Disclaimer: this is a sappy post. If you don't care for sentimentalism, move on. Don't say I didn't warn you! I was born into NHBZ and haven't known any other building. While I'm excited about the move, I do have mixed emotions: we're leaving behind not just an old building with a broken air conditioner bordering a somewhat-abandoned strip mall, but also a space full of memories. With all of the holidays, events, family members, classes, and davening associated with the shul, it's hard to say goodbye. I understand that our congregation is a dynamic community of members not confined to a physical space, but still, it'll be weird to drive through U. City and see 8630 Olive inhabited by an Asian church, a daycare center, or whatever else moves in.
Without further ado, I invite you to share your memories of the building. There are no rules here - talk about whatever you please! I'll start. One of my earliest memories of the building (excluding my first year of Sunday School in the back building where we got to exchange mitzvah points for prizes) occurred on one fateful fall evening, circa 1989. The time: Simchas Torah. The place: somewhere near the old bimah. I was happily marching around the sanctuary waving a flag and marching with my Grandpa Irv. But when I looked up, I realized Grandpa was nowhere to be seen, and I was swept up in a sea of big rowdy kids and loud men dancing and singing. My 6-year-old self panicked: I was lost. Practically in tears, I tried to push to the side of the hubbub into the aisle, and from there I was able to locate Grandpa's yarmulke and run over to him. Crisis averted. Whew, was that a stressful few minutes!
I'll sign off leaving the rest of the memories as an exercise for student. Don't be shy - post a comment!
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