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Friday April 9, 1999

Temple Isaiah grows, adds school building

CYNDI SPINDELL BERCK
Bulletin Correspondent

Thirty-six years after building a sanctuary on a Lafayette hillside, Temple Isaiah is experiencing rapid growth. With new families, classroom facilities and programs, the Reform synagogue is trying to meet the needs of congregants in all phases of the lifecycle.

A new Talmud Torah Center with 14 classrooms, a multipurpose room, and a small synagogue for Shabbat Torah study and small weddings opened earlier this year. Now, Isaiah's leaders are involved in "strategic planning" with the aim of "placing a comprehensive program in the facility," according to Rabbi Roberto Graetz

"It's easy to get bricks; not so easy to get programs," Graetz said. "We're very excited about the possibilities."

Isaiah began in 1951, with Sunday school programs in the Lafayette Town Hall. Thirteen years later, the congregation completed the sanctuary on a former night-club area known as the Tunnel Strip. Now with a membership of 800 households, Isaiah has been growing at a rate of about 30 households a year for the past five years, said Graetz. Most of the new members are families with young children.

Reflecting those demographics, the synagogue will open a preschool in September at the Talmud Torah center. The preschool, called Gan Ilanit ("garden of small trees"), is expected to enroll 15 to 18 children. Depending on demand, the synagogue may try to provide day care following the regular preschool program, said Graetz.

In addition to serving families with young children, the synagogue is also offering programs to other groups within its membership, including empty-nesters and seniors. The new Dorot program -- the name means "generations" -- is designed to provide "the Jewish perspective and support" as community members move through life's transitions, Graetz said.

Dorot began in September as a joint venture with the ContraCosta Jewish Community Center and Jewish Family and Children's Services of the East Bay. So far, the program includes play groups, a lecture series and support groups, according to Susan Rideout, co-chair of the synagogue's early childhood committee. The lecture series focuses on parenting this year but will expand next year to other topics.

Current adult programs include lunch-and- learn gatherings with Graetz, Rabbi Judy Shanks and Cantor Chanin Becker, as well as lunchtime Talmud study on Thursdays and senior get-togethers on Fridays. "They try to squeeze as much use out of the classrooms" as possible, Graetz said.

To build the new facilities, the congregation raised $3 million and took on a small mortgage. The building housing the synagogue and the social hall remains unchanged. But the building known as the Temple House -- a former Polynesian restaurant -- was completely renovated. It now houses a lounge for teen activities as well as an adult lounge where parents can relax after bringing their children to school.

The new campus serves 600 religious-school students, from preschoolers to 10th grade. Older high school students attend classes at the community Midrasha program, based at Conservative B'nai Shalom in Walnut Creek, but remain connected with Isaiah's teen activities.

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