs about the media, marketing and communications at Making the News.
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