March 12, 2009 Issue
Boone Jewish Community to Build Synagogue
The Boone Jewish Community (BJC), after many years without a building, has found a place to call home. The purchase of a piece of land has just been finalized, and the plans for building a new Synagogue for the community are currently underway.
The BJC has existed in the High Country for 30 years, but has not yet had a synagogue to anchor their community in.
Things started rolling into place in April 2008 when the Schaefer Foundation donated $1 million toward land purchase and construction. This past February 22, the Boone Jewish Community was finally able to close on 2.5 acres on West King Street, by Poplar Grove Connector. They bought the land, which has a stream, wetland area, and flood plain, as well as a power line crossing the property, for $548,000.
Despite these issues, architect Steven Carter Price, whose services were also provided by the Schaefer Foundation's Bonnie and Jamie Schafer, has set aside approximately one half acre for a building and another half acre for parking.
Aside from the land acquisition, the gift of the Schaefer Foundation will cover the cost of preparing the site. The 120-member BJC is beginning fundraising efforts to supplement the cost of building the facility.
According to the BJC website, “To everyone who has made this possible, the congregation thanks you. The people that built the Boone Jewish Community many years ago and those that have continued to seek to have a 'home' for Jews in the High Country, you have led us to an exciting future.”
For the growing Jewish population in Boone, this is an important step. The Synagogue will be called Temple of the High Country, and it will be a place where the ASU Jewish population, the Boone Jewish population as well as Jewish families that are considering moving to the area can all finally gather.
“We would be able to expand our Hebrew School and the wonderful holiday events that we already provide for our youth. Our Hillel students tell us that more Jewish students would come to ASU if their parents knew that there was a place for our Hillel students to come and hang out,” said the BJC website.
For more info on the BJC, call 828-264-8364, or click to www.boonejewishcommunity.com.
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